First Home Buyer Scheme Comparison Table — All Federal and State Schemes (2026)
Use this table to quickly compare every major first home buyer scheme in Australia. Filter by your income, deposit size and state to identify which schemes you may be eligible for.
Federal Schemes — Quick Comparison
| Scheme | Min Deposit | LMI? | Income Cap (Single) | Income Cap (Joint) | FHB Required? | Places/Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Home Guarantee (FHBG) | 5% | No | $125,000 | $200,000 | Yes | 35,000 |
| Regional FHB Guarantee (RFHBG) | 5% | No | $125,000 | $200,000 | Yes | 10,000 |
| Family Home Guarantee (FHG) | 2% | No | $125,000 | N/A (single only) | No | 5,000 |
| Help to Buy (Shared Equity) | 2% | No | $90,000 | $120,000 | Yes | 10,000 |
| First Home Super Saver (FHSS) | N/A (deposit supplement) | N/A | No cap | No cap | Yes | Unlimited |
| DHOAS | N/A (interest subsidy) | N/A | ADF members only | ADF members | No | N/A |
Federal Scheme — Property Price Caps by State
| State | FHBG Cap | RFHBG Cap | FHG Cap | Help to Buy Cap (New) | Help to Buy Cap (Established) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $900,000 | $750,000 | $900,000 | $950,000 | $850,000 |
| VIC | $800,000 | $650,000 | $800,000 | $850,000 | $750,000 |
| QLD | $700,000 | $550,000 | $700,000 | $750,000 | $650,000 |
| WA | $600,000 | $450,000 | $600,000 | $600,000 | $500,000 |
| SA | $600,000 | $450,000 | $600,000 | $600,000 | $500,000 |
| TAS | $600,000 | $450,000 | $600,000 | $600,000 | $500,000 |
| ACT | $750,000 | N/A | $750,000 | $750,000 | $650,000 |
| NT | $600,000 | $550,000 | $600,000 | $600,000 | $500,000 |
Help to Buy price caps are indicative — confirm with Housing Australia. Help to Buy was legislated in early 2024; verify current scheme status and launch date.
State FHOG Comparison
| State | FHOG Amount | Property Type | Contract Price Cap (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $10,000 | New builds only | $600,000 | — |
| VIC (metro) | $10,000 | New builds only | Varies | — |
| VIC (regional) | $20,000 | New builds only | Varies | Higher grant for regional VIC |
| QLD | $30,000 | New builds only | $750,000 | Highest FHOG in Australia |
| WA | $10,000 | New builds only | Varies | — |
| SA | $15,000 | New builds only | Varies | Second-highest FHOG |
| TAS | $10,000 | New AND established | Varies | Only state with established home eligibility |
| NT | $10,000 | New builds only | Varies | — |
| ACT | Nil | N/A | N/A | No FHOG in ACT |
State Stamp Duty Relief Comparison
| State | Relief Type | Full Exemption Threshold | Partial Concession Up To |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Full exemption + partial concession | $800,000 | $1,000,000 |
| VIC | Full exemption + partial concession | $600,000 | $750,000 |
| QLD | Home concession rate (not exemption) | N/A | ~$700,000 |
| WA | Full exemption + partial concession | $430,000 | $530,000 |
| SA | Off-the-plan concession only | N/A | Varies |
| TAS | 50% concession | N/A | Entire purchase price |
| ACT | Income-tested full exemption (HBCS) | Income-dependent | — |
| NT | Full exemption | $500,000 | Above $500,000 |
State Shared Equity Programs
| State | Scheme | Max Government Equity | Income Cap (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Shared Equity Home Buyer Helper (pilot — check status) | 40% (new) / 30% (established) | $93,200 (single) |
| VIC | Victorian Homebuyer Fund | 25% | Varies |
| WA | Keystart SharedStart | Variable | WA-specific |
Check current availability and status with respective state housing authorities — programs may be updated, paused or replaced.
Eligibility Decision Tree
Step 1 — Are you a first home buyer?
- Never owned residential property in Australia → Proceed
- Previously owned → Many schemes unavailable (FHG exception for single parents)
Step 2 — What is your income?
- Under $90k single / $120k joint → Consider Help to Buy + FHBG + state schemes
- $90k–$125k single / $120k–$200k joint → FHBG is primary federal scheme
- Above $125k single / $200k joint → No federal guarantees; state schemes only + LMI or guarantor
Step 3 — What is your deposit?
- 2% available → FHG (single parent) or Help to Buy
- 5% available → FHBG or RFHBG (regional)
- 10–20% available → Stamp duty concession and FHOG still apply; LMI may be required (10–15% LVR) or waived (20%+)
Step 4 — New build or established?
- New build → FHOG available in most states + FHBG + stamp duty exemption + FHSS
- Established → FHBG + stamp duty exemption + FHSS; FHOG only in TAS
Maximum Saving by State — All Schemes Combined (Indicative)
Scenario: First home buyer couple (joint income $160k), 5% deposit, purchasing new build at the FHBG cap.
| State | FHBG LMI Saving | FHOG | Stamp Duty Saving | Total Indicative Saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW ($900k new build) | ~$32,000 | $10,000 | ~$31,490 | ~$73,490 |
| VIC regional ($650k new build) | ~$18,000 | $20,000 | ~$31,070 | ~$69,070 |
| QLD ($700k new build) | ~$22,000 | $30,000 | ~$15,000 (concession) | ~$67,000 |
| WA ($600k new build) | ~$16,000 | $10,000 | ~$14,440 | ~$40,440 |
| SA ($600k new build) | ~$16,000 | $15,000 | Limited | ~$31,000+ |
| TAS ($600k established) | ~$16,000 | $10,000 | ~$11,499 (50% concession) | ~$37,499 |
Indicative only — individual eligibility, price caps and scheme availability determine actual benefits. LMI estimates vary by lender.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I combine the FHBG and the FHOG? Yes — if you meet the eligibility criteria for both (first home buyer, income and price cap), you can receive both.
Is there a scheme for buying with less than 5% deposit? Yes — the Family Home Guarantee (2% deposit, single parents) and Help to Buy (2% deposit, shared equity) both allow purchase below 5% without LMI.
Can I combine multiple federal schemes? The FHBG and Help to Buy cannot be combined for the same purchase. The FHSS (super savings) can generally be combined with FHBG or Help to Buy.
Related Guides
- Government Home Buying Schemes — Complete Guide
- First Home Guarantee Explained
- First Home Owner Grant by State
- Stamp Duty Exemptions by State
- First Home Buyer Hub
This article provides general information only. Scheme eligibility, income caps, property price caps and grant amounts are set by the Commonwealth and state governments and are subject to change. Always verify current scheme details with Housing Australia, state revenue offices or your mortgage broker. For advice tailored to your situation, speak with a licensed mortgage broker or financial adviser. Find one through MoneySmart.
Disclosure: This article contains general comparisons of government schemes. Peakifi does not receive commissions from any government body, scheme administrator or financial institution.