Assistance for Victorian First Home Buyers

If you are a first home buyer in Victoria it's important to understand which government schemes, grants and concessions you may qualify for which will help you get into your first home.

First Home Buyer Guide

Am I ready to buy a house?

What is a first home buyer?

Will I be able to get a loan?

Is my Credit History and Rental History important?

Buying versus renting

How much deposit do I need?

Understanding deposits

How to meet the banks genuine savings rules

Deposit calculator

Grants and schemes for FHB's

First Home Owner Grants

First Home Guarantee Scheme

Latest government announcements to help FHB’s

Getting finance pre-approval

Pre-approval process

Benefits of getting a pre-approval

Are all pre-approvals equal?

Mortgage brokers vs Banks?

Why use a mortgage broker?

How much does a mortgage broker cost?

Are all mortgage brokers equal?

How to buy a property

Pre-approval process

Benefits of getting a pre-approval

Are all pre-approvals equal?

Preparing for settlement

Going unconditional on the property contract

What does a converyancer/solicitor do for a property purchase?

What happens on the day of settlement?

Managing your mortgage

Understanding loan repayments

Extra repayments, redraw and offset accounts

When is the right time to review your home loan?

Assistance for Victorian first home buyers

2025 latest announcements

Victorian Government extends off-the-plan stamp duty concession to October 2026

Victorian homebuyers have received welcome news, with the state government confirming an extension of the off-the-plan stamp duty concession through to October 2026. Originally set to end in October 2025, the policy allows significant savings on stamp duty for eligible buyers of newly built properties.

This extended concession applies to off-the-plan purchases of apartments, units, or townhouses, regardless of the property’s value. Importantly, it is not limited to first-home buyers or owner-occupiers, making it an appealing option for a broader range of buyers, including investors.

The state government claims substantial potential savings. For example, a buyer who secures an off-the-plan apartment for $620,000 before construction commences could pay as little as $4,000 in stamp duty. That’s a reduction of around $28,000 from the standard duty cost of approximately $32,000.

With property prices remaining competitive and demand for new builds on the rise, this extension provides a strong incentive for buyers to consider off-the-plan opportunities across Victoria.

State specific first-home buyers assistance

The Victorian state government has a number of schemes in place to assist first-home buyers’ entry into the property market. These schemes can save Victorians thousands of dollars, and get more people into homes.

First-home owners grant

What it is:

If you’re buying or building your first new home in Victoria, the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) can give you a helping hand with a $10,000 grant. This applies to new homes, including houses, townhouses, apartments, units, or any other similar property.

The property can also be one that’s been substantially renovated or built to replace a demolished home. However, it can’t be an investment property or a holiday home!

Eligibility criteria:

All applicants are a minimum of 18 years of age and are either an Australian citizen or a permanent resident
Applicant/s are a first-time buyer
Applicant/s must have not owned a property before 1 July 2000
All applicants must live in the home for at least 12 months, within 12 months of settling (defence personnel are exempt from this rule)
The application must be made as an individual/s (not a company or trust)
If both applicants are eligible, only one applicant will be granted the $10,000

Stamp duty exemption and concessions

What it is:

Stamp duty is a government tax that’s charged when you buy property, regardless of whether it’s a house, land, or investment property. The amount you pay depends on:

The state or territory you’re buying in
The value of the property

If you’re buying your first home in Victoria on or after 1 July 2017, you could be eligible for a full exemption or a reduced rate (concession) on stamp duty. This is separate from the First Home Owner Grant and can apply even if the property isn’t brand new.

There are two main tiers:

Full exemption: If your home’s dutiable value is $600,000 or less, you won’t pay any stamp duty.
Concession: If your home’s dutiable value is between $600,001 and $750,000, you’ll receive a discounted rate (which gradually decreases as the property value goes up).

Eligibility criteria:

To qualify for this exemption or concession, you (and the other applicants if applicable) must meet the same criteria as the first-home buyers grant scheme, with two differences:

The property doesn’t need to be brand new, it can be an established home
Your contract price can exceed $750,000, but the dutiable value must fall within the limits to qualify

Federal first-home buyers assistance

In addition to state specific first-home buyer assistance schemes, the federal government has numerous initiatives to get more people into their first home.

Help to buy scheme

What it is:

The help to buy scheme allows participants to buy a home with the government. The federal government will give buyers a contribution of up to 40% of the cost of a new home, and 30% for established homes.

Essentially, the government will own a share in your house, so partakers will only need to pay a mortgage on their share of the property. Additionally, applicants will only need a 2% deposit to go along with the governments equity contribution.

As of May 2025, the program commencement date is yet to be determined, with only VIC and QLD passing the necessary legislation for the federal government to operate within their jurisdiction.

Eligibility criteria:

Applicant/s are Australian citizens and are at least 18 years old
The property must be lived in by the applicants
Applicant/s satisfy a financial capacity test, determining whether or not you need the schemes assistance
Single applicants earn less than $100,000 annually, and
Dual applicants must earn less than a combined $160,000
Applicant/s must not currently own other property, but they can have owned property in the past

For Victorian applicants, the property price caps for this scheme are:

$950,000 for capital and regional centres
$650,000 for the rest of the state

First home guarantee

What it is:

The First Home Guarantee is part of the Australian Government’s Home Guarantee Scheme, designed to help eligible Australians purchase their first home sooner. Managed by Housing Australia, the FHBG allows first home buyers to secure a home loan with as little as 5% deposit, without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

Instead of requiring the standard 20% deposit, Housing Australia guarantees a portion of your home loan through participating lenders. This government-backed support can make it easier and more affordable to enter the property market.

Eligibility criteria:

Applicant/s must be Australian citizens or permanent residents (at time of application) and at least 18 years of age
Single applicants to earn less than $125,000 or,
Dual applicants to earn less than $200,000
The applicants must intend to live in the home, and not have had interest in a real property in the past 10 years

For Victorian applicants, the property price caps for this scheme are:

$800,000 for capital and regional centres
$650,000 for the rest of the state

For more personalised advice and assistance, contact one of our mortgage broker in Melbourne, Sydney or Byron Bay. They are here to help you navigate the complexities of First Home Buyer schemes, grants and concessions, and help you find the best home loan options for your needs.