First Home Buyer Grants NSW 2026: FHOG, Stamp Duty and Deposit Schemes

Buying your first home in NSW may involve more than saving a deposit and applying for a standard home loan.

Eligible buyers may be able to access a NSW grant, transfer-duty relief or an Australian Government home-buying scheme. However, each program has separate rules covering previous property ownership, citizenship or residency, property values, deposits and owner-occupier requirements.

Qualifying for a government scheme also does not guarantee home-loan approval. You must still satisfy the lender’s income, expense, credit, deposit, documentation and property requirements.

First Home Buyer Grants NSW 2026: Quick Answer

The main programs that may assist eligible NSW home buyers are:

Program	Potential Assistance	Main Requirement
First Home Owner Grant NSW	$10,000 grant	Eligible new or substantially renovated home
First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme	Transfer-duty exemption or concession	Eligible new home, existing home or vacant land in NSW
Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme	Purchase with a minimum 5% deposit without LMI	First home buyer or no Australian property ownership within the previous 10 years
Single Parent 2% Deposit Option	Purchase with a minimum 2% deposit without LMI	Eligible single parent or legal guardian
Help to Buy	Government shared-equity contribution	Minimum 2% deposit, income limits and other eligibility rules
First Home Super Saver Scheme	Release eligible voluntary super contributions	Eligible first-home buyer using the scheme correctly

The programs are not interchangeable. A buyer may qualify for one form of assistance but not another.

Check My First Home Buyer Options

1. First Home Owner Grant NSW

The NSW First Home Owner Grant provides $10,000 to eligible buyers who purchase or build their first new home.

The grant is generally available for:

• A newly built house
• A new townhouse
• A new apartment or unit
• An eligible off-the-plan purchase
• A substantially renovated home
• Vacant land with an eligible building contract
• An eligible owner-builder project

The First Home Owner Grant is not available for an established home.

NSW First Home Owner Grant Price Limits

For a newly completed or substantially renovated home, the purchase price must generally be $600,000 or less.

For vacant land with a building contract, the combined value of the:

• Land
• Building contract
• Building variations

must generally be $750,000 or less.

Basic FHOG Eligibility Considerations

Eligibility requirements include:

• Each applicant must generally be at least 18 years old
• The application must be made by an individual rather than a company or trust
• At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• Previous ownership and previous grant rules apply
• The property must be occupied as the applicant’s principal place of residence
• For current contracts, an eligible applicant generally needs to move in within 12 months and occupy the home continuously for at least 12 months

The detailed previous-ownership rules can be more complex than simply asking whether you have ever had your name on a property title.

For example, previous ownership, whether you occupied the property, the date it was acquired and whether a spouse or partner previously received a grant can all affect eligibility.

Can You Receive the Grant for an Established Home?

No.

The NSW First Home Owner Grant is intended for eligible new homes. Buying an established house, townhouse or apartment does not qualify for the $10,000 grant.

However, an eligible buyer purchasing an established home may still qualify for transfer-duty relief under the First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme.

2. NSW First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme

The First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme may provide eligible NSW first-home buyers with a full exemption or reduced rate of transfer duty, commonly called stamp duty.

Unlike the First Home Owner Grant, this scheme can apply to:

• New homes
• Existing homes
• Vacant residential land

NSW Stamp-Duty Thresholds for Homes

For eligible new or existing homes:

• $800,000 or less: full transfer-duty exemption
• Above $800,000 and below $1 million: concessional transfer-duty rate
• $1 million or more: the first-home-buyer exemption or concession does not apply

The concession gradually reduces as the property value approaches $1 million.

NSW Stamp-Duty Thresholds for Vacant Land

For eligible vacant land:

• $350,000 or less: full transfer-duty exemption
• Above $350,000 and below $450,000: concessional transfer-duty rate
• $450,000 or more: the first-home-buyer exemption or concession does not apply

Basic Assistance Scheme Eligibility

Eligibility generally requires:

• The property or vacant land to be in NSW
• The property value to fall within the applicable threshold
• The purchase to involve the whole property
• The buyer to be an individual rather than a company or trust
• The buyer generally to be at least 18 years old
• The buyer and their spouse or partner never to have owned or co-owned residential property in Australia
• The buyer and their spouse or partner not to have previously received the scheme benefit
• At least one eligible buyer to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• The residence requirements to be satisfied

For current contracts, at least one eligible buyer generally needs to move into the home within 12 months after settlement and live there as their principal place of residence for at least 12 continuous months.

Your solicitor or conveyancer will normally assist with the transfer-duty application after contracts have been exchanged.

Can You Receive Both the FHOG and Stamp-Duty Relief?

Potentially, yes.

An eligible buyer purchasing a qualifying new home may be able to receive:

• The $10,000 First Home Owner Grant, and
• A transfer-duty exemption or concession

Each program must be assessed separately.

For example, a new home could satisfy the $600,000 FHOG property limit and also fall below the $800,000 transfer-duty exemption threshold.

Eligibility should be confirmed before relying on either benefit in your purchasing budget.

3. Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme

The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme was previously known as the Home Guarantee Scheme.

It may allow an eligible first-home buyer to purchase with a minimum 5% deposit without paying lenders mortgage insurance.

The Australian Government provides a guarantee to the participating lender. It does not provide the buyer with cash for the deposit and does not make the mortgage repayments.

Current Main Features

The scheme currently provides:

• Minimum 5% deposit for eligible first-home buyers
• No income caps
• No waiting list
• Unlimited scheme places
• No lenders mortgage insurance
• Access for eligible Australian citizens and permanent residents
• New and existing eligible properties
• Location-based property price caps

Basic Eligibility

An applicant generally needs to:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• Have saved a minimum 5% deposit
• Be a first-home buyer or not have owned property or land in Australia during the previous 10 years
• Purchase at or below the applicable local property price cap
• Live in the property as an owner-occupier
• Use an eligible principal-and-interest home loan
• Apply through a participating lender
• Meet that lender’s credit and loan-approval requirements

You can generally apply alone or jointly with one other eligible person, including a partner, friend or family member.

Important Difference Between NSW and Federal Eligibility

The NSW First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme generally requires the buyer and their spouse or partner never to have owned residential property in Australia.

The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme may allow a buyer who has not owned Australian property or land during the previous 10 years.

This means a previous homeowner may qualify for the federal scheme but not qualify for NSW first-home-buyer stamp-duty relief.

Does the 5% Deposit Scheme Guarantee Loan Approval?

No.

The participating lender will still assess:

• Income
• Employment
• Living expenses
• Existing debts
• Credit-card limits
• Credit history
• Deposit evidence
• Loan affordability
• The selected property
• The lender’s valuation
• The applicant’s documentation

A scheme-eligible applicant can still be declined if the proposed loan does not meet the lender’s requirements.

4. Single Parent and Legal Guardian 2% Deposit Option

Eligible single parents or single legal guardians may be able to purchase an owner-occupied home with a minimum 2% deposit without lenders mortgage insurance through the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme.

Basic eligibility considerations include:

• Being an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• Being at least 18 years old
• Being a single parent or legal guardian of at least one dependent child
• Having a minimum 2% deposit
• Not owning another property interest at settlement
• Purchasing within the location-based property price cap
• Living in the property as an owner-occupier
• Satisfying the participating lender’s loan requirements

This option is not restricted only to traditional first-home buyers, but detailed eligibility conditions apply.

5. Australian Government Help to Buy

Help to Buy is a shared-equity scheme rather than a cash grant or lender guarantee.

Under the scheme, the Australian Government may contribute up to:

• 30% of the purchase price for an existing home
• 40% of the purchase price for a newly built home

The buyer generally needs a minimum 2% deposit and an eligible home loan from a participating lender.

Because the Government owns an equity share, it also shares proportionally in an increase or decrease in the property’s value.

Help to Buy Income Limits

For the 2026 financial-year assessment, the taxable-income limits are currently:

• $103,000 for an individual applicant
• $165,000 for joint applicants or an eligible single parent

These thresholds are indexed and may change.

Other Main Help to Buy Requirements

Applicants generally need to:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be Australian citizens
• Apply alone or jointly with one other eligible applicant
• Have at least a 2% deposit
• Purchase within the applicable property price cap
• Live in the property as their principal place of residence
• Not own property in Australia or overseas, subject to limited exceptions
• Meet the participating lender’s credit requirements
• Continue meeting ongoing scheme obligations

Help to Buy cannot generally be combined with another government guarantee, shared-equity arrangement or home-buying loan scheme.

However, an eligible buyer may still be able to receive a grant, stamp-duty concession or another exemption.

Independent legal and financial advice should be considered before entering a shared-equity arrangement.

6. First Home Super Saver Scheme

The First Home Super Saver Scheme may allow eligible first-home buyers to release certain voluntary contributions made into superannuation to help fund a home deposit.

The current contribution limits used for the scheme are:

• Up to $15,000 of eligible contributions from any one financial year
• Up to $50,000 of eligible contributions across all financial years

The amount that can be released is not necessarily equal to every dollar contributed.

Tax, contribution type, associated earnings and ATO calculations affect the final release amount.

The required determination and release process should be completed correctly before signing a property contract. Consider obtaining taxation or financial advice before using this strategy.

Which First Home Buyer Assistance Can Be Combined?

Depending on eligibility, a NSW buyer may potentially use a combination such as:

• First Home Owner Grant plus transfer-duty relief
• 5% Deposit Scheme plus transfer-duty relief
• 5% Deposit Scheme plus the First Home Owner Grant
• First Home Super Saver funds plus another eligible buying scheme
• Help to Buy plus an eligible grant or transfer-duty concession

Not every combination is allowed.

In particular, Help to Buy cannot generally be combined with another government guarantee, shared-equity scheme or government home-buying loan program.

Confirm each scheme separately before assuming multiple benefits can be used together.

HomeBuilder Is No Longer Available

The former HomeBuilder program is closed.

It should not be confused with:

• The current NSW First Home Owner Grant
• The First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme
• The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme
• Help to Buy

HomeBuilder closed to new applications in April 2021 and should not be included in a current first-home-buyer budget.

What Documents May Be Required?

The exact documents depend on the grant, scheme and lender.

Common requirements may include:

Identification and Eligibility Documents

• Passport
• Australian driver licence
• Medicare card
• Citizenship or permanent-residency evidence
• Birth certificate
• Evidence of a name change
• First-home-buyer declaration
• Scheme-specific application forms

Income Documents

PAYG applicants may need:

• Recent payslips
• Bank statements showing salary credits
• Employment details
• ATO Income Statement or Notice of Assessment where required

Self-employed applicants may need:

• Personal and business tax returns
• Notices of Assessment
• Business financial statements
• BAS statements
• Business bank statements
• Accountant information

Deposit and Property Documents

You may also need:

• Savings statements
• Gifted-deposit evidence
• Contract of sale
• Building contract
• Building variations
• Land contract
• Property valuation
• Evidence that a new home has not previously been occupied
• Proof of existing assets and debts

First Home Buyer Application Process

Step 1: Review Your Financial Position

Review your income, expenses, liabilities, deposit and comfortable repayment budget.

Step 2: Check Potential Scheme Eligibility

Compare the eligibility rules for the NSW grant, stamp-duty relief and relevant federal programs.

Step 3: Calculate the Complete Funds Required

Allow for:

• Deposit
• Stamp duty where payable
• Conveyancing
• Inspections
• Lender fees
• Government charges
• Insurance
• Moving costs
• A post-settlement buffer

Step 4: Compare Participating Lenders

Government-scheme access does not mean every lender will provide the same borrowing result.

Compare lender policy, loan features, interest rates, fees and eligibility before submitting an application.

Step 5: Obtain Pre-Approval Where Appropriate

Pre-approval may help establish a purchasing range, but it remains conditional and does not guarantee final approval.

Step 6: Search Within the Approved Budget and Scheme Cap

The property must satisfy both:

• Your lender-approved budget, and
• Any applicable government-scheme property price cap

Step 7: Complete Legal and Property Due Diligence

Your conveyancer or solicitor should review the contract.

Depending on the property, you may also need building, pest, strata or other specialist advice.

Step 8: Complete Final Finance and Scheme Approval

The lender may need to complete:

• Updated financial assessment
• Property valuation
• Scheme confirmation
• Contract review
• Final loan approval

Do not rely on government-scheme eligibility as a substitute for unconditional finance approval.

Common First Home Buyer Mistakes

Avoid:

• Assuming every first-home-buyer program has the same eligibility rules
• Believing the $10,000 grant applies to established homes
• Using the full property-price cap as your automatic budget
• Forgetting stamp duty above the exemption threshold
• Ignoring conveyancing, inspections and other buying costs
• Assuming a 5% deposit guarantees loan approval
• Making an offer before confirming deposit and finance requirements
• Taking out new credit before settlement
• Relying on an expired or outdated government program
• Bidding at auction without understanding the finance and legal risks
• Using all available savings without retaining a financial buffer

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Is the First Home Owner Grant in NSW?

The current NSW First Home Owner Grant is $10,000 for eligible new homes.

Property-value, previous-ownership, residency and occupancy requirements apply.

Can I Get the NSW Grant for an Existing Home?

No.

The First Home Owner Grant applies to eligible new or substantially renovated homes, not established properties.

An eligible established-home buyer may still qualify for transfer-duty relief.

Do First Home Buyers Pay Stamp Duty in NSW?

Eligible buyers may receive a full exemption for a new or existing home valued at $800,000 or less.

A concessional rate may apply when the value is above $800,000 but below $1 million.

Can I Buy With a 5% Deposit?

Potentially.

Eligible buyers may access the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, but they must still satisfy the participating lender’s borrowing-capacity, credit, documentation and property requirements.

Can Permanent Residents Use the 5% Deposit Scheme?

Eligible Australian permanent residents can currently access the 5% Deposit Scheme, subject to all other scheme and lender requirements.

Can Temporary Residents Receive NSW First Home Buyer Assistance?

Eligibility depends on the specific program, co-purchaser arrangements, visa status and other requirements.

At least one applicant generally needs to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident for the NSW grant and assistance scheme.

Temporary residents may also face lender restrictions, foreign-investment requirements or surcharge duties.

Can I Use the FHOG and 5% Deposit Scheme Together?

Potentially, provided you independently qualify for both programs and the property meets each set of rules.

Does a Government Scheme Mean the Bank Must Approve Me?

No.

The lender must still be satisfied that the proposed loan is affordable and meets its credit policy.

Can a Mortgage Broker Help With First Home Buyer Schemes?

A mortgage broker can help you review:

• Your potential borrowing capacity
• Available deposit
• Purchasing costs
• Possible lender options
• Relevant government-scheme considerations
• Required loan documents
• Pre-approval and application steps

Access to a particular scheme depends on the participating lenders available and your eligibility.

Check Your First Home Buyer Options

Before attending more inspections or making an offer, understand:

• Which grants or schemes may apply
• How much deposit you may need
• Your possible borrowing capacity
• The property-price limits that may affect you
• Which documents a lender may require
• The total costs involved in purchasing

Check My First Home Buyer Options

Check My Borrowing Power

Or call or SMS Nick on 0426 259 327.

Nicholas Parpis
Australian Credit Representative 552460
Licensed Real Estate Buyers Agent LREA 20302280
Director of Truth Group Pty Ltd

Last reviewed 4 August 2026. Information is general and does not consider your individual objectives or financial circumstances. Government grants, schemes, income limits, property caps and lender requirements may change. Eligibility and loan approval remain subject to the relevant government body, participating lender, property assessment and individual circumstances.