If you're buying your first home in 2026, there has never been more government support available. Between federal schemes like Help to Buy and the expanded 5% Deposit Scheme, plus state-level grants of up to $50,000 and stamp duty exemptions worth tens of thousands more, an eligible first home buyer could access $40,000-$75,000+ in combined support depending on their state. But these schemes have different rules, price caps, and expiry dates — and some are changing mid-year. Here's the complete breakdown for every state and territory.
Federal Schemes (Available Nationwide)
These schemes are available to first home buyers in every state, on top of whatever state-level support you qualify for:
Federal First Home Buyer Schemes 2026
| Scheme | What You Get | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| First Home Guarantee (5% Deposit) | Buy with 5% deposit, no LMI | No income caps, unlimited places. Price cap: $1.5M (capitals), $1M (regional). Saves $15,000-$25,000 in LMI. |
| Help to Buy (Shared Equity) | Govt contributes up to 40% (new) or 30% (existing) | Min 2% deposit. Income limit: $100K single / $160K couple. 10,000 places/year. Via CBA and Bank Australia. |
| Family Home Guarantee | Buy with 2% deposit, no LMI | For single parents/guardians with dependants. |
| First Home Super Saver Scheme | Save deposit inside super (lower tax) | Withdraw up to $50,000 in voluntary contributions. Tax saving of ~30% vs saving outside super. |
The First Home Guarantee is the biggest game-changer — since October 2025, there are no income caps and unlimited places. Previously, the scheme was capped at 35,000 spots per year. This means any first home buyer with a 5% deposit can avoid paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance, typically saving $15,000-$25,000.
State-by-State: Grants and Stamp Duty
New South Wales
NSW First Home Buyer Support
| Benefit | Details | Saving |
|---|---|---|
| First Home Owner Grant | New homes under $600K (or $750K house & land) | $10,000 |
| Stamp duty exemption | Properties under $800,000 | Up to $31,335 |
| Stamp duty concession | Properties $800,001–$1,000,000 | Partial saving |
| 5% Deposit Scheme (no LMI) | Cap: $1.5M (Sydney), $1M (regional) | $15,000–$25,000 |
Combined saving example: New apartment at $580K = ~$45,300 (grant + stamp duty + LMI). Existing home at $750K = ~$48,800.
For a deeper dive into NSW specifically, see our complete NSW first home buyer guide.
Victoria
VIC First Home Buyer Support
| Benefit | Details | Saving |
|---|---|---|
| First Home Owner Grant | New homes valued up to $750,000 | $10,000 |
| Stamp duty exemption | Properties up to $600,000 | Up to $31,070 |
| Stamp duty concession | Properties $600,001–$750,000 | Partial saving |
Note: Melbourne units are currently some of the best value in the country at a median asking price of $680K — well within the stamp duty concession range.
Queensland
QLD First Home Buyer Support — The Most Generous
| Benefit | Details | Saving |
|---|---|---|
| First Home Owner Grant | New homes up to $750K. Contracts by 30 June 2026. | $30,000 |
| Stamp duty exemption | New homes and vacant land — no price cap | Up to $20,000+ |
Combined saving example: New home at $650K = $30,000 grant + ~$16,000 stamp duty saving + ~$20,000 LMI saving = ~$66,000 total. Expiry: 30 June 2026 for the grant.
Queensland currently offers the most generous first home buyer package in Australia for new homes. The $30,000 grant is triple what NSW and VIC offer, and the stamp duty exemption has no price cap — even a $1M+ new home qualifies. But the grant expires 30 June 2026, so act fast.
Western Australia
WA First Home Buyer Support
| Benefit | Details | Saving |
|---|---|---|
| First Home Owner Grant | New homes up to $750,000 | $10,000 |
| Stamp duty exemption | Perth/Peel: up to $500K (new threshold) | Up to $17,765 |
| Stamp duty concession | Perth/Peel: $500K–$700K. Regional: $500K–$750K. | Partial saving |
| Off-the-plan concession | Apartments/townhouses up to $750K — no duty. Up to $850K — 50% off. | Up to $50,000 |
Recent change: WA raised stamp duty thresholds in 2025 — exemption from $450K to $500K, concession from $600K to $700K.
South Australia
SA First Home Buyer Support
| Benefit | Details | Saving |
|---|---|---|
| First Home Owner Grant | New homes up to $650,000 | $15,000 |
| Stamp duty abolished | New homes up to $650K — full exemption | Up to ~$29,580 |
Combined saving: New home at $650K = $15,000 grant + ~$29,580 stamp duty = ~$44,580 total.
Tasmania
TAS First Home Buyer Support
| Benefit | Details | Saving |
|---|---|---|
| First Home Owner Grant | New homes — highest state grant in Australia | $30,000 |
| Stamp duty concession | 50% discount for first home buyers on established homes | Varies |
Northern Territory
NT First Home Buyer Support — Highest Grant in Australia
| Benefit | Details | Saving |
|---|---|---|
| First Home Owner Grant | New homes. Contracts by 30 June 2026. | $50,000 |
| Stamp duty concession | Up to $23,928.60 off for properties up to $650K | Up to $23,929 |
Combined saving: New home at $500K = $50,000 grant + stamp duty saving + LMI saving = $70,000+ total. The NT grant is the most generous in the country.
Australian Capital Territory
ACT First Home Buyer Support
| Benefit | Details | Saving |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp duty exemption | Full exemption on any property (income-tested) | Up to $30,000+ |
Note: The ACT does not offer a cash grant. Instead, eligible first home buyers get a full stamp duty exemption regardless of property value, subject to income thresholds.
Quick Comparison: Grant Amounts by State
First Home Owner Grant — All States
| State | Grant Amount | Applies To | Price Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| NT | $50,000 | New homes | No cap (contracts by Jun 2026) |
| QLD | $30,000 | New homes | $750,000 (contracts by Jun 2026) |
| TAS | $30,000 | New homes | Check current threshold |
| SA | $15,000 | New homes | $650,000 |
| NSW | $10,000 | New homes | $600K ($750K house & land) |
| VIC | $10,000 | New homes | $750,000 |
| WA | $10,000 | New homes | $750,000 |
| ACT | No grant | — | Full stamp duty exemption instead |
Note: Most grants apply to new homes only. Existing/established homes generally don't qualify for the FHOG but may qualify for stamp duty concessions.
Key Deadlines to Watch
- 30 June 2026: QLD $30,000 grant expires (contracts must be signed by this date)
- 30 June 2026: NT $50,000 grant expires (contracts must be signed by this date)
- 30 June 2026: WA off-the-plan stamp duty concessions expire
- Help to Buy: 10,000 places per year — once they're gone, you wait until the next allocation
How to Stack Multiple Schemes
The best part about these schemes is that most of them can be combined. Here's an example of what a first home buyer in Queensland could access:
Example: Buying a $650,000 New Home in Brisbane
| Scheme | Saving |
|---|---|
| QLD First Home Owner Grant | $30,000 |
| QLD Stamp Duty Exemption (new home) | ~$16,000 |
| First Home Guarantee (no LMI on 5% deposit) | ~$20,000 |
| First Home Super Saver Scheme (tax saving) | ~$5,000 |
| Total Combined Saving | ~$71,000 |
With the 5% Deposit Scheme, this buyer would need just $32,500 deposit (5% of $650K) — and the $30,000 grant could cover most of it.
The Bottom Line
There has genuinely never been a better time to be a first home buyer in terms of government support. Between the expanded 5% Deposit Scheme (now with no income caps), Help to Buy, and state grants of up to $50,000, the barriers to entry are lower than they've been in years. But many of these schemes — particularly the QLD and NT grants — expire on 30 June 2026. If you're thinking about buying your first home, the time to start planning is now.
Sources: firsthome.gov.au; Revenue NSW; State Revenue Office Victoria; Queensland Revenue Office; REIWA; RevenueSA; Suncorp Bank; Mozo; W&G Lawyers; Finance Directory Australia
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