From Zero to Homeowner: How First-Time Homebuyer Grants Can Help
Check to see if you are eligible for a home loan
Page last reviewed: December, 2025
Grants to buy a first home changed dramatically in late 2025. The wait is finally over: the Federal Help to Buy scheme is officially open as of December 5, and the Home Guarantee Scheme has just lifted its caps, offering unlimited spots to eligible buyers.
This guide cuts through the noise to show you exactly which active government grants you can apply for today to secure a home with as little as a 2% deposit.
Let’s dive in!
From 1 October 2025, the First Home Guarantee (FHBG) has been expanded:
✅ No income caps — all first-home buyers (and eligible returning buyers) can apply
✅ Unlimited places — no more waiting lists
✅ Higher price caps — e.g. up to $1.5m in Sydney, $1.0m in Brisbane, $950k in Melbourne
✅ Permanent residents eligible, alongside citizens
✅ Still only 5% deposit required, with no LMI
👉 Remember: this is a government guarantee to your lender, not a cash grant. You remain fully responsible for your loan and repayments.
As a first-time homebuyer, you can take advantage of the following government grants and schemes:
Read on to learn more about these grants and how they can help you buy your first home.
If you’d rather have a chat to someone about your options, our Brisbane mortgage brokers would be happy to talk through your options – just give us a call or fill out our free assessment form.
The wait is over: the Federal Help to Buy scheme officially opened on December 5, 2025. This shared equity program is now accepting applications to help eligible Australians purchase a home with a smaller deposit and lower ongoing mortgage repayments.
How does it work? Help to Buy is a shared equity scheme, meaning the government contributes a portion of the purchase price in exchange for a share of ownership (equity) in your property.
This contribution reduces the size of the home loan you need to borrow, leading to a smaller deposit requirement (minimum 2%) and significantly lower monthly repayments. You do not pay rent on the government’s share. The government’s equity share is repaid when you sell the property or choose to buy them out over time.
Who is Eligible? The scheme is currently open to Australian Citizens (permanent residents are not currently eligible for this specific scheme). Key criteria include:
Expert Tip: Don’t wait. The scheme is capped at 10,000 places per year and applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Currently, only select lenders (including Commonwealth Bank and Bank Australia) are participating.
Contact a Hunter Galloway broker immediately to get your application submitted before the annual allocation is exhausted.
The Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) is a federal initiative administered by Housing Australia that helps you purchase a property sooner. It allows you to buy a home with a deposit as low as 2% or 5% without paying thousands of dollars in Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).
Normally, lenders require a 20% deposit. If you have less, you are charged LMI to protect the bank. Under the HGS, the government “guarantees” a portion of your loan, removing this cost entirely and potentially saving you up to $30,000 depending on your purchase price.
As of October 1, 2025, the scheme has been significantly expanded to help more Australians.
Previously known as the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme.
This is the primary guarantee for first-home buyers.
Eligibility:
This guarantee provides targeted support for single parents and legal guardians to build a secure family home.
To be eligible, the property you purchase must be valued under the price cap for your region. These caps were significantly increased in October 2025 to reflect current market values.
State/Territory | Location | New Property Price Cap |
NSW | Capital city & regional centres* | $1,500,000 |
Rest of state | $800,000 | |
VIC | Capital city & regional centres* | $950,000 |
Rest of state | $650,000 | |
QLD | Capital city & regional centres* | $1,000,000 |
Rest of state | $700,000 | |
WA | Capital city | $850,000 |
Rest of state | $600,000 | |
SA | Capital city | $900,000 |
Rest of state | $500,000 | |
TAS | Capital city | $700,000 |
Rest of state | $550,000 | |
ACT | All areas | $1,000,000 |
NT | All areas | $600,000 |
*Regional centres include Illawarra, Newcastle, and Lake Macquarie (NSW); Geelong (VIC); and Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast (QLD).
The First Home Super Saver (FHSS) Scheme allows you to save for your first home deposit inside your superannuation fund, helping you save faster thanks to tax concessions.
How it works: You can make voluntary contributions to your super fund, either before-tax (salary sacrifice) or after-tax (personal contributions). You can then apply to have these contributions, plus associated earnings, released to use as a deposit.
The Application Process: Getting it Right The FHSS scheme process has recently become more flexible, but accuracy is still key.
Expert Tip: While the rules now allow you to get a determination after signing a contract, we strongly recommend applying before you start looking. This ensures you know exactly how much deposit you have available for bidding. A Hunter Galloway expert can help you project manage this timeline to ensure you don’t miss the settlement deadline.
For more info, check out our Step-By-Step Guide to the First Home Super Saver Scheme.
Finding the right bank is the first hurdle. Not every bank can help you access these grants. In fact, while the First Home Guarantee has a wide panel of lenders, the new shared equity schemes have very strict lender lists.
The Federal Government and State Governments appoint specific panels to administer these loans. If you apply with the wrong bank, you cannot use the scheme.
Here is the current lender breakdown as of December 2025:
Lender | First Home Guarantee (5% Deposit) | Help to Buy (Federal Shared Equity) | Boost to Buy (QLD Shared Equity) |
Commonwealth Bank (CBA) | Yes | Yes | No |
NAB | Yes | No | No |
Westpac | Yes | No | No |
Bank Australia | Yes | Yes | No |
Unity Bank | Yes | No | Yes |
Other Non-Major Lenders | Yes (Most) | No | No |
You cannot simply walk into any branch and ask for these grants. For example, if you bank with ANZ, you currently cannot access the Help to Buy scheme because they are not on the participating panel.
This is where a mortgage broker becomes your project manager. We know exactly which lenders are accredited for which scheme. We can structure your application to ensure it goes to the right bank the first time, preventing messy declines or delays.
Need to check if your preferred bank is on the list? Give us a call or book a free assessment, and we can confirm their status instantly.
At Hunter Galloway, we specialize in helping first-time home buyers like you take advantage of government schemes to purchase your dream home.
Our experienced mortgage brokers can assess your eligibility for various programs and guide you through the application process.
Don’t wait any longer to make your dream a reality. Give us a call today at 1300 088 086, or fill out our short assessment form to find out what options are available to you. Our team at Hunter Galloway is ready to help you achieve homeownership.
Yes, you can submit many applications to grants to buy first home, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements for all the schemes you are applying for. For instance, a first-time home buyer who qualifies can potentially apply for and receive both the First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) and the First Home Guarantee while also being exempt from paying stamp duty.
However, it is important to note that each government grant to buy first home has its own set of qualifications and deadlines, so it can be difficult to qualify for all of them. To best determine your options, it’s recommended to consult with one of our expert mortgage brokers.
Check to see if you are eligible for a home loan
In Australia, each state has its own set of policies and programs for first-time home buyers, including:
It’s worth mentioning that the FHOG is only accessible to first-time home buyers who are either buying or constructing a new home. If you’re buying an established home, you will most likely not be eligible.
Queensland currently offers some of the most generous incentives in the country.
Queensland significantly updated its stamp duty rules in mid-2025 to help buyers enter the market:
Launched on 15 December 2025, this Queensland-specific pilot program allows the state government to contribute to your purchase price in exchange for a share of equity.
For more information on these grants and schemes, please visit the QLD.gov.au website.
If you are buying or building a new home, you may be eligible for a $10,000 grant.
NSW offers significant stamp duty relief for first-home buyers, potentially saving you up to $30,000.
Concessional Rate: For land valued between $350,000 and $450,000.
Under this state-based shared equity scheme, the NSW Government contributes a portion of the purchase price in exchange for equity, lowering your deposit to just 2% and eliminating LMI.
For more detailed information and to use the eligibility calculators, please visit the NSW Revenue Office’s website.
The ACT Government has replaced the traditional First Home Owner Grant with a generous stamp duty exemption scheme (Home Buyer Concession Scheme (HBCS)) focused on income rather than property type.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the full exemption, you must meet the following strict criteria:
A similar full stamp duty exemption (up to $1,020,000) is available for people with a long-term and permanent disability who want to buy a home to live in.
For more information and to calculate your specific threshold, visit the ACT Revenue Office’s website.
The Northern Territory currently offers the most generous first home buyer grant in Australia, designed to stimulate new housing construction.
If you are buying or building a new home, you can receive a massive $50,000 grant.
Note: The previous $10,000 grant for buying an established (existing) home expired on 30 September 2025 and is no longer available.
While there is generally no stamp duty concession for established homes, the NT offers a powerful exemption for new builds:
This is a government-backed loan initiative to help low-to-middle income earners secure a home loan with a low deposit.
If you are not a first home buyer (e.g., you owned a home years ago), you may still be eligible for the $30,000 FreshStart Grant if you build or buy a new home.
For more information and application forms, please visit the NT.gov.au website.
South Australia currently offers one of the most accessible schemes for buyers of new homes, having removed property price caps completely.
South Australia has effectively abolished stamp duty for eligible first-home buyers purchasing a new home.
Important Eligibility Update (2025) – For contracts signed on or after 13 February 2025, stricter rules apply: you and your partner must generally never have owned residential property in Australia before (even if you didn’t live in it).
For further details on these grants, visit Revenue SA’s website.
Would you like to learn about your situation?
Tasmania currently offers some of the most lucrative incentives in Australia, especially if you get your timing right.
Tasmania currently has a massive “Stamping Out Stamp Duty” policy active until 30 June 2026.
This state-backed scheme helps you buy a home with a deposit of just 2%.
For more details on these time-sensitive offers, visit the State Revenue Office of Tasmania’s website.
Victoria offers specific grants for buying new homes, but the landscape has changed significantly with the closure of the state’s shared equity fund in late 2025.
Victoria provides generous stamp duty relief for first-home buyers, which can save you up to $31,070.
If you buy an apartment or townhouse “off-the-plan,” you may be eligible for a stamp duty concession that deducts construction costs from the purchase price.
For more detailed information, we recommend visiting the State Revenue Office of Victoria’s website.
Western Australia recently updated its stamp duty thresholds to help first-home buyers keep up with rising property prices.
The WA Government significantly increased the exemption thresholds in 2025.
If you sign a contract to buy a new apartment or townhouse “off-the-plan” before 30 June 2026, you may be eligible for a significant duty rebate:
For more detailed information and terms, it is recommended to visit the WA.gov.au website.
Every government scheme comes with strings attached. While “free money” or a 2% deposit sounds perfect, it is vital to understand the long-term costs—such as giving up a share of your future profits or facing stricter bank rules.
The table below breaks down the real benefits and risks of each major scheme to help you decide which one fits your game plan.
Scheme | The “Pros” (Why use it?) | The “Cons” (The Catch) |
Help to Buy (Federal) | • Smallest Deposit: Buy with just 2%. • Cheaper Mortgage: Govt pays for 30-40% of the home, so your monthly repayments are much smaller. • No LMI: Save up to $30,000 in insurance fees. | • Shared Profits: You must pay the government back their % share of the home’s future value (if it goes up, you owe them more). • Income Reviews: If you get a pay rise above the cap, you may be forced to start buying them out. • Limited Banks: Only available with CBA and Bank Australia. |
Boost to Buy (QLD) | • Higher Income Caps: Open to singles earning up to $150k (vs $100k for Federal). • Regional Focus: Specific spots reserved for regional QLD buyers. • Massive Support: Govt contributes up to 30% for new builds. | • Very Limited Lenders: Currently exclusive to Unity Bank (as of Dec 2025). • Equity Share: Like the federal scheme, the QLD govt owns a chunk of your home. • QLD Only: You must buy within the state. |
First Home Guarantee (FHBG) | • You Keep 100% Profits: unlike shared equity, you own the whole house. • Low Deposit: Buy with 5% without paying LMI. • Choice: Wide range of over 32 lenders to choose from. | • Higher Repayments: You are borrowing 95% of the property value, so your weekly repayments will be higher than shared equity. • Strict Deposit Rule: You generally must have “genuine savings” for that 5%. |
First Home Super Saver (FHSS) | • “Free” Money: Save thousands in tax by using pre-tax income for your deposit. • Faster Savings: Your money grows in a lower tax environment (15%). | • Paperwork Heavy: You must apply for a determination before signing a contract, or you lose the money. • Locked Funds: You cannot access the money if you change your mind and decide not to buy. |
First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) | • Cash Boost: A lump sum payment (e.g., $15k or $30k in QLD) to help with moving costs or furniture. • Flexible: Can often be used as part of your deposit funds. | • New Homes Only: Generally restricted to brand-new builds, which can be more expensive than established homes. • Location Limits: Often pushes buyers to outer suburbs where new land is available. |
Yes, in most cases you can. For example, if you are buying a new build, you may be eligible for the $10,000–$30,000 cash grant (FHOG) from your state government plus the shared equity support from the Federal Help to Buy scheme. This combination gives you a massive head start on your deposit and equity.
When you sell the property, you must repay the government’s share of the home’s current market value. If the government contributed 30% to buy the home, they take 30% of the sale proceeds. This means if your home has gone up in value, the government shares in that profit.
No, the Victorian Homebuyer Fund closed to new applications in late 2025. It has been effectively superseded by the Federal Help to Buy scheme, which is now active and available to Victorian buyers with similar benefits.
As of 1 October 2025, the specific “Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee” has been merged into the expanded First Home Guarantee (FHBG). Regional buyers now access the main FHBG, which offers unlimited places and higher price caps (e.g., up to $1 million in QLD regional centers). You generally need a 5% deposit and must not have owned property in the last 10 years.
The fastest way is to speak to a broker who has a complete view of both Federal and State policies. While government websites like Housing Australia list federal schemes, they often miss state-specific “boosts” like QLD’s new shared equity pilot. Hunter Galloway offers a free assessment to match your income and location to every active grant.
Yes, you can and should apply for every scheme you are eligible for. It is common to “stack” benefits—for example, using the First Home Guarantee (to avoid LMI) alongside the First Home Super Saver Scheme (for your deposit) and a state Stamp Duty Concession.
The landscape has grown significantly. Key grants include:
The government contributes up to 40% (for new homes) or 30% (for existing homes) of the property price. You only need a 2% deposit and do not pay LMI. In exchange, the government owns a share of your home’s equity. You do not pay rent on their share, but you must repay it (plus capital gains) when you sell.
The FHBG allows you to buy a home with just a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). The government guarantees the remaining 15% of the deposit so the bank treats you as a 20% deposit borrower. Since October 2025, there are unlimited places available for eligible buyers.
This is a specialised scheme for single parents and single legal guardians. It allows you to buy a family home with a deposit as low as 2% without paying LMI. Unlike other schemes, you do not have to be a first-time buyer, as long as you don’t currently own property.
The FHSS allows you to save for your deposit inside your superannuation fund. Because these contributions are taxed at a lower rate (15%) than your regular income, you can save a deposit faster. You can release up to $50,000 of these voluntary contributions to buy your first home
Most grants are applied for via your lender (bank) at the time of your loan application. You generally cannot apply directly to the government yourself. This is why choosing a broker who knows which banks participate in which scheme is critical.
A broker acts as your project manager. We identify which grants you qualify for, find the specific banks that accept those grants (e.g., only Unity Bank for QLD’s Boost to Buy), and handle the paperwork to ensure you don’t miss deadlines. We also negotiate your interest rate, ensuring you don’t pay a “loyalty tax” for using a grant.
If you’re ready to buy your first home, our team at Hunter Galloway can help.
Unlike other mortgage brokers who are just one-person operations, we have an entire team of experts dedicated to helping make your home loan journey as simple as possible.
To chat about your deposit, lending and first home ownership options, please give us a call on 1300 088 065 or book a free assessment online to see how we can help.
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