First Home Buyer Grant NSW
every scheme you're entitled to
First home buyers in NSW in 2026 have access to more government support than at any point in the past decade. The challenge is knowing which schemes apply to your situation — and making sure you don't miss one. Adrian checks your eligibility across all four schemes as part of your free assessment.
Newcastle and Lake Macquarie sit on the $1.5m price cap. They are designated regional centres under the First Home Guarantee, so they carry the same cap as Sydney — well above most of regional NSW. The $10,000 grant is separate and caps at $600,000 for a completed new home.
Free assessment — Adrian responds within 2 hours.
A first home buyer broker
does far more than find a loan
Most first home buyers don't realise how much money is sitting on the table before they even start applying. NSW first home buyers can combine state and federal support in Australia in 2026 — a combination of state grants, federal schemes, and shared equity programs that can collectively reduce your upfront costs by well over $50,000 on the right purchase.
The problem is that each scheme works differently. They have separate eligibility rules, different property type restrictions, different income thresholds, and different deadlines. Applying for one without understanding the others can mean missing thousands of dollars — or worse, inadvertently affecting your eligibility for a second scheme.
Adrian's job, starting from your first free assessment, is to map out every scheme that applies to your situation, confirm your eligibility, and coordinate applications with your lender and conveyancer so nothing falls through the cracks. This is included in every free assessment — there is no extra cost for grant eligibility work.
Every first home buyer scheme
available right now
These four schemes are available to NSW first home buyers in 2026. They have different rules, different eligibility requirements, and can often be stacked — meaning an eligible buyer may qualify for more than one simultaneously. Adrian confirms which combination applies to your situation as part of your free assessment.
NSW First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)
A one-off cash payment from the NSW Government toward the purchase or construction of a new home. One of the most straightforward grants available — paid at settlement through your lender.
- New homes only — established homes do not qualify
- Home valued up to $600,000, or $750,000 combined for land and build
- No deadline — the grant is not time-limited in NSW
- Must move in within 12 months and occupy for at least 6 months
- Cannot have previously owned or received FHOG anywhere in Australia
No Stamp Duty Up To $800,000
Under the NSW First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme, eligible first home buyers pay no transfer duty on a home valued up to $800,000, with a reduced rate to $1,000,000. Unlike the grant, this applies to established homes too. On a $600,000 purchase it saves approximately $22,700.
- Applies to both new and established homes
- Full exemption to $800,000; reduced rate $800,001–$1,000,000
- Vacant land fully exempt to $350,000, concession to $450,000
- Must move in within 12 months and live there at least 6 months
- Separate to the FHOG — can be claimed alongside it
First Home Guarantee (5% Deposit, No LMI)
The federal government guarantees 15% of your loan, allowing you to buy with just a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance. On a $700,000 property, LMI typically runs $20,000–$25,000 — the scheme eliminates this entirely.
- Minimum 5% genuine savings as deposit
- Newcastle & Lake Macquarie price cap: $1,500,000
- No income caps as of October 2025 — all income levels eligible
- Unlimited places — no risk of missing out due to quotas
- Applies to new and existing homes through participating lenders
Help to Buy — Shared Equity Scheme
The federal government contributes up to 40% of the purchase price of a new home (30% for an existing home), reducing your loan size and deposit requirement. You buy back the government's share over time.
- Only 2% deposit required — government co-owns up to 40% (new) or 30% (existing)
- Income caps: $103,000 single, $165,000 couples and single parents (from 1 July 2026)
- Around 10,000 places nationally per year — not unlimited
- Must be an owner-occupier — not available for investment
- The government shares proportionally in any capital gain
How the schemes
work together
The most powerful outcome for eligible buyers comes from combining multiple schemes simultaneously. Here's what a qualifying buyer purchasing a new $600,000 home in the Hunter could access:
In this scenario an eligible buyer is better off by roughly $50,000 compared with buying without any government assistance. For many first home buyers that is the difference between being able to buy and not.
Important notes on the FHOG timing:
The $10,000 FHOG is paid at settlement — it reduces your loan balance, not your upfront deposit. You still need genuine savings of at least 5% ($30,000 on a $600,000 purchase) available at the time of exchange — and home loan pre-approval before you start making offers. The grant does not replace your deposit, but it materially reduces your loan from day one.
Example only. Based on a $600,000 new home purchase in the Hunter region, buyer eligible for all three schemes. Stamp duty saving estimated on the standard NSW transfer duty scale. LMI estimate based on 95% LVR. Individual eligibility varies. This is general information only — speak to Adrian for advice specific to your situation.
From first enquiry to
getting your keys
Adrian reviews your financial position, goals and borrowing capacity. He checks eligibility for all four grant schemes simultaneously and explains exactly what you can access — no cost, no obligation.
Adrian compares 30+ lenders — including specialist first home buyer products, First Home Guarantee participating lenders, and any lenders offering preferential rates for your profile.
Adrian submits your application and manages the process through to conditional pre-approval. You get a formal borrowing limit so you can make offers with confidence.
Once you've found your property, Adrian coordinates your FHOG application, stamp duty concession, and First Home Guarantee with your lender and conveyancer — so nothing is missed or delayed.
Adrian coordinates with your solicitor, lender and agent for a smooth settlement. The FHOG is applied at settlement, reducing your loan balance from day one.
How NSW first home buyers
have used these schemes
First home buyers, couple — new house and land package
A couple in their late 20s working in the healthcare sector had been saving for two years. They had $55,000 saved and were targeting a new house and land package near Lake Macquarie. They weren't aware the $10,000 FHOG existed, and hadn't considered the First Home Guarantee.
- $10,000 FHOG applied at settlement — loan reduced immediately
- No stamp duty — saved approximately $22,700 on their $600,000 purchase
- First Home Guarantee — purchased with 5% deposit, no LMI paid (saved ~$19,000)
- Total benefit stacked: approximately $51,700
Single buyer — established townhouse, inner suburb
A 32-year-old professional buying alone had found a townhouse in an inner Newcastle suburb for $680,000. He had a 10% deposit saved but was concerned about LMI costs and hadn't checked whether the First Home Guarantee applied to established homes.
- First Home Guarantee — scheme applies to established homes, LMI saved (~$18,000)
- Stamp duty exemption — established home under the $800,000 threshold, saved approximately $26,300
- Redirected deposit savings into offset account — reducing interest from day one
- Total benefit stacked: approximately $44,300
Single parent — minimising repayments on a single income
A single parent earning $130,000/yr with one child wanted to buy a new townhouse priced at $750,000. Saving a 20% deposit on a single income wasn't feasible. The Help to Buy scheme provided a path that standard lending couldn't.
- Help to Buy — government contributed 40% on a new build, reducing the loan to $435,000
- 2% deposit — $15,000 required instead of $150,000 (20%)
- No stamp duty — new home under the $800,000 threshold
- Monthly repayments reduced by approximately $1,100 vs full loan
Case studies are illustrative examples based on typical client scenarios. Individual circumstances, grant values, stamp duty savings and LMI estimates will vary. Not financial advice.
What can disqualify
you from the grants
These are the most common eligibility issues Adrian identifies during assessments. If any of these apply to you, it doesn't necessarily mean you're disqualified — it means you need to check carefully before signing anything.
If you or your partner have ever owned a residential property in Australia — including an investment property you've lived in — you may be ineligible for the FHOG and First Home Guarantee. Investment properties you never lived in may still be okay for the FHOG; check with Adrian.
Having received the First Home Owner Grant in any Australian state or territory — even years ago — disqualifies you from the NSW FHOG. This is a lifetime limit, not a time limit.
The FHOG is not available to properties purchased through a trust or company structure. It must be purchased in the name of eligible individual buyers.
The $10,000 NSW grant caps at $600,000 for a completed new home, or $750,000 combined for a land and building contract. A new home a dollar over the cap attracts nothing — and the stamp duty exemption, which runs to $800,000, is assessed separately.
Both the FHOG and stamp duty concessions require you to move into the property within 12 months of settlement and live there for at least 6 continuous months. Renting out the property immediately can void your eligibility and trigger repayment.
Not sure if you qualify? That's exactly what the free assessment is for.
Adrian will review your full situation — purchase history, property type, income, deposit — and confirm which schemes you're eligible for before you sign anything. It takes 30 minutes and costs nothing.
Check My Eligibility — FreeOr call Adrian directly on 02 4092 7075
First home
buyer FAQs
Can't find the answer you're looking for? Call Adrian directly on 02 4092 7075.
02 4092 7075- The NSW First Home Owner Grant is $10,000. It applies to new homes only — newly built, off-the-plan or substantially renovated — valued up to $600,000, or up to $750,000 combined for a land and building contract. Established (previously occupied) homes do not qualify at any price. You must move in within 12 months of settlement and live there for at least 6 continuous months.
- Under the NSW First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme, eligible first home buyers pay no transfer duty up to $800,000 on new or establial land, with no price cap. On a $700,000 new home, this saves approximately $24,500. For established homes, full concessions apply under $700,000 and partial concessions apply up to $800,000. These are separate from the FHOG and can be claimed alongside it.
- Yes. The federal First Home Guarantee allows eligible first home buyers to purchase with a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). Since October 2025 there are no income caps and no limits on places. Newcastle and Lake Macquarie are designated regional centres, so they carry the higher capital city price cap of $1,500,000 — the same cap as Sydney. The scheme applies to both new and established homes and is accessed through participating lenders — a mortgage broker in Newcastle can identify which lenders offer the scheme and find the best rate among them.
- Yes. The First Home Owner Grant and the First Home Guarantee are separate schemes with separate eligibility requirements and can be used together on an eligible new home purchase. You can also combine either with the zero stamp duty concession. The FHOG is paid at settlement — it reduces your loan balance rather than acting as your deposit, so you still need genuine savings of at least 5% available at exchange.
- Help to Buy is a federal shared equity scheme where the government co-purchases part of your property alongside you. The government contributes up to 30% of a new home or 25% of an existing home, reducing your loan size and deposit requirement to just 2%. You own your share outright and can buy the government's share back over time. Income caps apply: $103,000 for individuals and $165,000 for couples and single parents, increased on 1 July 2026. Places are limited to around 10,000 nationally per year, and it cannot be combined with the First Home Guarantee.
- With the First Home Guarantee, eligible buyers can purchase with as little as 5% genuine savings — on a $700,000 property that's $35,000. You should also budget for additional costs: conveyancing ($1,500–$2,500), building and pest inspection ($500–$800), and any lender fees. The $10,000 FHOG reduces your loan balance at settlement — it does not replace your deposit, but it significantly reduces your outstanding debt from day one. Adrian models the exact numbers for your situation as part of the free assessment.
- No. The NSW First Home Owner Grant applies to new homes only — newly built, off-the-plan or substantially renovated — valued up to $600,000, or $750,000 combined for a land and building contract. Established (previously occupied) homes do not qualify for the grant. However, first home buyers purchasing established homes may still qualify for stamp duty concessions (full under $700,000, partial up to $800,000) and the First Home Guarantee (5% deposit, no LMI), which applies to both new and existing homes.
- A mortgage broker compares 30+ lenders simultaneously — not just one bank's products. For first home buyers specifically, a broker also confirms eligibility for every available grant and scheme, coordinates applications with your lender and conveyancer, and ensures nothing is missed. Brokers are paid by the lender when your loan settles — there is no cost to you at any stage. The Ascent Property Finance assessment takes around 30 minutes and gives you a clear picture of your borrowing capacity, grant eligibility, and recommended next steps.
Ready to claim
every grant you're entitled to?
Book a free, no-obligation assessment with Adrian. He'll confirm your grant eligibility across all four schemes, compare 30+ lenders, and give you a clear path to your first home — within 2 hours of your enquiry.