First Home Buyer Grants in Australia: What's Available in 2026

Short Answer

Buying your first home in Australia isn't just about saving a deposit. There are grants, guarantees, and concessions worth tens of thousands of dollars — and many first home buyers don't know what they're entitled to. Here's a clear rundown of what's available in 2026 and how to check your eligibility.

The Three Types of Support

Government help for first home buyers falls into three buckets:

1. Cash grants — direct payments when you buy (mainly the First Home Owner Grant)
2. Guarantees — help you buy with a smaller deposit without paying LMI
3. Concessions — reduced or waived stamp duty

Let's walk through each one.

First Home Owner Grant (FHOG): Free Money, With Strings

The FHOG is a one-off payment from your state or territory government. The catch? It's almost always for new or substantially renovated homes — not existing properties.

Here's what each state offers in 2026:

Tasmania's $30,000 grant is the most generous, but it only applies if you're buying or building a new home there. Queensland and South Australia offer $15,000. In most states, the grant is only $10,000 — helpful, but not life-changing.

Reality check: If you're buying an established home (which most first home buyers do), the FHOG won't apply to you. Don't factor it into your budget unless you're seriously considering a new build.

The First Home Guarantee: 5% Deposit, No LMI

This is the big one for most buyers. Normally, if your deposit is less than 20%, lenders charge Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) — which can add $10,000 to $20,000 to your costs. The federal government's First Home Guarantee (FHBG) removes that barrier.

Key numbers for 2026:

Example: Sarah earns $90,000 and wants to buy a $650,000 apartment in Brisbane. With a 5% deposit ($32,500), she'd normally pay around $12,000 in LMI. Under the FHBG, she pays zero LMI — and gets into the market years earlier.

There are also two variations worth knowing:

• Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee — 10,000 extra spots for buyers in regional areas
• Family Home Guarantee — 5,000 spots for single parents, with just a 2% deposit (yes, two per cent)

If you're a single parent, the Family Home Guarantee is the most accessible path available — barely any deposit required, and the income threshold is more forgiving.

Stamp Duty Concessions: The Biggest Saving for Most Buyers

Stamp duty is often the largest upfront cost after the deposit — and it's where first home buyers can save the most.

Stamp duty is a state tax, so concessions vary widely:

Real numbers: On a $750,000 home in NSW, stamp duty is roughly $29,000. With the first home buyer concession, it drops to about $11,000 — a saving of $18,000. On a $650,000 home, you'd pay zero stamp duty.

In Victoria, the thresholds are tighter, but the government also offers an option to pay an annual land tax instead of upfront stamp duty for homes under a certain value. Check your state revenue office for the latest.

The First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS): Save Tax While You Save

This one flies under the radar but is genuinely smart. The FHSSS lets you make voluntary contributions to your super and later withdraw them (plus earnings) for a home deposit.

How it works:

• You can contribute up to $15,000 per financial year
• Total limit: $50,000 across all years (plus associated earnings)
• Contributions are taxed at 15% (super rate) instead of your marginal tax rate
• You can withdraw contributions made from 1 July 2018 onward

Example: Liam earns $100,000 and has a marginal tax rate of 32.5%. If he salary-sacrifices $10,000 into super for a deposit, that $10,000 is taxed at 15% ($1,500) instead of 32.5% ($3,250). Over three years of doing this, he saves about $5,250 in tax — money that goes toward his deposit instead of the ATO.

One catch: You need to request a determination from the ATO before signing a contract, and you have 12 months from withdrawal to buy. The paperwork isn't hard, but you do need to plan ahead.

How to Check What You're Eligible For

Don't assume you qualify — check. Here's your action plan:

1. FHOG: Go to your state revenue office website (e.g., Revenue NSW, State Revenue Office Victoria) and look up "first home buyer grant"
2. First Home Guarantee: Check the Housing Australia website — you apply through a participating lender, not the government directly
3. Stamp duty: Use your state revenue office's online calculator — plug in the property price and tick "first home buyer"
4. FHSSS: Log into your myGov account linked to the ATO, go to Super → First Home Saver, and request a determination

The Bottom Line

If you put all of these together, a first home buyer could save:

Not everyone will qualify for every scheme — but even getting one or two can meaningfully shorten your savings timeline. The key is knowing they exist and checking early, ideally before you start house-hunting seriously.

FAQs

What is the First Home Owner Grant and how much can I get?

It's a state government payment of $10,000 to $30,000 for eligible first home buyers, typically only for new or substantially renovated homes. The exact amount and conditions vary by state — check your state revenue office.

Can I buy a home with a 5% deposit and no LMI?

Yes, through the First Home Guarantee. It lets eligible first home buyers purchase with as little as 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance. There are 35,000 spots per financial year with income and price caps.

Do first home buyers still pay stamp duty?

Not always. Most states offer stamp duty exemptions or concessions for first home buyers up to a certain price threshold. For example, in NSW you pay no stamp duty on homes up to $800,000.

Can I use my super to save for a house deposit?

Yes, through the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS). You can contribute up to $15,000 per year ($50,000 total) to your super and withdraw it for a deposit, with tax benefits along the way.