If the plan is implemented, people in NSW buying their first home with a purchase price of $800,000 or less won't need to pay stamp duty, up from $650,000.

Concessions will also be available where the purchase price is between $800,00 and $1,000,000.

The proposed legislation will abolish the land tax choice policy established by the previous Perrottet administration, whereby first home buyers could choose to pay an annual land tax instead of stamp duty.

The current government intends to abolish this option by 1 July, although the nearly 5,000 home owners who have already opted in can continue to pay the land tax until the property is sold.

NSW Premier Chris Minns called the reforms a "fairer and simpler system, to ensure more first home buyers have a chance of owning their first property".

The current First Home Buyer Choice (FHBC) introduced by the previous government meant that those buying properties at the top of the range received a larger proportion of the benefits.

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey says that the new legislation will address this imbalance and provide more equitable relief.

"This policy will deliver the most help to the first home buyers most at risk of leaving the housing market all together as interest rates go up," Mr Mookhey said.

"Now 5 out of every 6 first home buyers will get help to own the roof over their heads. It will benefit more first home buyers overall and more fairly goes to those who need it most. The new thresholds for stamp duty exemptions and concessions are a simpler and fairer way to help more first home buyers than the property tax, which helped a smaller cohort of first home buyers."

This is what the changes might look like:

Purchase Price Current FHB stamp duty New FHB stamp duty Savings
$700,000 $10,363 $0 $10,363
$750,000 $20,727 $0 $20,727
$800,000 $31,090 $0 $31,090
$850,000 $33,340 $10,023 $23,318
$900,000 $35,590 $20,045 $15,545
$950,000 $37,840 $30,068 $7773
$990,000 $39,640 $38,086 $1555

Previous calculations found first home buyers would be better off for 16 years on a $1 million property.

This is below the Sydney median house price, and a saving of around $40,000 in upfront stamp duty.

Before parliament: Liberals intend to contest

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman is adamant the Liberal Party will try to block the proposed reforms and defend the initial First Home Buyer Choice policy.

"[The current policy] is in the best interests of first home buyers and mak[es] it easier for them to get their first home at a time of unprecedented difficulty to do that," Mr Speakman said.

Labor does not have a majority in either the senate or house.


Advertisement

Buying a home or looking to refinance? The table below features home loans with some of the lowest interest rates on the market for owner occupiers.

Update resultsUpdate
LenderHome LoanInterest Rate Comparison Rate* Monthly Repayment Repayment type Rate Type Offset Redraw Ongoing Fees Upfront Fees Max LVR Lump Sum Repayment Additional Repayments Split Loan Option TagsFeaturesLinkComparePromoted ProductDisclosure
6.04% p.a.
6.06% p.a.
$3,011
Principal & Interest
Variable
$0
$530
90%
4.6 Star Customer Ratings
  • Available for purchase or refinance, min 10% deposit needed to qualify.
  • No application, ongoing monthly or annual fees.
  • Quick and easy online application process.
Disclosure
5.99% p.a.
5.90% p.a.
$2,995
Principal & Interest
Variable
$0
$0
80%
Apply in minutes
  • No application or ongoing fees. Annual rate discount
  • Unlimited redraws & additional repayments. LVR <80%
  • A low-rate variable home loan from a 100% online lender. Backed by the Commonwealth Bank.
Disclosure
5.69% p.a.
6.16% p.a.
$2,899
Principal & Interest
Fixed
$0
$530
90%
  • Available for purchase or refinance, min 10% deposit needed to qualify.
  • No application, ongoing monthly or annual fees.
  • Flexibility to split your loan with both fixed and variable rates
Disclosure
Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

Base criteria of: a $400,000 loan amount, variable, fixed, principal and interest (P&I) home loans with an LVR (loan-to-value) ratio of at least 80%. However, the ‘Compare Home Loans’ table allows for calculations to be made on variables as selected and input by the user. Some products will be marked as promoted, featured or sponsored and may appear prominently in the tables regardless of their attributes. All products will list the LVR with the product and rate which are clearly published on the product provider’s website. Monthly repayments, once the base criteria are altered by the user, will be based on the selected products’ advertised rates and determined by the loan amount, repayment type, loan term and LVR as input by the user/you. *The Comparison rate is based on a $150,000 loan over 25 years. Warning: this comparison rate is true only for this example and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Rates correct as of . View disclaimer.

Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

Picture by Jamie Davis 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!

By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy