Top schemes available for home buyers in the ACT + NSW
UPDATED OCTOBER 2025The housing market has arguably never been harder for first home buyers to enter over recent years as the housing gap continues to grow. And while the property market is beginning to even out across Australia, both the Federal and Territory governments have continued to battle with implementing legislation to assist Australians in buying their first home.
But with so many schemes, concessions and offers available, it can be confusing to work out which one might be best for you if you are looking at purchasing your first property.
So we’ve done the homework for you and rounded up the top offers currently available from both the Federal and ACT Government, some of which are available for all eligible home buyers, not just first home buyers.
ACT Government Owner Occupier Stamp Duty Concession
From the 1 July 2025, the ACT Government also extended their Owner Occupier Concessions for off-the-plan property purchases for property buyers.
The concession waives stamp duty on new off-the-plan unit (unit-titled apartment and townhouses) owner occupier purchases valued at a higher $1,020,000 or less. Eligibility requirements include:
contracts must be signed and exchanged on or after 1 July 2025 or on or before 30 June 2026
at least one buyer must live in the home continuously for at least one year, starting within 12 months of the date of completion (settlement date) of the off the plan agreement
off the plan ‘units’ refers only to unit-titled apartments or townhouses.
You can find out more via the ACT Revenue website below.
Australian Government First Home Buyer 5% Deposit Scheme
The First Home Buyer 5% Deposit Scheme (previously the First Home Buyer Guarantee Scheme) is a Federal Government initiative to support eligible home buyers in purchasing a home sooner with a deposit as little as 5%.
From 1 October 2025, the expanded Scheme will remove limits to the number of places available, giving all eligible first home buyers the chance to enter the market with a deposit of as little as 5% while paying no Lender’s Mortgage Insurance (LMI - usually required for deposits under 20%).
What’s changing from 1 October 2025?
No place limits: all Australian first home buyers who have saved a 5% deposit can apply.
No income caps: first home buyers with higher incomes can access the Scheme.
Higher property price caps: to help home buyers where property prices have increased.
Simpler access in regional areas: Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee will be replaced by the First Home Guarantee.
The 5% Deposit Scheme is available through over 30 Participating Lenders across Australia, including a wide range of customer-owned and regional banks, as well as major banks. Housing Australia will continue to work with lenders to increase access to the Scheme.
Find out more about the Scheme and how you can apply via the website below.
Australian Government Help to Buy Scheme
The Help to Buy Scheme is coming soon and now open to applications.
The Help to Buy Scheme is a new initiative designed to support more Australians to buy a home.
If you’ve saved what you can but are still a little short of being able to buy a home that meets your needs, Help to Buy may be able to bridge the gap.
Help to Buy is a shared equity Scheme where the Australian Government contributes towards the purchase price of your home.
Under the Help to Buy Scheme you will need to:
save a minimum 2% deposit
obtain a home loan from a Participating Lender.
The Australian Government will:
contribute up to 30% (existing homes) or 40% (newly built homes) toward the purchase price.
This allows you to buy a home sooner by:
bridging the gap between what you can borrow and the price of a home that suits your needs
helping your deposit go further, enabling you to buy sooner.
When you buy a home through the Help to Buy Scheme, you will own the home but share some of the value with the Government. As the Australian Government has contributed to purchasing the property, the Government will proportionally share any gains or losses made when you sell your home or when you buy out the Government’s equity share.
Learn more about the scheme and if it could be right for you via the website below.
First Home Super Saver Scheme
The First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSS) scheme allows people to save money for their first home inside their super fund. The Scheme allows you to make voluntary concessional (before-tax) and voluntary non-concessional (after-tax) contributions into your super fund to save for your first home.
You can then apply to release your voluntary contributions, along with associated earnings, to help you purchase your first home. You must meet the eligibility requirements to apply for the release of these amounts.
You can use this scheme if you are a first home buyer and both of the following apply:
You will occupy the premises you buy or intend to as soon as practicable.
You intend to occupy the property for at least 6 months within the first 12 months you own it, after it is practical to move in.
You can apply to have a maximum of $15,000 of your voluntary contributions from any one financial year included in your eligible contributions to be released under the FHSS scheme, up to a total of $50,000 contributions across multiple years. You will also receive an amount of earnings that relate to those contributions.
Find out more about the Scheme via the ATO website below.