Every First Home Buyer Assistance Program in Australia (2026)

Overview

Australia offers a range of assistance programs for first home buyers at both federal and state levels. Navigating these programs can be confusing, as eligibility criteria, grant amounts, and concession thresholds differ by state and change with government budgets. This guide provides an overview of the main programs available.

First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)

The FHOG is a national scheme administered by individual state and territory governments. It provides a one-off cash grant to eligible first home buyers purchasing or building a new home. Key points:

• Available in all states and territories
• Generally applies to new homes only (newly built or substantially renovated)
• Grant amounts vary by state — check your state revenue office for current amounts
• Income and property value caps may apply
• Must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• Must intend to live in the property as your principal place of residence

For detailed state-by-state information, see our First Home Buyer Guide.

Stamp Duty Concessions

Most states offer stamp duty relief for first home buyers, which can save thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. The type of relief varies:

• Full exemptions: Some states offer complete stamp duty waiver below certain price thresholds
• Partial concessions: Reduced duty rates for properties between threshold levels
• Sliding scales: The concession reduces as the property value increases

Eligibility typically requires:

• First home purchase in Australia
• Australian citizenship or permanent residency
• Intention to live in the property as your primary residence
• Property value below the relevant threshold

Use our Stamp Duty Calculator — select 'First Home Buyer' as the buyer type to see concessions for your state. Or see our Compare States page for a side-by-side comparison.

Shared Equity Schemes

Shared equity programs allow the government to co-purchase a portion of a property with you, reducing the amount you need to borrow and the deposit required. You own the property and live in it, but the government holds an equity share that must be repaid when you sell or refinance.

These schemes have specific eligibility criteria including income limits, property price caps, and residency requirements. Details vary by program and state.

Family Guarantee / Guarantor Loans

Many lenders allow a family member (typically a parent) to use equity in their own property as security for part of the first home buyer's loan. This can enable buyers to purchase with a smaller deposit (sometimes as low as 0-5%) without paying LMI.

Key considerations:

• The guarantor's property is at risk if the borrower defaults
• Most guarantees can be released once the borrower has built sufficient equity (typically 20% LVR)
• Professional financial and legal advice is strongly recommended

How to Access These Programs

1. Check your eligibility — each program has specific criteria. Start with your state revenue office website.
2. Calculate your numbers — use our Borrowing Power Calculator to see what you can afford.
3. Estimate total costs — our Property Purchase Cost Calculator includes stamp duty concessions.
4. Check LMI requirements — our LMI Calculator shows how deposit size affects insurance costs.
5. Get pre-approval — know your budget before house hunting.
6. Apply through your conveyancer — grants and concessions are typically applied for as part of the settlement process.

State-by-State FHB Guides

• NSW First Home Buyer Guide
• VIC First Home Buyer Guide
• QLD First Home Buyer Guide
• WA First Home Buyer Guide
• SA First Home Buyer Guide
• TAS First Home Buyer Guide
• ACT First Home Buyer Guide
• NT First Home Buyer Guide

Start planning: Borrowing Power Calculator | Estimate costs: Property Purchase Cost Calculator.