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A practical guide to first home buyer grants, stamp duty concessions and deposit schemes across Australia, with real scenarios and numbers.
First home buyer grants can change the numbers in a serious way. Sometimes the value is a cash grant. Sometimes it is stamp duty relief. Sometimes it is a deposit scheme that helps you buy with less saved upfront.
The challenge is that every state and territory has different rules. The grant amount, property type, price cap, residence requirement and timing can all change the outcome.
This guide breaks down the main first home buyer grants and concessions across Australia, with practical scenarios so the numbers feel real. It is general information only, so always check the relevant government authority before relying on it.
A first home owner grant is usually a cash payment from a state or territory government. A stamp duty concession or exemption may not put money in your bank account, but it can reduce what you need at settlement. A deposit scheme is different again. It may help you buy with a smaller deposit or avoid lender’s mortgage insurance.
The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme can help eligible first home buyers purchase with a deposit as low as 5% without paying lender’s mortgage insurance. On a $700,000 home, a 20% deposit is $140,000. A 5% deposit is $35,000. That can change the timing of a first purchase.
The Help to Buy Scheme is a shared equity scheme. Eligible buyers may purchase with a minimum 2% deposit, while the Australian Government contributes up to 30% for an existing home or 40% for a newly built home. On an $800,000 newly built home, a 40% contribution could be $320,000, with the government holding a shared equity interest.
The First Home Super Saver Scheme is not a grant, but it can help eligible buyers save for a deposit through super. It can be useful when the buyer is still building their deposit and wants a more structured saving path.
NSW offers a $10,000 First Home Owner Grant for eligible buyers purchasing or building a new home. It is not available for established homes. NSW also has first home buyer transfer duty assistance, with different thresholds for new homes, existing homes and vacant land.
Scenario: Sophie buys a newly built townhouse for $590,000. If eligible, she may access the $10,000 grant and may also qualify for transfer duty relief. The value is not only the grant - it is the grant plus the settlement cost reduction.
Victoria offers a $10,000 First Home Owner Grant for eligible buyers purchasing or building a new home valued up to $750,000. Victoria also offers land transfer duty relief, including a full exemption up to $600,000 and a concession between $600,001 and $750,000.
Scenario: Mia buys a new unit for $595,000. If eligible, she may receive the $10,000 grant and qualify for a full duty exemption. That combination can make the upfront cost much easier to manage.
Queensland’s First Home Owner Grant can provide $30,000 for eligible buyers buying or building a new home during the boosted grant period. Queensland also has transfer duty concessions and exemptions for first home buyers, depending on the property type and eligibility.
Scenario: Ava buys a newly built home for $720,000. If eligible, the $30,000 grant could make a meaningful difference to her deposit and cash position. If she also qualifies for duty relief, the upfront saving may be much larger.
South Australia offers a First Home Owner Grant of up to $15,000 for eligible buyers purchasing or building a new residential property. It also offers stamp duty relief for eligible first home buyers buying a new home, an off-the-plan apartment or vacant land to build a home.
Scenario: Olivia buys a new home for $720,000. If she qualifies, she may be eligible for the $15,000 grant and stamp duty relief. That can reduce both the cash needed and the pressure on settlement funds.
WA offers a First Home Owner Grant of up to $10,000 for eligible buyers buying or building a new home. WA also offers a first home owner rate of duty, which can reduce or remove transfer duty depending on property value and location.
Scenario: Chloe buys a new home in Perth for $500,000. If eligible, she may receive the $10,000 grant and pay no transfer duty under the first home owner rate. That can shift the upfront cash position by thousands.
Tasmania has a First Home Owner Grant for eligible buyers purchasing or building a new home. For eligible transactions between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, the grant may be $30,000. Tasmania also has duty relief for eligible first home buyers of established homes valued at $750,000 or less, for purchases settling between 18 February 2024 and 30 June 2026.
Scenario: Grace builds a new home for $650,000 during the eligible period. If she meets the rules, the $30,000 grant can materially reduce the cash pressure of the build. If Tom buys an established home for $700,000, the grant may not apply, but the duty exemption may remove a major upfront cost.
The ACT does not operate like some other states with a standard cash First Home Owner Grant. Instead, the Home Buyer Concession Scheme can reduce or remove conveyance duty for eligible buyers. From 1 July 2025, eligible purchases up to $1,020,000 may receive a full concession.
Scenario: Sarah buys an ACT apartment for $990,000. If she meets the eligibility rules, the duty payable could be reduced to $0. That is not a cash grant, but it can still be a large settlement saving.
The Northern Territory has had some of the strongest first home buyer support in Australia. The HomeGrown Territory Grant has included $50,000 for first home buyers building or buying a new home, and $10,000 for first home buyers buying an established home. The NT also has stamp duty support for some new house and land package purchases.
Scenario: Emily buys a new home in the NT for $650,000. If eligible, a $50,000 grant could dramatically reduce the upfront funding gap. If Jordan buys an established home for $500,000, $10,000 could still cover real purchase costs such as moving, inspections or part of settlement funds.
A grant can change the timing. A duty exemption can change the cash required at settlement. A deposit scheme can change how long it takes to save. The smart move is to check grants, duty relief and borrowing power together. Looking at one without the others can give a false picture.
Domium helps first home buyers turn grants, borrowing power and loan options into a clearer buying plan. You can estimate your borrowing position, compare suitable loan options across 30+ lenders, and understand how grants or concessions may affect your upfront costs.
Before you make an offer, get clear on your borrowing power, deposit, grants, concessions and settlement costs. That is how uncertainty turns into a plan you can act on.
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