First Home Buyers Hub

Specialist Mortgage Brokers for First Home Buyers

Everything you need in one place — government guarantees, step-by-step guidance, calculators and real-world examples. Whether you’re in Victoria or anywhere in Australia, we’ll compare options (including 5% and 2% deposit pathways) and build a clear plan to get you home sooner.

Government-Backed Options for First Home Buyers

These programs can help you get in the property market sooner. Deposit scheme updated on 1st October,2025

2% or 5% deposit

Australian Govt 5% Deposit Scheme

Who it helps: Eligible first home buyers with low deposit. How it works: Buy with as little as 5% deposit for First Home Buyers and 2% for single parents Key checks: No income caps, unlimited spots, owner-occupier scenarios
  • Singles or joint applicants that have a lower deposit
  • New or existing homes to live in as a First Home
  • Pre-approval recommended before searching.
Save Deposit with your Super

First Home Super Saver Scheme

Who it helps: First home buyers trying to save deposit How it works: Allows additional Super Contributions to be used as a deposit for First Home Key checks: Have never owned a property, planning to live in the property
  • Have made voluntary contributions into your Super
  • Not have already withdrawn money through the Scheme
  • Not have already withdrawn money through the Scheme
Cash Grant for New Home

First Home Buyer's Grant

Who it helps: Eligible First Home Buyers looking for construct a new home How it works: The critera is different for each state, but mainly it is for newly constructed or substantially renovated homes. Key checks: Proprety value caps, Minimum live in requirements as Owner Occupied
  • Newly constructed Home or Substantially renovated in some states
  • Must live in the home between 6 to 12 months (Depending on the State)
  • Range from $10k-$30k depending on the State (Excluding ACT)
Heads-up: The Home Guarantee Schemes can change and are subject to meeting the criteria defined for each scheme. Best to speak tone one of our First Home Buyers specialist to check your eligibility and how different schemes can make it easier for you to fullfill your dream to own a home. See the official page.

The Guarantees protect the lender and don’t pay your deposit or purchase costs. Eligibility, lending criteria and credit approval apply.

Step-by-Step: Your Path to First Home Ownership

  1. Map your budget & buffers (emergency savings, moving costs, rate stress-test).
  2. Clean up credit (reduce limits, clear BNPL/overdrafts, stabilise account conduct).
  3. Estimate borrowing power & repayments (try our tools; we’ll validate with policy).
  4. Check eligibility for Guarantees and state duty concessions/grants.
  5. Get pre-approval with a lender whose policy fits your situation.
  6. Search & due diligence (B&P, contract review, valuation awareness).
  7. Unconditional approval → loan docs → settlement.
  8. First-year review (rates, offsets, cash-flow tune-ups).

Tools & Calculators

Borrowing Power

Estimate how much you could borrow based on income and commitments.

View current mortgage rates

Repayments Estimator

Project repayments with and without LMI or a Government Guarantee.

About low deposit pathways

Stamp Duty & Grants

We’ll outline state-specific concessions and grants as part of your plan.

Ask us to model your numbers

Worked Example: 5% vs 20% Deposit (Illustrative)

ScenarioPurchase PriceDepositLMI / GuaranteeIndicative Repayment Impact
5% Deposit (with Guarantee)$700,000$35,000Guarantee may reduce/avoid LMIHigher vs 20%; enter market sooner
20% Deposit (no LMI)$700,000$140,000$0 LMILower repayments; higher upfront cash

Illustrative only. Actual pricing, LVR, LMI and rates depend on lender policy and your profile.

State & Territory Pointers

Victoria

Duty concessions & FHOG vary by property type/price. We’ll confirm current rules and caps for your suburb.

Ask for a VIC briefing

New South Wales

Different thresholds for concessions; contract timelines can be tight — pre-approval is key.

Ask for an NSW briefing

Queensland

Check concessions and build options; align finance clauses with your offer strategy.

Ask for a QLD briefing

We’ll also cover SA, WA, TAS, ACT & NT on request.

Top 10 FAQs by First Home Buyers

How much deposit do I really need?

You might have heard you must have 20% deposit, but that’s not always the case. Some lenders let you buy with as little as 5% deposit. We also have some lenders that allow First Home Buyers to borrow 100% of the property value, if they meet certain criteria.The key thing is that you may need to pay something called Lenders’ Mortgage Insurance (LMI) if you borrow more than 80% of the property value as a borrower. This is where government schemes that can help First Home Buyers with a smaller deposit and avoid LMI. So don’t stress if you haven’t saved the full 20%—you may have options sooner than you think. When we start the journey, we will do a head to to head comparison of all the options that are available including the Govt options listed on this page and the others in case you are not eligible for the Govt. benefits

How much can I borrow??

This depends on your income, expenses, and any debts you already have. Lenders look at how much you earn compared to how much you spend each month, and then decide what loan size they’re comfortable with. A quick chat with us can give you a clear idea of your borrowing capacity so you can start searching for homes in the right price range. If our team picks up that you have excessive personal debt that is impacting your borrowing capacity, they can also provide figures on a hypothetic scenario of impact on your borrowince once the debt is paid off, so that you have multiple options available to borrow the money you need.

What government help can I get?

The government offers a few schemes and grants to make things easier for first home buyers, some of them listed on the page. These include: • First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) – a lump sum to help you get started (varies by state). • Stamp duty discounts/exemptions – can save you thousands on upfront costs. • First Home Guarantee – lets you buy with as little as 5% deposit without paying LMI or 2% for Single Parents. Each state has slightly different rules, so we can help you work out exactly what you’re eligible for based on your location and personal circumstances. .

What other costs should I expect?

Buying a home isn’t just the purchase price. You’ll need to budget for: • Stamp duty (unless you qualify for a concession) • Conveyancing/legal fees • Building & pest inspections • Loan application fees • Moving costs, insurance, council rates When we catchup with you, we’ll go through these with you upfront so there are no nasty surprises and you know exactly how much you would need upfront based on your scenario. .

What’s the step-by-step process to buy a home?

Here’s the simple version: 1. Get a loan pre-approval so you know your budget. 2. Start house hunting. 3. Make an offer or bid at auction. 4. Sign the contract (usually with conditions). 5. Arrange inspections and final loan approval. 6. Settlement day – the house is officially yours! We’ll guide you through each step so you always know what’s next. .

How do I know if the property is fairly priced?

The best way is to compare it with recent sales of similar homes in the same area. We can also order a bank valuation to check what the property is really worth and also share some online reports that you can use. Doing a bit of homework before making an offer can save you from overpaying.This is a very important point, because if the valuation comes lower than the amount you have on the contract, the bank will most likely use that amount which can lead to additional out of pocket funds for settlement

Do I need inspections?

Yes—absolutely. A building and pest inspection can reveal problems you can’t see at first glance, like termites or structural issues. If you’re buying a unit, a strata report tells you how the building is managed and what future costs might come up. Spending a few hundred dollars now could save you thousands later.

Should I buy new, existing, or off-the-plan?

• New builds: modern, low-maintenance, sometimes eligible for grants, but may cost more upfront. • Existing homes: established areas, character, you know what you’re buying. • Off-the-plan: can look attractive, but carries risks like delays or changes in market value or your personal circumstances as the loan approval is only valid for a short period and will expire if it is not drawn down in that timeframe. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer—it depends on your budget and goals. We’ll help weigh up the pros and cons with you.

Which suburb should I buy in?

Think about lifestyle (work, transport, schools, shops) and long-term growth. Some areas are more affordable now but may take longer to grow in value. Others are pricier but have strong demand. The right suburb is a mix of what you can afford and where you’ll actually enjoy living. Some buyers also use professional Buyer's Advocate services to cover the risk of making a wrong choice

What’s in the contract and legal stuff?

Contracts can feel overwhelming, but here’s the gist: • They include the price, settlement date, and any special conditions. • You usually want clauses like “subject to finance” and “subject to building & pest inspection.” • A conveyancer or solicitor checks everything is in order and explains it in plain English. Having the right conditions gives you peace of mind and flexibility if something doesn’t go to plan.


Plan Your Purchase with a Specialist Broker

Compare lenders, policies and Government options in one conversation — then step into the market with clarity.