Australian Government programs are listed first, followed by state and territory assistance. We link to the official government source for every program so you can check current eligibility.
Government program information on this site is checked against official Australian Government and state or territory sources. It was last reviewed on 14 September 2026 and is next scheduled for review on 14 December 2026. Where a figure could not be confirmed from an official source, it is not shown as confirmed.
Complete your first-home calculation for a personalised preliminary assessment of these programs. You can browse all of the general information below without it, or work through our first home buyer checklist to keep track of the other buying steps.
These three programs apply across Australia and work in different ways. Potentially relevant — check current government eligibility requirements.
Tell us a little about your situation
Optional. The more you add, the more specific the preliminary assessments below can be. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
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Cash for the property itself, not stamp duty and other buying costs.
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Used only to compare against the Help to Buy income thresholds.
Property price and location come from the price cap checker below. This is a preliminary assessment based only on the information you provided. It is not a determination of eligibility. Final eligibility depends on the official program rules and, where applicable, a participating lender.
Guarantee
National
Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme
The Australian Government guarantees part of an eligible home loan through a participating lender, so eligible buyers can purchase with a smaller deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).
Generally designed for
Eligible first-home buyers, and eligible single parents or legal guardians, buying with a smaller deposit.
Property price limits
Location-specific property price caps apply — see the table below
Deposit requirements
From 5% (first-home buyers) or 2% (eligible single parents/guardians)
•Eligible first-home buyers may be able to purchase with a minimum 5% deposit.
•Eligible single parents or legal guardians may be able to purchase with a minimum 2% deposit.
•There are no income caps under the current scheme.
•There is no waitlist and no limit on the number of places available.
•Eligible loans can avoid Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) because of the government guarantee.
•Applicants must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
•You must live in the property, and renting it out can end the guarantee.
•Both the purchase price and your lender's valuation must be at or below the price cap for the location.
•The loan must be obtained through a participating lender — you cannot apply directly to Housing Australia.
The government guarantee protects the lender. It does not pay your home loan or protect you from making your mortgage repayments.
Preliminary eligibility check
⚠ Some eligibility requirements need checking
Why this may be relevant
This low-deposit pathway may be worth exploring for first-home buyers who plan to live in the property.
What appears to be met
✓You told us you are a first-home buyer, which is how this scheme is designed.
✓You plan to live in the property, which the scheme generally requires.
✓There are no income caps under the current 5% Deposit Scheme rules.
What still needs checking
•Whether you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, which this scheme requires
•That your lender is a participating lender for the scheme
•Whether your deposit meets the minimum 5% of the property price
•The property price cap that applies to the location you are buying in
•Participating lender approval — the loan must be through a participating lender
•The lender's own borrowing and serviceability assessment
•Property eligibility (property type and location)
•Citizenship or permanent residency requirements
•Owner-occupier (living in the property) requirements
•Other scheme-specific eligibility requirements
Possible benefit
If eligible, you may be able to buy with a smaller deposit and avoid Lenders Mortgage Insurance, because the government guarantees part of the loan for a participating lender.
May allow eligible buyers to purchase with a smaller deposit while potentially avoiding LMI, subject to official eligibility and lender approval.
What to do next
→Confirm the property's exact postcode and the price cap that officially applies to it.
→Check which participating lenders offer the scheme.
→Review the official program requirements before making financial decisions.
→Confirm your eligibility with the relevant program authority or a participating lender.
Why this result?
This preliminary assessment is based on the information you entered:
• First-home buyer: Yes
• Intends to live in the property: Yes
• Buying with someone else: No
• New or established property: Established
• State or territory: NSW
• Property price: Not provided
• Estimated deposit: Not provided
• Combined taxable income: Not provided
Anything shown as “Not provided” was not assumed. Current information used by this calculator should be verified with the relevant official authority.
Being below the property price cap does not guarantee scheme approval. You must still meet all other eligibility and lender requirements.
Recommendation relevance is separate from eligibility. This is a preliminary assessment based only on the information you provided. It is not a determination of eligibility. Final eligibility depends on the official program rules and, where applicable, a participating lender.
Checked against the official source. Based on information last checked on 14 September 2026. Government rules and availability can change.
The government guarantee protects the lender. It does not pay your loan.
What was checked
• Program name: Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme (formerly the Home Guarantee Scheme).
• Minimum 5% deposit for first-home buyers, minimum 2% for eligible single parents or legal guardians.
• No income caps, no waitlist and no limit on places from 1 October 2025.
• Eligible loans do not require Lenders Mortgage Insurance because of the government guarantee.
• Applications are made only through a participating lender, not directly to Housing Australia.
• Applicants must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident and live in the property.
• Location-specific property price caps apply to both the purchase price and the lender's valuation.
Source: First Home Buyers (Australian Government) and Housing Australia.
Help to Buy is a shared-equity scheme — it is different from the 5% Deposit Scheme. The Australian Government contributes toward the purchase price and owns a corresponding equity share in the property.
Generally designed for
Eligible home buyers who need help bridging the gap between their deposit, loan and the property price.
Property price limits
The same location-specific caps as the 5% Deposit Scheme
Income limits
$103,000 individual, $165,000 joint or single parent (2026-27)
Deposit requirements
Minimum 2% deposit for eligible participants
•Applications are open through participating lenders, with 10,000 places available each year.
•Eligible participants may be able to purchase with a minimum 2% deposit.
•The Australian Government may contribute up to 30% toward an existing home, or up to 40% toward a new home.
•The government owns a corresponding equity share in the property.
•When you sell, or buy more of the government's share, the amount owed changes with the property's value.
•The buyer remains responsible for the mortgage and other home ownership costs.
•All applicants must be Australian citizens and must live in the home as their main residence.
•Taxable income thresholds are $103,000 for individual applicants and $165,000 for joint applicants and single parents, based on the previous financial year's ATO notice of assessment.
•You cannot own other property in Australia or overseas, with limited exceptions for single parents.
•State and territory grants and stamp duty concessions can still be used alongside Help to Buy.
•The same property price caps as the 5% Deposit Scheme apply, and thresholds are indexed each 1 July.
This is a shared-equity arrangement. The government may own a share of your home, which means the government's contribution is linked to the property's value. It is not a grant or free money.
Preliminary eligibility check
⚠ Some eligibility requirements need checking
Why this may be relevant
A shared-equity pathway could potentially reduce the amount you need to borrow if you meet the program requirements.
What appears to be met
✓You plan to live in the property, which this scheme generally requires.
What still needs checking
•Whether your taxable income is within the $103,000 threshold for individual applicants
•Whether your deposit meets the minimum 2% of the property price
•Current program availability — places are limited each year and availability could not be confirmed
•Whether Help to Buy is currently available in your state or territory
•Whether all applicants are Australian citizens, which this scheme requires
•That you do not own other property in Australia or overseas
•Property eligibility and the property price limit for your area
•Income thresholds are based on the previous financial year's ATO Notice of Assessment and can change.
•Citizenship or permanent residency requirements
•Owner-occupier (living in the property) requirements
•Other scheme-specific eligibility requirements
Possible benefit
If eligible, the government could contribute toward the purchase price in exchange for an equity share, which can reduce the amount you need to borrow.
May reduce the amount you need to borrow through a government shared-equity contribution, subject to program eligibility and conditions.
What to do next
→Check current program availability and whether places are open.
→Check the property value limit and location requirements that apply to you.
→Confirm your taxable income against the current thresholds.
→Review the official program requirements before making financial decisions.
→Confirm your eligibility with the relevant program authority or a participating lender.
Why this result?
This preliminary assessment is based on the information you entered:
• First-home buyer: Yes
• Intends to live in the property: Yes
• Buying with someone else: No
• New or established property: Established
• State or territory: NSW
• Property price: Not provided
• Estimated deposit: Not provided
• Combined taxable income: Not provided
Anything shown as “Not provided” was not assumed. Current information used by this calculator should be verified with the relevant official authority.
Help to Buy is a shared-equity arrangement, not free money. The government would own a share of the home, and the amount owed can change with the property's value.
Recommendation relevance is separate from eligibility. This is a preliminary assessment based only on the information you provided. It is not a determination of eligibility. Final eligibility depends on the official program rules and, where applicable, a participating lender.
Checked against the official source. Based on information last checked on 14 September 2026. Government rules and availability can change.
This is a shared-equity arrangement. The government would own a share of your home.
Not confirmed at the last review
• Whether places remain available for the current year at the time you apply — this is not published as a live figure.
What was checked
• Applications are open through participating lenders, with 10,000 places available each year.
• Minimum 2% deposit.
• The Australian Government contributes up to 30% toward an existing home or up to 40% toward a new home.
• Taxable income thresholds of $103,000 for individual applicants and $165,000 for joint applicants and single parents, based on the previous financial year's ATO notice of assessment.
• All applicants must be Australian citizens and must live in the home as their principal place of residence.
• Applicants cannot own other property in Australia or overseas, with limited exceptions for single parents.
• State and territory grants and stamp duty concessions can still be used alongside Help to Buy.
• Property price caps are the same as the 5% Deposit Scheme caps.
• Income and cap thresholds are indexed each 1 July.
Source: First Home Buyers (Australian Government) and Housing Australia.
Eligible first-home buyers may be able to use eligible voluntary super contributions, plus associated earnings, toward buying their first home.
Generally designed for
First-home buyers who have made eligible voluntary contributions into superannuation.
•Up to $15,000 of eligible voluntary contributions can count toward FHSS amounts in a financial year.
•The maximum releasable amount is $50,000 of eligible contributions, plus associated earnings.
•85% of eligible before-tax (concessional) contributions and 100% of eligible after-tax (non-concessional) contributions count toward the amount you can release.
•Associated earnings are worked out by the ATO at a notional rate, not your fund's actual return.
•You must ask the ATO for an FHSS determination before requesting a release.
•How much you can access depends on your own eligible contributions, so this site cannot work out your amount.
This scheme involves your superannuation. Only the ATO can confirm your release amount, and a general indication is not a confirmed release amount.
Preliminary eligibility check
✓ Appears to meet several key requirements
Why this may be relevant
As a first-home buyer, this scheme may be worth exploring if you have made eligible voluntary super contributions. We do not know whether you have, so this cannot be assessed here.
What appears to be met
✓You told us you are a first-home buyer, which this scheme is designed for.
✓You plan to live in the property, which the release rules generally require.
What still needs checking
•Whether you have made eligible voluntary super contributions
•The amount the ATO would allow you to release
•Contribution and release timing rules
•Citizenship or permanent residency requirements
•Owner-occupier (living in the property) requirements
•Other scheme-specific eligibility requirements
Possible benefit
If eligible, releasing eligible voluntary super contributions could add to your deposit and lower the amount you need to borrow.
May allow eligible voluntary super contributions to be released for a first-home purchase, subject to ATO rules and release limits.
What to do next
→Check your super account for eligible voluntary contributions.
→Request an FHSS determination from the ATO before signing a contract.
→Review the official program requirements before making financial decisions.
→Confirm your eligibility with the relevant program authority or a participating lender.
Why this result?
This preliminary assessment is based on the information you entered:
• First-home buyer: Yes
• Intends to live in the property: Yes
• Buying with someone else: No
• New or established property: Established
• State or territory: NSW
• Property price: Not provided
• Estimated deposit: Not provided
• Combined taxable income: Not provided
Anything shown as “Not provided” was not assumed. Current information used by this calculator should be verified with the relevant official authority.
This scheme involves your superannuation. Check the ATO rules before making contributions specifically for this purpose.
Recommendation relevance is separate from eligibility. This is a preliminary assessment based only on the information you provided. It is not a determination of eligibility. Final eligibility depends on the official program rules and, where applicable, a participating lender.
Checked against the official source. Based on information last checked on 14 September 2026. Government rules and availability can change.
This app cannot calculate your release amount. Only the ATO can determine it from your actual contributions.
Not confirmed at the last review
• The exact tax treatment wording for released amounts — the ATO page could not be read during this review, so the app does not state a tax outcome.
What was checked
• Up to $15,000 of eligible voluntary contributions in a financial year can count toward an FHSS amount.
• The maximum releasable amount is $50,000 of eligible contributions, plus associated earnings.
• 85% of eligible concessional contributions and 100% of eligible non-concessional contributions count toward the release amount.
• Associated earnings are calculated by the ATO at a notional rate, not your fund's actual return.
• You must request an FHSS determination from the ATO before requesting a release.
Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme — property price caps
To be eligible, the property price must be within the cap for the area you are buying in.
State or territory
Capital city / regional centres
Other areas
New South Wales
$1,500,000
$800,000
Victoria
$950,000
$650,000
Queensland
$1,000,000
$700,000
Western Australia
$850,000
$600,000
South Australia
$900,000
$500,000
Tasmania
$700,000
$550,000
Australian Capital Territory
$1,000,000
Single cap applies
Northern Territory
$750,000
$600,000
These caps were checked against the official Australian Government price cap table on 14 September 2026 and apply to both the 5% Deposit Scheme and Help to Buy. Caps are indexed and can change — confirm the cap for your location with the official postcode search tool and your participating lender.
Check a property price against the 5% Deposit Scheme cap
Enter where you're buying and the price you have in mind. We'll show the cap that generally applies and whether the price sits under it.
The postcode is what decides the cap category, so add it below if you can.
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Location category could not be automatically confirmed.
Choose the category that matches where you're buying. In New South Wales, the higher cap generally covers Sydney, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, Illawarra, Central Coast.
The price is within the estimated cap shown
Property price entered
$650,000
Applicable estimated price cap
$1,500,000
Under the cap by
$850,000
State or territory
New South Wales
Location category used
Capital city and regional centre(selected manually)
Confirm this location category before relying on the result. Meeting the property price cap does not confirm eligibility for the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme. Other eligibility requirements apply, and your lender's valuation must also be at or below the cap. The cap amounts were checked against the official price cap table. The location category here is worked out from an indicative postcode guide, not an official postcode list — the Australian Government publishes a postcode search tool that decides which cap actually applies, so please confirm your category.
Needs your confirmation. Based on information last checked on 14 September 2026. Government rules and availability can change.
The location category in this app is worked out from an indicative postcode guide. Confirm your postcode with the official postcode search tool and your participating lender.
Not confirmed at the last review
• There is no published static postcode list. The Australian Government provides an official postcode search tool instead, so the location category shown here is indicative only.
What was checked
• Every capital city, regional centre and other-areas cap shown in the app matches the official price cap table.
• The official regional centres are, in New South Wales, the Central Coast, Coffs Harbour–Grafton, Illawarra, Mid North Coast, Richmond–Tweed, and Newcastle and Lake Macquarie; in Victoria, Geelong; and in Queensland, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
• The Australian Capital Territory has a single cap for all areas.
• The same caps apply to the Australian Government Help to Buy Scheme.
Source: First Home Buyers (Australian Government) — Property Price Caps.
A quick guide to where each Australian Government program tends to fit. This is general information only — it is not a statement that you are eligible.
Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme
Best for
People who have saved a smaller deposit but still want a traditional home loan.
May be worth checking if the property price is within the cap for the area.
Help to Buy
Best for
Eligible buyers who may benefit from a government shared-equity contribution.
Potentially relevant, but the government would own a share of the home.
First Home Super Saver Scheme
Best for
People who are still saving and want to explore using voluntary super contributions.
May be worth checking well before you plan to buy — check eligibility first.
These signals are based only on the answers you gave. Final eligibility depends on current government rules and your individual circumstances, and must be confirmed with the relevant government authority.
State & territory programs
Select your state or territory and circumstances to see potential assistance available. Rules, income limits, property price limits and other requirements may change, so always check current eligibility requirements with the official source.
Your answers about living in the property and new or established homes are taken from the section above.
Potential assistance in New South Wales — Potentially relevant — check current government eligibility requirements.
These signals are based only on the answers you gave. Final eligibility depends on current government rules and your individual circumstances, and must be confirmed with the relevant government authority.
Stamp duty concessions or exemptions
Duty concession
NSW
NSW First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme
Provides a full exemption or a concessional rate of transfer duty for eligible first-home buyers, for new or existing homes.
Generally designed for
Eligible first-home buyers in NSW buying below the duty thresholds.
Property price limits
Exemption up to $800,000, concession under $1,000,000
•Full exemption from transfer duty for a new or existing home valued up to $800,000.
•A concessional rate for homes valued over $800,000 and less than $1,000,000.
•Vacant land: exemption up to $350,000, and a concessional rate up to $450,000.
Preliminary eligibility check
✓ Appears to meet several key requirements
Why this may be relevant
Based on your selected state or territory (NSW), this duty concession may be worth checking. Final eligibility depends on current state or territory rules and official assessment.
What appears to be met
✓You are buying in NSW, where this program applies.
✓You plan to live in the property.
✓You told us you are a first-home buyer.
What still needs checking
•Property price limits: Exemption up to $800,000, concession under $1,000,000
•Confirmation of the current amount and rules with the relevant revenue office
•Citizenship or permanent residency requirements
•Owner-occupier (living in the property) requirements
•Other scheme-specific eligibility requirements
Possible benefit
Provides a full exemption or a concessional rate of transfer duty for eligible first-home buyers, for new or existing homes.
May reduce some of the upfront costs associated with purchasing a property, if you meet the current state or territory rules.
What to do next
→Check the current amount, price limits and rules with the relevant state or territory revenue office.
→Review the official program requirements before making financial decisions.
→Confirm your eligibility with the relevant program authority or a participating lender.
Why this result?
This preliminary assessment is based on the information you entered:
• First-home buyer: Yes
• Intends to live in the property: Yes
• Buying with someone else: No
• New or established property: Established
• State or territory: NSW
• Property price: Not provided
• Estimated deposit: Not provided
• Combined taxable income: Not provided
Anything shown as “Not provided” was not assumed. Current information used by this calculator should be verified with the relevant official authority.
Recommendation relevance is separate from eligibility. This is a preliminary assessment based only on the information you provided. It is not a determination of eligibility. Final eligibility depends on the official program rules and, where applicable, a participating lender.
Checked against the official source. Based on information last checked on 14 September 2026. Government rules and availability can change.
What was checked
• Full transfer duty exemption for a new or existing home valued up to $800,000.
• A concessional rate for homes valued over $800,000 and less than $1,000,000.
• Vacant land: exemption up to $350,000 and a concessional rate up to $450,000.
Each program above shows the official source it was checked against, and whether any detail could not be confirmed. Government programs, eligibility rules and property price caps can change. Always confirm your eligibility and the current rules with the relevant Australian Government or state/territory authority before making financial decisions.
Next scheduled review: 14 December 2026.
Estimates are for general information only and are not financial, legal or tax advice. Government rules, lender policies and costs can change.