Unlock the secrets to first home buyer statistics

Where First Home Buyers Are Entering the Market Right Now

The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme removed income caps and annual place limits from 1 October 2025. Since then, applications through the 31 participating lenders have risen sharply, particularly among professional couples and singles who previously sat just above the old thresholds. Dental technicians with stable employment are now using the scheme across a wider price range than before, with property caps set at $1,500,000 in Sydney, $950,000 in Melbourne, and $1,000,000 in Brisbane.

Consider a dental technician purchasing in a regional Queensland centre at the suburb's current median. With a 5% deposit, Housing Australia guarantees the difference to 20%, removing the need for lenders mortgage insurance. The scheme applies to new and established homes, and because no income limit exists, buyers are not penalised for overtime, shift allowances, or additional laboratory work that pushes annual income higher. Applications are made through your lender, not directly to Housing Australia.

Help to Buy Uptake and the Equity Share Model

Help to Buy became operative on 5 December 2025. The Australian Government contributes up to 40% of the purchase price for a new home and up to 30% for an existing home in exchange for a proportional equity stake. A minimum 2% deposit is required. Income limits sit at $100,000 for individuals and $160,000 for joint applicants or single parents. The scheme is available in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory, with Western Australia joining in early 2026. Tasmania has opted out.

The scheme cannot be combined with the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, but it can be used alongside applicable state grants and duty concessions in most jurisdictions. In our experience, buyers who qualify for Help to Buy often compare the long-term cost of the government's equity share against the upfront saving in deposit and monthly repayments. A dental technician earning $95,000 individually would meet the income limit, but a couple with combined income of $165,000 would not.

State Grant Levels and How They Changed from July 2026

Queensland reduced its First Home Owner Grant from $30,000 to $15,000 for contracts signed from 1 July 2026. The grant applies to new homes valued under $750,000 and is not available for established properties. Tasmania increased its grant to $20,000 for new homes from the same date, subject to assent, after the previous $30,000 grant ended on 30 June 2026. Victoria, New South Wales, and Western Australia each offer $10,000 for new builds, while South Australia offers $15,000 with no price cap on eligible contracts entered into on or after 6 June 2024. The Northern Territory offers the HomeGrown Territory Grant of $50,000 for new homes on contracts signed by 30 September 2027.

These figures shape the calculation for buyers choosing between new and established stock. A dental technician purchasing an established home in Queensland receives no state grant but can still access stamp duty concessions and the 5% Deposit Scheme. The same buyer purchasing a new build under $750,000 would receive the $15,000 grant, which reduces the deposit gap or covers part of the settlement costs.

Stamp Duty Concessions That Apply to Established Homes

The Australian Capital Territory removed both the property value limit and the income threshold from its Home Buyer Concession Scheme on 1 July 2026. Eligible buyers are now fully exempt from conveyance duty regardless of the value of the property purchased and regardless of household income. All other eligibility requirements continue to apply, including the requirement to own and occupy the property as a principal place of residence for at least one year commencing within 12 months of settlement.

This is the most significant change to first home buyer duty settings across any jurisdiction this year. Previously, Victoria and Queensland offered full exemptions up to $600,000 and $700,000 respectively, with sliding concessions above those caps. New South Wales offers a full exemption on properties up to $800,000 and a concession up to $1,000,000. South Australia and Western Australia have removed price caps on new builds and vacant land but retain caps on established homes. Tasmania ended its full duty exemption for established homes on 30 June 2026, with no equivalent measure in place from 1 July 2026 under current law.

Regional Caps and How They Differ from Metro Pricing

Regional property price caps under the 5% Deposit Scheme also increased from 1 October 2025. The Northern Territory introduced two caps from 1 July 2026: Darwin at $750,000 and the rest of the Northern Territory at $600,000. These caps determine eligibility for the scheme based on where the property is located, not where the buyer works or lives before purchasing.

A dental technician working in a metropolitan practice but purchasing in a regional area can access the regional cap, which is often lower than the metro equivalent but still sufficient to cover median prices in those areas. We regularly see buyers in regional Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia using the scheme where the regional cap sits comfortably above local medians, making a 5% deposit viable without stretching into higher price brackets.

Combining Federal and State Programs Without Overlap

State and territory grants and stamp duty concessions can generally be used alongside the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme. Help to Buy cannot be combined with the 5% Deposit Scheme but can be used with applicable state grants and duty concessions in most jurisdictions. Restrictions vary by program and location, and some combinations require confirmation from the relevant state revenue office or Housing Australia before contract exchange.

As an example, a dental technician purchasing a new home in South Australia under $750,000 could access the $15,000 First Home Owner Grant, full transfer duty concession, and the 5% Deposit Scheme simultaneously. The same buyer could not combine Help to Buy with the 5% Deposit Scheme, even if income and property price caps allowed both. Knowing which combinations work before you apply for a home loan prevents delays at the pre-approval stage.

Understanding how these programs layer together is part of structuring a deposit strategy that fits your income, savings, and the location you are targeting. Call one of our team or book an appointment at a time that works for you.

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