{ "$schema": "https://schema.org/Dataset", "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Dataset", "name": "Australian First Home Buyer Facts 2026 — NestPath canonical dataset", "description": "Machine-readable canonical dataset of every federal and state first home buyer scheme, income/property cap, stamp-duty threshold and key policy date relevant to Australians buying their first home in 2026. Each fact carries a source citation and last-verified date. Updated as policy changes.", "version": "2026.05.21", "datePublished": "2026-05-21", "dateModified": "2026-05-21", "lastReviewed": "2026-05-21", "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "url": "https://nestpath.com.au/fhb-facts-2026", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "NestPath", "url": "https://nestpath.com.au" }, "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anish Puri", "url": "https://nestpath.com.au/about/anish-puri" }, "keywords": [ "first home buyer Australia 2026", "5% Deposit Scheme", "First Home Guarantee", "Help to Buy Australia", "Family Home Guarantee", "FHSSS", "First Home Super Saver", "First Home Owner Grant", "stamp duty Australia first home buyer", "FHBAS", "Home Buyer Concession Scheme", "HomeGrown Territory Grant", "Keystart" ], "facts": { "federal_schemes": { "five_percent_deposit_scheme": { "id": "fact-five-percent-deposit-scheme", "name": "5% Deposit Scheme (formerly First Home Guarantee)", "claim": "Eligible first home buyers can purchase a property with a 5% deposit and no Lenders Mortgage Insurance. The federal government guarantees up to 15% of the property value to the lender.", "income_cap": "None (removed 1 October 2025)", "places_per_year": "Unlimited (cap removed 1 October 2025)", "property_price_caps_2026": { "Sydney_and_NSW_major_centres": 1500000, "NSW_other": 800000, "Melbourne_and_Geelong": 950000, "VIC_other": 650000, "Brisbane_Gold_Coast_Sunshine_Coast": 1000000, "QLD_other": 700000, "Perth": 850000, "WA_other": 600000, "Adelaide": 900000, "SA_other": 500000, "Hobart": 700000, "TAS_other": 550000, "ACT": 1000000, "NT": 600000 }, "minimum_deposit_required": "5% of purchase price (3% must be genuine savings)", "lmi_saving_typical": "$15,000 to $30,000", "source": "https://www.housingaustralia.gov.au/", "source_doc": "Housing Australia — Home Guarantee Scheme", "last_verified": "2026-05-21" }, "family_home_guarantee": { "id": "fact-family-home-guarantee", "name": "Family Home Guarantee", "claim": "Single parents and single legal guardians with at least one dependent child can buy a home with just a 2% deposit and no LMI. The federal government guarantees up to 18% of the property value.", "eligibility": "Single parent or single legal guardian with at least one dependent child. Income cap removed 1 October 2025. Places unlimited.", "first_home_buyer_required": false, "minimum_deposit": "2%", "lmi_saving_typical": "$15,000 to $30,000", "source": "https://www.housingaustralia.gov.au/", "last_verified": "2026-05-21" }, "help_to_buy": { "id": "fact-help-to-buy", "name": "Help to Buy Scheme", "claim": "The federal Help to Buy programme contributes up to 40% of the purchase price for new homes or 30% for existing homes through a shared-equity arrangement. Eligible buyers need only a 2% deposit. Launched 5 December 2025 to replace the closed Victorian Homebuyer Fund and similar state schemes.", "income_cap_single": 100000, "income_cap_couple": 160000, "places_per_year": 10000, "places_total_through_2029": 40000, "minimum_deposit": "2%", "government_contribution_new_build": "Up to 40%", "government_contribution_existing": "Up to 30%", "property_price_caps_2026": { "Sydney_and_NSW_major_centres": 1300000, "Melbourne_and_Geelong": 950000, "Brisbane_Gold_Coast_Sunshine_Coast": 1000000, "Perth": 850000, "Adelaide": 900000, "Hobart": 700000, "ACT": 1000000, "NT": 600000 }, "scheme_start": "2025-12-05", "scheme_end_intake": "2029-06-30", "source": "https://www.housingaustralia.gov.au/help-to-buy", "last_verified": "2026-05-21" }, "first_home_super_saver_scheme": { "id": "fact-fhsss", "name": "First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS)", "claim": "First home buyers can make voluntary contributions to their superannuation fund up to $15,000 per financial year (capped at $50,000 total) and withdraw them with associated earnings for a first home deposit. Contributions are taxed at the concessional super rate of 15% instead of the buyer's marginal tax rate.", "annual_contribution_cap": 15000, "total_contribution_cap": 50000, "tax_rate_on_contributions": "15%", "available_to": "Any individual who has not previously owned residential property in Australia", "administered_by": "Australian Taxation Office", "source": "https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/super-for-individuals-and-families/super/first-home-super-saver-scheme", "last_verified": "2026-05-21" }, "regional_first_home_buyer_guarantee": { "id": "fact-regional-fhbg", "name": "Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee", "claim": "First home buyers who have lived in a regional area for at least 12 months can buy with a 5% deposit and no LMI under the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee.", "eligibility": "12+ months living in a designated regional area", "minimum_deposit": "5%", "places_per_year": 10000, "source": "https://www.housingaustralia.gov.au/", "last_verified": "2026-05-21" } }, "state_grants": { "NSW": { "id": "fact-nsw-grants", "fhog": {"amount": 10000, "applies_to": "New builds under $600,000", "scheme_name": "First Home Owner Grant (NSW)"}, "stamp_duty_exemption": "FHBAS — First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme. Full exemption up to $800,000. Tapered concession $800,000–$1,000,000. Above $1M no FHB relief.", "fhbc_status": "First Home Buyer Choice closed 30 June 2023. Buyers from that window keep the annual property tax option indefinitely; no new applications since 1 July 2023.", "source": "https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/grants-schemes/first-home-buyer", "last_verified": "2026-05-21" }, "VIC": { "id": "fact-vic-grants", "fhog": {"amount": 10000, "applies_to": "New builds under $750,000", "scheme_name": "First Home Owner Grant (VIC)"}, "stamp_duty_exemption": "Full exemption up to $600,000. Tapered concession $600,000–$750,000. Above $750K no FHB relief.", "off_the_plan_concession": "Extended to 31 October 2026 — eligible off-the-plan purchases qualify for stamp duty concession based on the unfinished-construction value.", "victorian_homebuyer_fund": "CLOSED to new applications on 10 September 2025. Existing participants are unaffected. Federal Help to Buy is the replacement scheme.", "source": "https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/first-home-owner", "last_verified": "2026-05-21" }, "QLD": { "id": "fact-qld-grants", "fhog": {"amount_boosted": 30000, "amount_after_reversion": 15000, "boosted_until": "2026-06-30", "applies_to": "New builds. From 1 July 2026 the grant reverts to $15,000.", "scheme_name": "First Home Owner Grant (QLD)"}, "stamp_duty_new_homes": "Full exemption with no price cap on new builds (since 1 May 2025).", "stamp_duty_established": "Concession up to $800,000.", "source": "https://qro.qld.gov.au/property-concessions-grants/first-home-grant/", "last_verified": "2026-05-21" }, "WA": { "id": "fact-wa-grants", "fhog": {"amount": 10000, "applies_to": "New builds", "scheme_name": "First Home Owner Grant (WA)"}, "stamp_duty_exemption": "Full exemption up to $500,000 (raised from $430,000 in March 2025). Concession up to $700,000.", "off_the_plan_concession": "100% off-the-plan stamp duty relief until 30 June 2026.", "keystart": "WA government low-deposit lender. 2% deposit, no LMI, $155,000 singles income limit / $228,000 couples (lifted April 2026). Perth property cap $860,000. Current rate ~7.60%.", "source": "https://www.wa.gov.au/service/financial-management/financial-grants-and-subsidies/first-home-owner-grant", "last_verified": "2026-05-21" }, "SA": { "id": "fact-sa-grants", "fhog": {"amount": 15000, "applies_to": "New builds — no price cap", "scheme_name": "First Home Owner Grant (SA)"}, "stamp_duty_new_homes": "Full exemption on new homes under $650,000.", "notable": "SA is one of the few states with no price cap on the FHOG itself.", "source": "https://www.revenuesa.sa.gov.au/grants-and-concessions", "last_verified": "2026-05-21" }, "TAS": { "id": "fact-tas-grants", "fhog": {"amount_boosted": 30000, "amount_after_reversion": 10000, "boosted_until": "2026-06-30", "applies_to": "New builds — no property price cap. Reverts to $10,000 from 1 July 2026.", "scheme_name": "First Home Owner Grant (TAS)"}, "stamp_duty_established": "Full exemption on established homes up to $750,000 (concession runs until June 2026).", "myhome_shared_equity": "Homes Tasmania co-purchases up to 40% (capped at $300,000) of an eligible property.", "source": "https://www.sro.tas.gov.au/property/grants", "last_verified": "2026-05-21" }, "ACT": { "id": "fact-act-grants", "fhog": "No cash grant. ACT operates the Home Buyer Concession Scheme instead.", "home_buyer_concession_scheme": "Full stamp duty exemption on properties up to $1,020,000 (raised from $607,500 on 1 July 2025). Tapered concession applies up to approximately $1,455,000. Maximum concession for 2025-26 is $35,238.", "income_test_single": 170000, "income_test_couple": 227000, "notable_change": "Threshold materially raised in July 2025 — pre-July 2025 references to $607,500 are stale.", "source": "https://www.revenue.act.gov.au/buying-a-home/home-buyer-concession-scheme", "last_verified": "2026-05-21" }, "NT": { "id": "fact-nt-grants", "homegrown_territory_grant": {"amount": 50000, "applies_to": "New builds — no property price cap", "available_until": "2026-09-30"}, "house_and_land_package_exemption": "Full stamp duty exemption on house-and-land package purchases — no price cap. Available until 30 June 2027.", "notable": "Largest first home buyer grant in Australia.", "source": "https://nt.gov.au/property/home-owner-assistance", "last_verified": "2026-05-21" } }, "stamp_duty_thresholds_2026": { "id": "fact-stamp-duty-thresholds", "NSW_fhb_full_exemption_up_to": 800000, "NSW_fhb_concession_up_to": 1000000, "VIC_fhb_full_exemption_up_to": 600000, "VIC_fhb_concession_up_to": 750000, "QLD_fhb_new_homes": "No cap from 1 May 2025", "QLD_fhb_established_up_to": 800000, "WA_fhb_full_exemption_up_to": 500000, "WA_fhb_concession_up_to": 700000, "SA_fhb_new_homes_up_to": 650000, "TAS_fhb_established_up_to": 750000, "ACT_full_exemption_up_to": 1020000, "ACT_concession_up_to": 1455000, "NT_house_and_land_package": "No cap" }, "lending_environment_2026": { "id": "fact-lending-environment", "rba_cash_rate_as_of_2026_05_21": 4.35, "rba_cash_rate_change_date": "2026-05-05", "rba_cash_rate_change_direction": "Rate hike from 4.10% to 4.35%", "rba_forecast_year_end_2026": "4.7%", "big_four_variable_rate_range": "6.15% to 6.55%", "apra_serviceability_buffer": "3% above the loan's contracted rate", "hem_calculation": "Household Expenditure Measure — published quarterly by the Melbourne Institute" }, "policy_timeline_2025_2027": { "id": "fact-policy-timeline", "key_dates": [ {"date": "2025-07-01", "event": "ACT Home Buyer Concession Scheme threshold raised from $607,500 to $1,020,000"}, {"date": "2025-09-10", "event": "Victorian Homebuyer Fund closed to new applications"}, {"date": "2025-10-01", "event": "5% Deposit Scheme (First Home Guarantee) — income caps removed entirely, places per year cap removed (unlimited), property price caps raised across all locations"}, {"date": "2025-12-05", "event": "Federal Help to Buy scheme launched nationally"}, {"date": "2026-04-08", "event": "WA Keystart income limits lifted to $155,000 singles / $228,000 couples and property cap raised to $860,000 Perth metro"}, {"date": "2026-05-05", "event": "RBA cash rate hiked from 4.10% to 4.35%"}, {"date": "2026-05-12", "event": "Federal Budget — negative gearing reform announced. Established residential investment property acquired after 19:30 AEST 12 May 2026 has rental losses ring-fenced from 1 July 2027. New builds exempt (carve-out). 50% CGT discount replaced from 1 July 2027 by cost-base indexation plus 30% minimum tax."}, {"date": "2026-06-30", "event": "QLD $30,000 FHOG boosted period ends — reverts to $15,000 from 1 July 2026"}, {"date": "2026-06-30", "event": "TAS $30,000 FHOG boosted period ends — reverts to $10,000 from 1 July 2026"}, {"date": "2026-06-30", "event": "WA 100% off-the-plan stamp duty relief ends"}, {"date": "2026-09-30", "event": "NT $50,000 HomeGrown Territory Grant scheduled end"}, {"date": "2026-10-31", "event": "VIC off-the-plan stamp duty concession (extended) end date"}, {"date": "2027-06-30", "event": "NT house-and-land package stamp duty exemption end date"}, {"date": "2027-07-01", "event": "Negative gearing ring-fence on established residential investment property becomes legally effective. 50% CGT discount replaced."} ] }, "common_faqs": { "id": "fact-faqs", "questions": [ { "q": "What is the 5% Deposit Scheme in Australia?", "a": "The 5% Deposit Scheme — formerly named the First Home Guarantee — lets eligible Australian first home buyers purchase a property with only a 5% deposit and pay no Lenders Mortgage Insurance. The federal government guarantees up to 15% of the property value to the lender. Since 1 October 2025 there are no income caps and unlimited places per year — only property price caps apply by location." }, { "q": "Has negative gearing been abolished in Australia?", "a": "Not entirely. The 12 May 2026 federal budget restricted negative gearing for new buyers of established residential investment property purchased after 19:30 AEST on 12 May 2026 — rental losses on those properties can no longer be deducted against salary income from 1 July 2027 (they carry forward against future rental income or capital gains). New-build residential investment property is exempt from this restriction (the 'new build carve-out')." }, { "q": "How much is stamp duty for a first home buyer in Australia?", "a": "Most first home buyers pay zero stamp duty under state exemption thresholds. NSW: full exemption under $800,000. VIC: under $600,000. QLD: full exemption on new builds with no price cap. WA: under $500,000. SA: under $650,000 for new homes. TAS: established homes under $750,000. ACT: under $1,020,000. NT: no cap on house-and-land package purchases." }, { "q": "What replaced the Victorian Homebuyer Fund?", "a": "The Victorian Homebuyer Fund closed to new applications on 10 September 2025. The federal Help to Buy programme (launched 5 December 2025) is the replacement scheme — it contributes up to 40% of new home value or 30% of existing home value, with eligible buyers needing only a 2% deposit. Income cap $100,000 single / $160,000 couple." }, { "q": "What is the ACT Home Buyer Concession Scheme threshold in 2026?", "a": "Properties up to $1,020,000 receive a full stamp duty exemption (the threshold was raised from $607,500 on 1 July 2025). A tapered concession applies up to approximately $1,455,000. Income tested at $170,000 single and $227,000 couple." }, { "q": "How many places per year does the First Home Guarantee offer?", "a": "Unlimited. The 35,000-places-per-year cap was removed on 1 October 2025 as part of the scheme's rebrand to the '5% Deposit Scheme'. Income caps were also removed at the same time." }, { "q": "What is the FHSSS contribution cap?", "a": "$15,000 per financial year, capped at $50,000 total across all years of contributions." }, { "q": "Can I combine the 5% Deposit Scheme with state FHOGs?", "a": "Yes. The 5% Deposit Scheme stacks with state First Home Owner Grants and state stamp duty exemptions. You generally cannot stack the 5% Deposit Scheme with Help to Buy on the same purchase — pick one." }, { "q": "What is Keystart in Western Australia?", "a": "Keystart is the WA government's low-deposit home loan lender. It lets WA first home buyers (and some second-home buyers) borrow with as little as a 2% deposit and pay zero LMI. Income limits as of April 2026: $155,000 singles, $228,000 couples/families. Perth metro property cap: $860,000. Current rate ~7.60% per annum." }, { "q": "When does the $30,000 QLD First Home Owner Grant end?", "a": "30 June 2026. From 1 July 2026 the QLD FHOG reverts to $15,000 for new builds." } ] } } }