First Home Buyer Grants & Schemes in 2026: State-by-State Guide

Buying your first home in Australia in 2026 is more achievable than many people realise, thanks to a range of government grants, stamp duty concessions, and guarantee schemes designed to help first-time purchasers enter the market. This guide provides a complete state-by-state breakdown of every incentive available, so you can maximise the support on offer and reduce the upfront cost of purchasing your first property.

First home buyer support by state, as at June 2026

State	FHOG amount	New-home requirement	Stamp duty position for FHBs
NSW	$10,000	New or substantially renovated homes up to $600,000	No duty up to $800,000 (new and established), concessional rate between $800,000 and $1,000,000
VIC	$10,000	New homes up to $750,000	Full exemption up to $600,000, sliding concession to $750,000 (new and established)
QLD	$30,000	New homes under $750,000	Full concession on established homes up to $700,000, sliding scale to $800,000; higher thresholds for new homes
WA	$10,000	New homes only, value cap $750,000 metro / $1,000,000 regional	No duty up to $450,000, concessions between $450,000 and $600,000
SA	$15,000 (new homes, no value cap)	New homes only	Full exemption on new homes and land, no cap since June 2024; established homes no concession
TAS	$10,000	New homes only	Full duty exemption on homes up to $750,000 for eligible FHBs
ACT	No FHOG (duty relief instead)	None; relief covers new and established homes	Income-tested full duty exemption under the Home Buyer Concession Scheme
NT	$50,000 HomeGrown Territory + $10,000 FreshStart	New homes; scheme windows vary	Territory Home Owner Discount of up to $18,601 off duty for eligible owner-occupiers

We review this table monthly against state revenue office announcements, so the figures shown are current as at June 2026. The sections below cover the eligibility fine print for each state.

Federal Government Schemes

Before we look at state-specific grants, it is important to understand the federal schemes that apply regardless of where you buy in Australia.

First Home Guarantee (formerly First Home Loan Deposit Scheme)

The First Home Guarantee is administered by Housing Australia and allows eligible first home buyers to purchase a property with as little as a 5 per cent deposit, without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). The government guarantees the difference between your deposit and 20 per cent, so the lender treats your application as though you have a full 20 per cent deposit. There is no longer an annual cap on places: since October 2025 the scheme has been uncapped, so any eligible applicant who finds a participating lender can access the guarantee. The income caps that previously applied ($125,000 individual, $200,000 combined for a couple) were removed at the same time, so there is no income test. Remaining eligibility criteria include being an Australian citizen aged 18 or over and never having previously owned property in Australia. Property price caps vary by location. For 2026, the cap is $1,500,000 in Sydney, $950,000 in Melbourne, $1,000,000 in Brisbane, $850,000 in Perth and $700,000 in Adelaide, with different caps applying in regional areas and the smaller capitals. These thresholds are reviewed periodically, so check the Housing Australia website for the latest figures.

What happened to the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee?

The Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee no longer exists as a separate stream. It was folded into the First Home Guarantee on 1 October 2025, when the umbrella Home Guarantee Scheme was expanded and renamed the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme. Regional buyers now simply apply through the First Home Guarantee on the same terms as everyone else, with the regional property price caps for their area applying.

First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS)

The FHSSS allows you to make voluntary contributions to your super fund and then withdraw them (plus deemed earnings) to use towards a home deposit. You can contribute up to $15,000 per financial year, with a maximum withdrawable amount of $50,000. Because super contributions are taxed at 15 per cent rather than your marginal tax rate, this effectively provides a tax benefit on your savings. Deemed earnings are calculated at the Shortfall Interest Charge rate, which is typically higher than a standard savings account.

New South Wales

First Home Owner Grant (FHOG): $10,000

Available for new homes or substantially renovated homes valued up to $600,000. The grant does not apply to established properties. You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, aged 18 or over, and never have previously owned property in Australia (or received the FHOG).

Stamp Duty Exemption

First home buyers in NSW pay no transfer duty (stamp duty) on new and existing properties valued up to $800,000. A concessional rate applies for properties valued between $800,000 and $1,000,000. On a $750,000 property, this exemption saves approximately $29,000 compared to the standard stamp duty rate.

First Home Buyer Choice (abolished)

Note that the previous First Home Buyer Choice scheme, which allowed buyers to opt for an annual property tax instead of upfront stamp duty, was abolished in 2024. First home buyers now revert to the traditional stamp duty concessions described above.

Victoria

First Home Owner Grant: $10,000

Available for new homes valued up to $750,000. The grant applies to newly built homes, off-the-plan apartments, and substantially renovated properties. It does not apply to established homes.

Stamp Duty Exemption

Full exemption on properties valued up to $600,000, with a sliding concession for properties valued between $600,000 and $750,000. This applies to both new and established homes for first home buyers.

Victorian Homebuyer Fund

The Victorian Government offers a shared equity scheme where the government contributes up to 25 per cent of the purchase price (or 35 per cent for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander buyers). You need as little as 5 per cent deposit, and LMI is not required. You own the property outright but share the capital gain (or loss) with the government in proportion to its contribution. Property price caps apply.

Queensland

First Home Owner Grant: $30,000

Queensland offers the most generous FHOG in the country at $30,000, available for new homes valued under $750,000. This is a significant boost for first home buyers building or buying brand new in Queensland.

Stamp Duty Concession

First home buyers purchasing an established home valued up to $700,000 receive a full stamp duty concession. Concessions apply on a sliding scale for properties between $700,000 and $800,000. For new homes, the concession threshold is even more generous.

Western Australia

First Home Owner Grant: $10,000

Available for new homes only, with a property value cap of $750,000. The grant applies to building a new home, buying a new home that has not been previously occupied, or buying a substantially renovated home.

Stamp Duty Exemption

First home buyers purchasing a property valued up to $450,000 pay no stamp duty. Concessions apply for properties valued between $450,000 and $600,000.

South Australia

First Home Owner Grant: $15,000

Available for new homes with no property value cap. South Australia removed the cap in June 2024, so the full $15,000 applies regardless of the build price. The grant applies to building or buying a brand new home only; established homes do not qualify.

Stamp Duty Relief

Full stamp duty exemption on new homes and vacant land for eligible first home buyers, with no value cap, in place since June 2024. Established homes receive no concession in SA, so a first home buyer purchasing an existing property pays full duty. If you want government support in South Australia, the schemes point you firmly towards building or buying new.

Tasmania

First Home Owner Grant: $10,000

Tasmania offers a $10,000 grant for new homes only, after the temporary $30,000 setting was wound back. The bigger Tasmanian benefit now sits in stamp duty rather than the grant.

Stamp Duty Concession

Eligible first home buyers pay no stamp duty on established or new homes valued up to $750,000, a full exemption rather than a discount. Above the threshold, standard rates apply.

ACT

The ACT does not offer a traditional FHOG. Instead, it provides the Home Buyer Concession Scheme: a full stamp duty exemption that is income-tested rather than capped by property value, covering both new and established homes. For buyers who pass the income test, it is among the most generous duty relief of any jurisdiction in Australia.

Northern Territory

First Home Owner Grant: $50,000 HomeGrown Territory + $10,000 FreshStart

The headline NT support is the $50,000 HomeGrown Territory grant for new homes, with a $10,000 FreshStart supplement available under NT-specific stacking rules; eligibility windows vary, so check the current scheme terms before contracting. The NT also offers the Territory Home Owner Discount, which can take up to $18,601 off the duty bill for eligible owner-occupiers; our NT stamp duty calculator applies it.

How to Maximise Your Benefits

The most effective strategy is to combine multiple incentives. For example, a first home buyer in Queensland purchasing a new $650,000 property could receive $30,000 from the FHOG, save approximately $15,000 through stamp duty concessions, and avoid $15,000 or more in LMI costs by using the First Home Guarantee. That is a total benefit of around $60,000 in government support and savings. Additionally, using the First Home Super Saver Scheme to accumulate your deposit provides a tax benefit that can add thousands to your savings over two to three years. If you combine the FHSSS with a family guarantee arrangement, you may be able to enter the market much sooner than you expected. We recommend speaking with a mortgage broker who specialises in first home buyer applications. They can help you navigate the various schemes, ensure you meet eligibility criteria, and find the most competitive loan product for your situation.