Federal
5% Deposit Scheme
5% deposit
Government guarantee designed to help eligible first home buyers avoid LMI.
- Price caps apply by location
- You still own the home
- Lender approval still required
First home buyer strategy
Your first home may be closer than the headlines make it sound.
Government schemes, stamp duty relief and low-deposit options can change the numbers quickly. We help you work out what applies in your state, what you can really afford, and the cleanest path to approval.
Explore your first-home advantage
4 checks
1
Deposit
5% options
2
Grants
State support
3
Lender
Right fit
4
Keys
Approval path
5% deposit options
17 years in lending
Call 1800 56 56 68
Free first-home plan
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Start here.
5%deposit options
$0first chat
17 yrslending experience
01Scheme check5% Deposit Scheme, Help to Buy and Super Saver
02State-by-stateGrants and stamp duty relief across Australia
03Broker strategy17 years of lending experience behind the plan
04Clear next stepKnow your borrowing power before you shop
Cut through the noise
Most property headlines are about investors, not first home buyers.
Negative gearing, capital gains tax and SMSF lending debates can make buying feel impossible. But if you are buying a home to live in, the bigger question is usually simpler: which grants, guarantees, lenders and structure fit your situation?
"Do I need a 20% deposit?"Not always. Eligible buyers may use the 5% Deposit Scheme and avoid Lenders Mortgage Insurance.
"Are grants the same everywhere?"No. States set their own stamp duty and grant rules, so where you buy matters.
"Will one bank decline mean I am stuck?"No. A first-home loan is often about choosing the right lender and presenting the application properly.
Run the numbers
Quick first-home calculators
Use these as a starting point. The real answer comes from reviewing your income, deposit, debts, credit profile and the property you want.
What could you borrow?
Indicative borrowing capacity using a simplified bank-style buffer.
Estimated borrowing power
$0
Indicative only. Lenders assess at buffer rates and use their own living expense rules.
Estimated purchase target$0
Possible 5% deposit$0
Get my real number
Deposit and possible LMI saving
Compare a smaller deposit with the traditional 20% deposit target.
Deposit needed
$0
A 20% deposit would be $0.
Loan amount$0
Estimated LMI$0
Potential LMI saved with scheme$0
Check eligibility
Victorian stamp duty estimate
VIC first home buyer exemption and concession, based on the data supplied in page 7.
First-home duty estimate
$0
Full exemption may apply.
Standard duty estimate$0
Possible duty saving$0
Map my savings
What may help
Schemes that can bring the first home forward
Some support is federal, some is state-based, and some options cannot be combined. We help you avoid guesswork.
State
First Home Owner Grant
Up to $50k
Cash grants usually focus on new homes and vary widely by state or territory.
- Often new-build focused
- Caps and dates matter
- Can change over time
ATO
First Home Super Saver
Up to $50k
Use eligible voluntary super contributions to help build a deposit tax-effectively.
- Per-person limits apply
- Couples may both use it
- Timing rules matter
Federal
Help to Buy
2% deposit
Shared equity option where the government contributes to the purchase for eligible buyers.
- Income caps apply
- Shared equity rules apply
- Cannot stack with every scheme
State by state
What is happening across Australia
The state data below comes from your version 7 draft. Treat it as general guidance and confirm eligibility before relying on it.
Victoria VIC
Duty: $0 up to $600k, concession to $750k.
Grant: up to $10k for eligible new homes.
New South Wales NSW
Duty: $0 up to $800k, concession to $1m.
Grant: $10k for eligible new homes.
Queensland QLD
Duty: $0 up to $700k, concession to $800k.
Grant: $30k new-home grant noted as ending 30 Jun 2026.
South Australia SA
Duty: relief on eligible new builds and off-the-plan.
Grant: up to $15k for eligible new homes.
Western Australia WA
Duty: $0 up to $450k, concession to $600k.
Grant: $10k for eligible new homes.
Tasmania TAS
Duty: 50% discount noted for eligible established homes up to $750k.
Grant: $10k for eligible new homes.
ACT ACT
Duty: income-tested Home Buyer Concession Scheme.
Grant: replaced by the concession model.
Northern Territory NT
Duty: concession on eligible homes.
Grant: up to $50k HomeGrown Territory for new builds.
| State | Stamp duty relief | First Home Owner Grant | Notes from draft |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIC | $0 up to $600,000Concession $600,001-$750,000 | Up to $10,000New homes up to $750k | Off-the-plan duty concession runs to Apr 2027. |
| NSW | $0 up to $800,000Concession $800,001-$1,000,000 | $10,000New homes | 5% Deposit Scheme cap up to $1.5m in Sydney. |
| QLD | $0 up to $700,000Concession to $800,000 | $30,000New homes, draft notes end date 30 Jun 2026 | Draft notes grant reverts to $15,000 after the deadline. |
| SA | Relief on eligible new buildsand off-the-plan | Up to $15,000New homes | No price cap on the grant for eligible new homes. |
| WA | $0 up to $450,000Concession to $600,000 | $10,000New homes | Extra concessions in regional areas. |
| TAS | 50% duty discountEstablished homes up to $750k, subject to rules | $10,000New homes | Subject to eligibility and time limits. |
| ACT | Duty concession by incomeNo property cap noted in draft | Replaced by HBCSHome Buyer Concession Scheme | ACT runs an income-tested duty model. |
| NT | Concession on eligible homes | Up to $50,000HomeGrown Territory, new builds | Among the most generous new-build grants. |
How Mortgage Planners helps
A clear path from "can I?" to keys
1
Understand your position
Income, deposit, debts, goals, timing and what would make the loan stronger.
2
Map every scheme
Federal options, state grants, stamp duty relief and what can actually be combined.
3
Structure before submitting
The right lender, loan setup and documents before your application goes in.
4
Guide through settlement
From pre-approval to contract, valuation, approval, settlement and the first repayment.
Free first-home plan
Send your details and we will map your next step.
Tell us where you want to buy, what you have saved and what support you are curious about. The form opens an email draft to Mortgage Planners with your answers included.
First home buyer FAQs
Questions worth asking early
Can I really buy with a 5% deposit?
Many eligible first home buyers can. The property, your income, residency, loan approval and scheme rules still need to line up.
Can I use more than one scheme?
Often yes, but not always. Some schemes can stack and others cannot. We check the best combination before you rely on it.
Do I need to know exactly where I am buying?
No. A target suburb, state and price range is enough to start modelling options.
What does the first chat cost?
The initial conversation is free. If anything changes for your situation, Mortgage Planners will tell you upfront.