First Home Buyer Programs Australia 2026: What to Verify

Short answer

Australian first home buyer support comes from separate federal, state and territory programs. A person can qualify for one program and not another. The safest approach is to verify each program against the contract date, property, applicant history and occupancy rules.

Main program types

State and territory grants

First Home Owner Grants are administered by each jurisdiction and generally focus on eligible new homes. Amounts, construction deadlines and property caps vary. A grant is a payment and does not necessarily reduce transfer duty.

Transfer duty relief

Some jurisdictions provide an exemption, concessional scale or transaction-specific relief. Tasmania's temporary established-home exemption closed on 30 June 2026. The ACT moved to a full duty concession for eligible Home Buyer Concession Scheme applicants from 1 July 2026 without the former price and income caps. NT assistance should not be described as a universal first-home duty discount.

Use the Stamp Duty Calculator as an estimate and follow its state-specific source link.

Australian Government guarantees

Guarantee programs can reduce the deposit needed to avoid LMI for eligible applicants and participating lenders. They are not cash grants or loan approvals. Price caps, place limits and lender credit criteria apply.

Shared equity

Shared-equity programs involve another party taking an interest in the home. Entry, repayment, sale and renovation rules can be material. Read the scheme documents and obtain independent legal and financial advice.

Family guarantees

A family guarantee is a lender arrangement, not a government entitlement. The guarantor's property may be at risk if the borrower defaults. Both borrower and guarantor should obtain independent advice.

Verification checklist

1. Identify the administering authority and current official page.
2. Check the contract and settlement dates against the effective period.
3. Check every applicant's prior ownership and residency status.
4. Confirm property type, value cap and occupancy requirement.
5. Ask whether programs can be combined.
6. Obtain formal lender and revenue-office decisions before relying on the amount.

See the state-by-state first home buyer guide for current links.

General information disclaimer

This page is general information only. It does not determine eligibility and is not financial, credit, legal or tax advice.