First home buyer concessions by state
| State | Established homes | New homes | Grant (new homes) | 5% scheme cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Homes: none to $800,000, reduced to $1m. Land: none to $350,000, reduced to $450,000. | Same for new and established | $10,000 | $1,500,000 |
| VIC | None to $600,000, reduced to $750,000. Homes and land. | Same for new and established | $10,000 | $950,000 |
| QLD | Established: none to $700,000, reduced to $800,000. | New homes and land: none at any price | $30,000 | $1,000,000 |
| WA | None to $600,000, reduced rate to $800,000. Land: none to $450,000, reduced to $550,000. | Same for new and established | $10,000 | $850,000 |
| SA | Established homes: full duty. | New homes, off the plan and land: none at any price | $15,000 | $900,000 |
| TAS | Full duty (the exemption ended 30 June 2026). | Full duty | $20,000 | $700,000 |
| ACT | None at any price for eligible buyers. | Same for new and established | None | $1,000,000 |
| NT | Full duty. | House-and-land packages from builders can be exempt | $50,000 | $750,000 |
The 5% Deposit Scheme cap shown is for capital cities and regional centres; most states have a lower cap elsewhere.
Four kinds of help
- Stamp duty concessions from your state, which can be worth tens of thousands of dollars.
- First home owner grants from your state, only for brand-new homes.
- The 5% Deposit Scheme from the federal government: buy with a 5% deposit and no lenders mortgage insurance, under a price cap.
- Help to Buy, the federal shared equity scheme: a 2% deposit, with the Government owning part of the home. You can use it or the 5% Deposit Scheme, not both. See the Help to Buy calculator.
They stack. A first home buyer in Queensland buying a new $700,000 home can pay no duty, receive the $30,000 grant and use the 5% Deposit Scheme on the same purchase.
Questions people ask
Which state is best for first home buyers?
It depends on the price and whether the home is new. The ACT charges eligible buyers nothing at any price. Queensland and SA charge nothing on new homes at any price. Of the states with a price limit, NSW's is the highest for established homes, at $800,000. Tasmania and the NT have no duty concession now.
Do first home buyers pay stamp duty on established homes?
In NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA and the ACT there's an exemption or concession for established homes up to a price limit (no limit in the ACT). In SA, Tasmania and the NT first home buyers pay full duty on an established home.
Can I get the first home owner grant on an established home?
No. Every state's grant is for brand-new homes only, and the ACT has no grant.
Can I combine the stamp duty concession, the grant and the 5% Deposit Scheme?
Yes. They're separate schemes: the duty concession and grant are run by your state, and the 5% Deposit Scheme by the federal government, each with its own price caps and conditions.
Do foreign buyers get first home concessions?
No. First home duty concessions and grants need Australian citizenship or permanent residency, and foreign buyers pay a surcharge in most states.