First Home Buyer Grant NSW: Every Scheme Explained (2026)

Buying your first home in NSW, you’ve got government support coming from multiple directions. Most first home buyers only know about one or two of them. But there are actually four layers: the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG), stamp duty exemptions and concessions, and three federal schemes – the First Home Guarantee, Help to Buy, and the First Home Super Saver Scheme.Stack these correctly, and you could save $30,000 to $50,000, depending on what you’re buying. This guide walks through every scheme available to NSW first home buyers in 2026 – what each one pays, who qualifies, and how they work together.

What is the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) in NSW?

On this page ▾

• FHOG eligibility requirements
• Stamp duty exemptions and concessions for first home buyers
• Federal schemes for first home buyers
• How to apply for the FHOG and stamp duty concession
• How a mortgage broker helps first home buyers
• FAQ: First home buyer grants NSW

The First Home Owner Grant is a one-off payment from the NSW Government for eligible first home buyers purchasing or building a new home. It’s been available in various forms since 2000 and is administered by Revenue NSW.

How much is the grant?

The NSW FHOG pays $10,000 toward the purchase or construction of a new home. For completed new builds, the grant is credited at settlement. For owner-builders and off-the-plan purchases, it’s paid at the first progress payment.There’s no income test for the FHOG – your earnings don’t matter. The restrictions are all about the property: it must be a new home with a value at or below $600,000, or $750,000 for a house and land package.

New build vs existing property – what qualifies?

Here’s where most first home buyers get confused. The NSW FHOG only applies to new or substantially renovated homes – not to established properties you’re buying from someone else.A new home qualifies if it’s never been lived in as someone’s primary residence. A substantially renovated home qualifies if the renovations replaced or altered substantially all structural and non-structural components, and no one has lived in it as their primary home since those renovations were finished.If you’re buying an established property, the FHOG doesn’t apply – but you can still access stamp duty support under the First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme (covered below).

FHOG eligibility requirements

Personal eligibility

To qualify for the NSW FHOG, you must:

• Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have never previously owned or co-owned residential property in Australia
• Have never previously received a first home owner grant in any Australian state or territory
• Intend to move into the property as your principal place of residence within 12 months of settlement or completion, and stay there

If you’re buying with a co-borrower, every applicant must meet these criteria. If even one applicant has previously owned property in Australia, the application is declined.

Property eligibility

The property must:

• Be a new home or substantially renovated home (not previously occupied as a residence)
• Have a total value at or below $600,000 for a standard new home, or $750,000 for a house and land package
• Be located in NSW

Stamp duty exemptions and concessions for first home buyers

Unlike the FHOG, the NSW First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme (FHBAS) applies to both new and existing properties. If you’re buying an established home, this is where most of your government support comes from.

Full stamp duty exemption (properties up to $800,000)

Buy a property for $800,000 or less, and you pay no stamp duty. On an $800,000 purchase, the standard stamp duty bill would be $30,412. That exemption can mean the difference between closing costs you can manage and closing costs that force you to borrow more.The exemption applies whether you’re buying new or established, as long as you meet the first home buyer eligibility criteria and intend to occupy the property.

Concessional rate ($800,001-$1,000,000)

For properties valued between $800,001 and $1,000,000, a reduced stamp duty rate applies. The closer you are to $800,000, the bigger the reduction.Example: On a $900,000 purchase, a first home buyer pays approximately $19,706 in stamp duty instead of the standard $34,912 – a saving of over $15,000. That’s enough to cover a professional building inspection, legal fees, and a solid settlement buffer.Above $1,000,000, you pay the full stamp duty rate. No first home buyer concession applies.The FHBAS and the FHOG can be used together. On a new home valued under $600,000, you could receive the $10,000 FHOG and pay zero stamp duty at the same time. Check the full eligibility criteria in our guide to stamp duty exemptions for first home buyers in NSW.

Federal schemes for first home buyers

Three federal programs can reduce your upfront costs or give your deposit a boost.

First Home Guarantee (5% deposit, no LMI)

The First Home Guarantee lets you purchase with as little as a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) – the fee your lender charges when your deposit is below 20%. The federal government guarantees the shortfall, which removes the LMI requirement.From 1 October 2025, the scheme has no income caps and no annual limit on places. Any Australian citizen or permanent resident buying a home to live in can apply, regardless of earnings.To qualify, you need to:

• Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• Be purchasing or building a home to live in as your principal place of residence
• No income restrictions apply

Property price caps vary by location. In Sydney, the current cap is $1,500,000. You apply through participating lenders – your mortgage broker can confirm which lenders are currently on the panel.

Help to Buy (shared equity)

Help to Buy lets the federal government co-purchase your property with you – contributing up to 40% of the price of a new home, or 30% for an existing home. This shrinks your loan size and your repayments, and lowers the deposit you need (minimum 2%).You don’t pay rent on the government’s share. When you sell or refinance, the government takes its proportional share from the proceeds.Income caps are $100,000 for singles and $160,000 for couples. Property price caps also apply, depending on location.The scheme launched in December 2025 and is running in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, the NT, and ACT. You apply through Housing Australia’s participating lenders. Speak to your mortgage broker to check whether your situation and property qualify.

First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS)

The FHSSS lets you make voluntary contributions into your super on top of your employer contributions, then withdraw those funds – plus any associated earnings – to use as part of your first home deposit.You can contribute up to $15,000 per financial year, with a maximum of $50,000 total across all years. Those contributions are taxed at 15% inside super instead of your marginal tax rate. On a 32.5% marginal rate, contributing $15,000 in a year saves you around $2,625 compared to saving the same amount outside super.To use the FHSSS, you can’t have previously owned property in Australia. More details on this scheme are available in our article on using super to buy a house.

How to apply for the FHOG and stamp duty concession

Both the FHOG and the FHBAS (stamp duty exemption or concession) are administered by Revenue NSW. The process is straightforward:

1. Confirm eligibility – check your personal eligibility and the property’s eligibility before you exchange contracts
2. Arrange home loan pre-approval – get home loan pre-approval so you know exactly what you can borrow, with the grant and stamp duty savings factored in
3. Apply through your lender – most lenders include the FHOG application as part of settlement and submit it to Revenue NSW on your behalf; confirm this early
4. Apply directly if needed – if your lender doesn’t manage the submission, lodge directly at revenue.nsw.gov.au; the stamp duty exemption is applied at the same time
5. Receive the grant at settlement – for completed new homes, the $10,000 is credited at settlement; for owner-builders or off-the-plan purchases, it’s paid at the first progress payment stage

How a mortgage broker helps first home buyers

Most buyers don’t realise how these schemes stack together. Which ones you can layer, which lenders participate in the First Home Guarantee, and how to time your FHSSS withdrawal – these are the details where one wrong choice costs you money.Our mortgage brokers at Mortgage World Australia work with 52+ lenders and have helped hundreds of NSW first home buyers layer these schemes together correctly. Getting it right from the start means no surprises at settlement, a cleaner loan structure, and confidence that you haven’t left any entitlement on the table.If you’re buying with a 5% deposit and the First Home Guarantee, for example, your choice of lender matters significantly – not every participating lender treats these applications the same way.Ready to work through which schemes apply to your situation? Explore our first home buyer loans page, or speak to a mortgage broker at Mortgage World Australia directly.

FAQ: First home buyer grants NSW

How much is the First Home Owner Grant in NSW? The NSW FHOG pays $10,000 for eligible purchases or construction of new or substantially renovated homes. There’s no income test. The property must not exceed $600,000 (or $750,000 for house and land packages).Can you get the first home buyer grant for an existing property? No. The FHOG applies only to new or substantially renovated homes not previously occupied. For an established property, the FHOG isn’t available – but you may still qualify for a stamp duty exemption or concession under the FHBAS.Do you get a stamp duty exemption with the first home buyer grant? Both can apply to the same purchase. The stamp duty exemption applies to new and existing homes up to $800,000. On a new home under $600,000, you could receive the $10,000 FHOG and pay zero stamp duty.What is the income limit for the first home buyer grant in NSW? There’s no income limit for the NSW FHOG. As of October 2025, the federal First Home Guarantee also has no income caps – it’s open to all eligible Australian citizens and permanent residents regardless of income.How do you apply for the First Home Owner Grant NSW? Applications go through Revenue NSW – via your lender at settlement, or directly at revenue.nsw.gov.au. A mortgage broker will coordinate this alongside your loan application.What federal schemes are available for first home buyers in NSW? Three programs: the First Home Guarantee (5% deposit, no LMI, no income caps, Sydney price cap $1.5M), Help to Buy (government shared equity of up to 40% for new homes or 30% for existing homes – income caps of $100,000 for singles and $160,000 for couples), and the First Home Super Saver Scheme (save up to $50,000 inside super for your deposit at a lower tax rate).Can you use the FHOG for an off-the-plan purchase? Yes. The FHOG applies to off-the-plan new homes, provided the total value is within the threshold, and all eligibility criteria are met. The grant is paid at settlement.

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This article is general information only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Eligibility criteria, thresholds, and scheme availability are subject to change. Speak to a qualified mortgage broker and your solicitor before making financial decisions.Patrick O’Brien, Director and Home Loan Specialist since 2001