Saving up for a first home in New South Wales is not without its challenges as the state is widely considered the most expensive for property in Australia. But to ease some of the financial burden, there are a number of helping hands in the form of government schemes to help you achieve the great Australian dream sooner.
The New South Wales government provides a number of support schemes for first home buyers looking to enter the property market including its First Home Owner Grant and First Home Buyer Assistance schemes. Let's check the details.
How the First Home Owner Grant works in NSW
The NSW First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) provides $10,000 for a newly built house, townhouse, or apartment valued up to $600,000.
If you purchase vacant land and sign a contract with a builder, the total combined value of the land plus the contract (including the value of any variations) must not exceed $750,000.
To be eligible, the home must not have been previously sold or occupied. This means the scheme automatically excludes established properties.
The FHOG can be used towards your deposit but given it's only $10,000, it likely won't be enough to cover a full deposit and you'll have to come up with the rest out of your savings. To avoid Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI), you'll have to come up with a 20% deposit and lenders will still want to see that you've genuinely saved most of the deposit.
Stamp Duty
Stamp duty, or transfer duty, is a state-based tax and is a major barrier to first-time buyers across Australia - NSW is no exception. However, first home buyers in NSW can qualify for stamp duty relief - or complete exemption - through the First Home Buyer Assistance scheme.
The scheme provides a total exemption from stamp duty for properties valued at $800,000 or less while a concessional rate applies for others, depending on their value. This applies to existing homes as well as new homes and vacant land.
Here is a guide to the exemptions or concessions which apply on or after 1 July 2023:
Property value |
Exemption |
|
|---|---|---|
|
New and existing homes |
Value is equal to or less than $800,000 |
Exempt You can apply for a full exemption from transfer duty. |
|
Value is above $800,000 and less than $1 million |
Concessional rate You can apply for a concessional transfer duty rate. |
|
|
Vacant land |
Value is equal to or less than $350,000 |
Exempt You can apply for a full exemption from transfer duty. |
|
Value is above $350,000 and less than $450,000 |
Concessional rate You can apply for a concessional transfer duty rate. |
*As at May 2024
The NSW Department of Revenue's First Home Buyers Assistance calculator will give you a guide as to the concessional rate you may be entitled to. Also, see the NSW Department of Revenue for more information on the scheme, and exemptions and concessions that apply to homes purchased in earlier time periods.
What homes can be purchased using the FHOG?
To take advantage of the FHOG in NSW, eligible homes can be a house, townhouse, apartment, unit or similar that is newly built, purchased off the plan, or substantially renovated. The grant is not available for those looking to buy an investment property or holiday home.
First Home Owner Grant eligibility
There are a number of conditions first home buyers in NSW must meet before they can be deemed eligible to receive the NSW FHOG of $10,000.
These include:
-
You must be an individual, not a company or trust
-
You must be at least 18 years of age
-
You, or at least one person you're buying with, must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
-
You and your spouse must not previously have owned a home in Australia or received an Australian First Home Owner Grant
-
You'll need to live in your first home for at least six months within 12 months of buying or completion of construction
You may still be eligible for the FHOG in NSW if you've previously owned a residential property, but you haven't lived in it for more than six months.
If you are unsure whether you qualify for the NSW FHOG, you can use this online resource to assess your eligibility.
Applying for the First Home Owner Grant
If you require the grant for settlement or first drawn down/progress payment, you must lodge your application with the approved agent who is providing you with finance.
Applying through NSW Department of Revenue
Other applicants must lodge within 12 months of settlement or the completed construction date of their new home. If you leave it longer than that, you will need to provide additional documents.
Applying through an Agent
If you're applying through an approved agent, you'll need to complete the First Home Owner Grant (New Homes) Application form. The agent will lodge your application form on your behalf after you have ticked the declaration box, printed your name clearly, and dated the form.
To apply for the First Home Owner Grant through your bank or financial institution when you're arranging your finance, you'll need to supply some supporting documents with your application form. These include:
-
A copy of your land sale contract (dated and signed by the vendor)
-
A title search that shows you as the registered proprietor of the land
-
A statement from the vendor or their legal representative as evidence that the house hasn't been occupied since the completion of construction
-
If choosing to construct your home on vacant land, you will need to provide evidence of the total value of the property
Competitive home loan rates
If you're a first home buyer looking for a competitive home loan, the table below features some of the lowest interest rates on the market for owner occupiers.
| Lender | Home Loan | Interest Rate | Comparison Rate* | Monthly Repayment | Repayment type | Rate Type | Offset | Redraw | Ongoing Fees | Upfront Fees | LVR | Lump Sum Repayment | Additional Repayments | Split Loan Option | Tags | Features | Link | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6.04% p.a. | 6.06% p.a. | $2,408 | Principal & Interest | Variable | $0 | $530 | 90% | Featured 4.6 Star Customer Ratings |
| |||||||||
5.99% p.a. | 5.90% p.a. | $2,396 | Principal & Interest | Variable | $0 | $0 | 80% | Featured Apply In Minutes |
| |||||||||
6.09% p.a. | 6.11% p.a. | $2,421 | Principal & Interest | Variable | $0 | $250 | 60% | Featured Unlimited Redraws |
|
Other schemes to NSW First Home Owner Grant
As well as the state schemes, there are a number of federal programs that can also be accessed by eligible home buyers. These include:
First Home Guarantee
The First Home Guarantee (FHBG) is an Australian government incentive for first home buyers looking to purchase their first home. The scheme offers first home buyers the ability to purchase a home with a deposit as low as 5%, without the need to pay Lenders' Mortgage Insurance (LMI). This means you can borrow up to 95% of the property value, with the federal government providing the lender with a guarantee of up to 15%.
The FHBG is administered by Housing Australia on behalf of the Australian government, offering 35,000 places for Aussies across the country each financial year until 30 June 2025.
Regional First Home Guarantee
The Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee Scheme is identical to the First Home Guarantee, except it is designed to target first home buyers in regional Australia.
With the Regional First Home Guarantee, first home buyers can take advantage of 10,000 guarantees to help purchase a regional home with as little as 5% loan deposit without having to pay LMI. This means you can borrow up to 95% of the property value, with the federal government guaranteeing up to 15%.
Family Home Guarantee
The Family Home Guarantee allows 5,000 single parents each year to qualify for a home loan with as little as a 2% deposit without having to pay LMI. The government will guarantee up to 18%.
The scheme is available to previous owner-occupiers as well as first home buyers; has a maximum annual income cap of $125,000; must be for principal & interest (P&I) repayments and for loan terms no longer than 30 years.
Read more about state First Home Owner/Buyer Grants in other Australian states:
Article first published 11 June 2021. Last updated 27 May 2024.
Photo by Lynda Hinton on Unsplash
Ready, Set, Buy!
Learn everything you need to know about buying property – from choosing the right property and home loan, to the purchasing process, tips to save money and more!
With bonus Q&A sheet and Crossword!
Denise Raward
Harry O'Sullivan
Alex Brewster
