First home buyer support varies significantly by state and continues to evolve. The April 2026 picture has some recent changes worth understanding.

NSW

Stamp duty exemption for properties up to $800,000, with concessions to $1,000,000. First Home Buyer Choice (annual property tax option) remains available. The thresholds have been updated recently.

Victoria

First Home Owner Grant of $10,000 for new properties in regional Victoria, $10,000 for new in Melbourne. Stamp duty concessions for properties up to $750,000. Various eligibility conditions apply.

Queensland

First Home Concession on stamp duty for properties up to $550,000, partial up to $700,000. The First Home Owner Grant of $30,000 for new builds remains available with specific conditions.

WA

First Home Owner Grant of $10,000 for new homes (off-the-plan or new construction). Stamp duty concessions for properties up to specific thresholds. Eligibility conditions apply.

SA

First Home Owner Grant available for new builds. Stamp duty concessions for first home purchases. Specific thresholds apply.

Tasmania

First Home Owner Grant for new homes. Stamp duty concessions for established homes under value thresholds.

ACT

Home Buyer Concession Scheme provides stamp duty concessions based on income. Specific thresholds apply.

Federal schemes

Several federal schemes complement state grants:

• Home Guarantee Scheme (lower deposit options for eligible buyers)
• Help to Buy (shared equity scheme with conditions)
• First Home Super Saver Scheme (super contributions for deposits)

Practical advice

The right combination depends on individual circumstances. Talking to a mortgage broker familiar with current schemes is more valuable than trying to assemble information from various sources. Schemes change regularly and eligibility is detailed.

A buyer in 2026 should consider:

• Income (affects eligibility for several schemes)
• Property type (new vs established affects different schemes)
• Property value (thresholds vary)
• State of purchase (state-specific schemes apply)
• Timing of purchase (some schemes have caps that fill)

The cumulative benefit of properly stacking applicable schemes can be $20-40K+ for eligible buyers. The difference between optimizing this and not is significant. Resources at Domain and state revenue office websites are more current than older content. Working with a broker who specializes in first home buyers is usually the most efficient path.