For Australian first-home buyers
Understand the schemes, deposit options and next steps that could help you purchase your first home in Australia.
Clear information, wherever you are in the journey.
Why FHBC
Grants, deposit schemes, lender requirements and buying costs can be difficult to piece together. FHBC brings the important parts into one clear starting point.
What may be available
Explore the main federal pathways, then select your state or territory for local support.
Lower-deposit pathway
Eligible first-home buyers may be able to purchase with a minimum 5% deposit while an Australian Government guarantee supports the participating lender.
View official informationImportant to know
Your location matters
New South Wales
Eligible buyers may receive a full exemption or reduced rate of transfer duty. A separate grant may also apply to eligible new homes.
Scheme rules can change. Always check the linked government source and your individual eligibility before relying on this information.
Your roadmap
Five considered stages, from the first honest look at your numbers through to settlement.
Get a realistic view of your income, commitments, savings and likely buying costs before deciding on a price range.
Start with the numbers you can rely on.Once you have an idea of the support that may be available, a broker can compare relevant schemes and lender pathways against your circumstances and help narrow the options worth exploring.
Turn broad possibilities into a clearer, more relevant plan.Talk to a brokerBuild a clean savings history and gather the payslips, statements and identification a lender is likely to request.
Preparation can make assessment much smoother.Understand a sensible purchasing range, the conditions attached to an approval and how long that approval remains current.
Know your position before making an offer.Allow for due diligence, contract advice, final approval, insurance and the practical steps between exchange and settlement.
Move carefully, with the right people around you.Find your starting point
Five quick questions. General direction only—no calculations, promises or stored personal information.
A little about your plans
Build your knowledge
Clear, practical guides designed to make the important parts easier to understand.
What counts, what lenders may look for and why the source of your funds matters.
A practical overview of duty, legal work, inspections, insurance and settlement costs.
The information and documents that help turn a rough estimate into a clearer lending position.
Questions worth asking about the contract, finance clause, property and your approval conditions.
A plain-English guide to LVR, LMI, offset accounts, conditional approval and settlement.
A softer first step
Send a short enquiry and we’ll help you understand what may be worth exploring. No need to have every detail worked out first.
Good questions
General answers to some of the questions first-home buyers ask most often.
It depends on the lender, property and any government pathway you may use. Some eligible first-home buyers may purchase with a 5% deposit, while shared-equity support can have a lower minimum. You should also allow for purchasing costs and retain a sensible buffer.
Some forms of support can work together, but compatibility and eligibility vary. Check each program’s current rules and have your proposed combination confirmed before relying on it.
Common costs include transfer duty where no exemption applies, conveyancing, building and pest inspections, lender or valuation fees, insurance and moving costs. The exact amount depends on your location and property.
It is usually worth discussing your position before you become serious about making offers. A pre-approval has conditions and an expiry date, so timing it around your likely purchase window matters.
It can. Government programs use their own definitions and may consider property held in Australia or overseas, previous ownership and whether you occupied the property. Check the relevant rules for your circumstances.
Expect identification, income evidence, account statements, details of debts and living expenses, plus evidence of your deposit. Self-employed applicants and buyers using gifted funds may need additional documents.