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The real cost of buying a house
First Home Buyer
Stage 2 / 8 · What it costs
The real cost of buying a house
Deposit is the line every ad shouts. The other six lines (LMI, stamp duty, conveyancing, building & pest, lender fees, moving) decide whether you actually settle.
A $750,000 purchase needs more than a 20% deposit sitting in your account. Here is every line item, in 2026 numbers, before you go house-hunting.
The seven lines of cost
Deposit. Lenders Mortgage Insurance (if < 20% and not under a guarantee scheme). Stamp duty. Conveyancing. Building & pest inspection. Lender fees. Moving. We’ll cover each in plain numbers.
Stamp duty, by state
| State | FHB exemption up to | Concession to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $800,000 | $1,000,000 | Existing or new home, owner-occupied |
| VIC | $600,000 | $750,000 | Owner-occupied, sliding scale |
| QLD | $700,000 | $800,000 | New thresholds from May 2025 |
| WA | $450,000 | $600,000 | Higher caps for vacant land |
| SA | No cap (new only) | No cap (new only) | Full exemption on new builds, no purchase price cap |
| TAS | $750,000 | $750,000 | 50% concession on established |
| ACT | Income-tested | n/a | Home Buyer Concession Scheme, income tested instead of price |
| NT | n/a | n/a | House and Land Package Stamp Duty Discount only, no FHB exemption |
Stamp duty calculator
Want a richer scenario? Open the full stamp duty calculator →
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WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for the example given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees, or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Comparison rates are based on a secured loan of $30,000 over 5 years for vehicle finance and $50,000 over 5 years for equipment finance, as required under the National Credit Code.