Your First Home Advantage: A Simple Guide to Aussie Grants & Concessions
Buying your first home is a big milestone, and across Australia, there are a variety of grants, concessions, and government-backed schemes designed to make it easier, depending on which state or territory you buy in. Here’s an overview of what many first-time buyers can tap into in 2025 and beyond.
What’s Available Around Australia
First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)
Most states and territories offer a cash grant for first-home buyers who purchase or build a new home. Grant amounts vary by state or territory:
State / Territory - Typical FHOG Amount (2025)
New South Wales (NSW): $10,000 for new homes below set value thresholds
Queensland (QLD): $30,000 for eligible new homes up to $750,000
Victoria (VIC): $10,000 for new homes up to $750,000
South Australia (SA): $15,000 for eligible new homes
Western Australia (WA): $10,000 for new builds
Tasmania (TAS): $30,000 for newly built homes - tripled from $10,000 after the Tasmanian Parliament passed legislation in December 2025
Northern Territory (NT): Grants apply for new-build programs (varies)
Australian Capital Territory (ACT): FHOG no longer common - other schemes apply
Generally, the home must be newly built or substantially renovated, and you need to live in it as your principal residence.
Stamp Duty / Transfer Duty Exemptions & Concessions
Many states and territories offer reduced or waived stamp duty for first-home buyers, helping to lower your upfront costs.
Key points:
Some jurisdictions offer a full exemption on stamp duty if the property is below a specific value threshold.
If the price is above that threshold, a concessional (reduced) rate may apply.
Eligibility usually requires you to live in the home as your primary residence.
Tasmania currently offers a full stamp duty exemption on eligible first-home buyer purchases of established homes valued up to $750,000 (for settlements between February 2024 and 30 June 2026).
Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme
In addition to state-level incentives, first-home buyers in 2025 can benefit from the national 5% Deposit Scheme (also known as the First Home Guarantee), allowing eligible buyers to purchase with as little as a 5% deposit (or 2% for single parents or legal guardians), with the government guaranteeing a portion of the loan so that you can avoid costly Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).
What it offers
Minimum deposit: 5% (or 2% if eligible).
No LMI - potentially saving thousands.
No income caps.
No waitlist or quota limits - open to all who qualify.
Broad property eligibility: Includes existing houses, apartments, new homes, vacant land with building contracts, house and land packages, or off-the-plan homes.
Who qualifies
First-time buyers (or people who haven’t owned property in Australia in the last 10 years).
Australian citizens or permanent residents aged 18 or older.
Property must be intended as your primary residence (not an investment).
The property must meet a location-based “price cap.”
What it Means for First-Home Buyers (2025)
Buying a new home often gives the biggest advantage: you can access both the FHOG and stamp-duty concessions.
Buying an established home typically means no FHOG, but you could still qualify for stamp-duty savings and potentially the 5% Deposit Scheme, if the price and location match the cap.
With the 5% Deposit Scheme and updated price caps, even buyers with modest savings can enter the market sooner.
Combined with state grants and concessions like Tasmania’s $30,000 FHOG, first-home buyers may save thousands upfront and begin building equity earlier than through traditional saving alone.
What to Do Next (as a First-Time Buyer)
Identify the state or territory where you’ll purchase: benefits differ by location.
Decide whether you’re buying new or established: FHOG usually applies only to new builds.
Check property value thresholds for FHOG, stamp duty concessions, and the 5% Deposit Scheme.
Confirm your eligibility, including residence requirements and the “first-home buyer” definition.
Factor in all upfront costs: deposit, inspections, conveyancing, stamp duty, and then apply grants and concessions to work out your “true” entry cost.
Owning your first home doesn’t have to feel out of reach. In 2025, Australians can leverage a combination of state grants, stamp duty concessions, and the 5% Deposit Scheme to save money and step confidently into homeownership, often years earlier than traditional saving would allow.