First Home Buyer Grants and Schemes in NSW – 2026 Guide

If you are buying your first home in New South Wales, there are several government grants, stamp duty concessions, and guarantee schemes that can significantly reduce your upfront costs. The challenge is knowing which ones you qualify for and how to combine them for maximum benefit.

This guide covers every major scheme available to NSW first home buyers as of 2026. For a nationwide overview of first home buyer loans and schemes, see our home loans for first home buyers Australia page.

1. First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) – NSW

The NSW FHOG is a one-off payment of $10,000 for eligible first home buyers purchasing or building a new home.

Key conditions:

• The home must be brand new or substantially renovated (the FHOG is not available for established homes in NSW)
• The total value of the home must be under $600,000 (or $750,000 for house and land packages)
• You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• You (and your spouse/partner) must not have previously owned residential property in Australia
• You must move into the property within 12 months and live there for at least 6 continuous months

The grant is paid at settlement through your lender. It can be used as part of your deposit or to cover purchase costs.

2. Stamp duty exemptions and concessions – NSW

This is where NSW first home buyers save the most money. The concessions apply to both new and established homes:

New homes (house, townhouse, apartment, vacant land):

• Full stamp duty exemption on properties up to $800,000
• Reduced stamp duty on properties between $800,000 and $1,000,000

Existing (established) homes:

• Full stamp duty exemption on properties up to $650,000
• Reduced stamp duty on properties between $650,000 and $800,000

On a $650,000 established home, the stamp duty exemption saves you approximately $24,000 to $26,000. This is often worth more than the FHOG itself.

Note: If you are buying above the cap, you will pay full stamp duty with no concession. Check the current thresholds with Revenue NSW as these are subject to change.

3. First Home Guarantee (federal)

This federal scheme allows eligible first home buyers to purchase with a 5% deposit and no Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). The government guarantees the remaining 15%.

In NSW, property price caps apply. As of 2026, the caps are approximately:

• Sydney and surrounding areas: $900,000
• Regional NSW: $750,000

Places are now unlimited with no income caps. You apply through a participating lender. Rovo Finance can check your eligibility and lodge the application.

4. Help to Buy (federal shared equity)

The government contributes up to 30% of a new home’s purchase price (25% for existing homes). You need as little as a 2% deposit. This scheme is means-tested with income thresholds.

When you sell, the government receives its proportional share of the sale proceeds. This reduces your loan size and repayments but means you share any capital gain (or loss).

5. First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS)

You can make voluntary contributions to your super fund and withdraw up to $50,000 to put toward your first home deposit. Because super contributions are taxed at 15% instead of your marginal rate, this can help you accumulate savings faster than a standard bank account.

You apply through the ATO to have the funds released. The process takes approximately 15 to 25 business days.

Can you stack these schemes?

Yes. An eligible NSW first home buyer purchasing a $600,000 new home could potentially access:

• $10,000 FHOG
• Full stamp duty exemption (saving approx. $22,000)
• First Home Guarantee (buy with 5% deposit, save $15,000+ in LMI)
• FHSSS (withdraw up to $50,000 from super for deposit)

That is potentially over $95,000 in combined grants, savings, and concessions on a single purchase. The key is knowing which schemes apply to your situation and ensuring the application process is managed correctly across all of them.

Next steps

Every first home buyer’s situation is different. Read our full first home buyer guide or book a free strategy call and we will check which grants and schemes apply to you, estimate your total upfront costs, and compare lender options.