First Home Buyers: Your Guide to Grants and Home Loans
Local brokers comparing 40+ lenders, so you claim every first home buyer scheme you qualify for and borrow with confidence.
First home buyers in Queensland currently have access to some of the most generous support in the country: a $30,000 grant on eligible new homes, zero stamp duty on new builds, a 5% deposit pathway with no lender's mortgage insurance, and a state shared equity scheme. Synergy Mortgage Brokers helps buyers across the Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and the rest of Queensland work out which of these they qualify for, then structures the loan around them.
- Personalised eligibility check across every current first home buyer scheme
- Loan comparison across 40+ banks and lenders, matched to scheme requirements
- End-to-end support from pre-approval through to settlement
- Local offices in Maroochydore and Toowoomba, working Queensland-wide
Are you eligible as a first home buyer?
Generally, you count as a first home buyer if you have never owned residential property in Australia, though some schemes also accept people who have not owned property for a set period. Most programs require you to live in the home as your principal place of residence, and each scheme layers its own rules on top.
- Australian citizenship or permanent residency (the June 2026 Queensland Budget limited stamp duty concessions to citizens, permanent residents and specified foreign retirees)
- Age 18 or over
- Property value caps that vary by scheme and location
- A commitment to move in and occupy the home within the required timeframe
Eligibility for one scheme does not automatically mean eligibility for another, and the details change with budgets and legislation. We check your position against the current rules before you commit to anything.
The first home buyers schemes available in 2026
Queensland First Home Owner Grant: $30,000 for new homes
The Queensland Government pays eligible first home buyers a $30,000 grant towards buying or building a new home valued under $750,000, including land. The increased grant continues for eligible contracts signed from 1 July 2026. It applies to new homes only, so an established home does not qualify for the grant, though it may qualify for a duty concession.
Zero stamp duty on new homes
Since 1 May 2025, eligible first home buyers in Queensland pay no transfer (stamp) duty at all when buying or building a new home or buying vacant land to build on, with no price cap. Buying an established home instead? A full concession generally applies under $700,000, tapering to a partial concession up to $799,999. On a typical purchase, this saves five figures in upfront costs.
The Home Guarantee Scheme: 5% deposit, no LMI
Under the federal
First Home Guarantee Scheme, eligible first home buyers can purchase with as little as a 5% deposit and pay no lenders' mortgage insurance, because the government guarantees part of the loan to participating lenders. From 1 October 2025, the scheme was expanded significantly: income caps were removed, place limits were lifted, and property price caps increased, sitting around $1,000,000 for South East Queensland purchases. Not every lender participates, which is one of the places a broker earns their keep.
Boost to Buy: Queensland's shared equity scheme
Boost to Buy sees the Queensland Government contribute an equity share towards your purchase, up to 30% for a new home or 25% for an existing one, with deposits from as little as 2%. The government holds that share in your property and is repaid, including its portion of any capital gain, when you sell or buy it out. Income caps and property price limits apply, so this one suits some buyers and not others.
How the process works with Synergy
Step 1:
Initial assessment
We review your income, deposit, and buying plans, then map you against every scheme you may qualify for. Call 1300 324 588 or visit us at Tower 2, Level 5/55 Plaza Parade, Maroochydore or Level 3/482 Ruthven St, Toowoomba City.
Step 2:
Borrowing power and pre-approval
We calculate what you can borrow across 40+ lenders, not just one bank's view of you, and arrange pre-approval so you can make offers with confidence.
Step 3:
Scheme applications and documentation
We prepare and lodge grant and guarantee applications alongside your loan, coordinating with participating lenders so the pieces land together rather than in the wrong order.
Step 4:
Approval to settlement
We track the application through to settlement, handle lender queries, and keep you informed at each milestone. After settlement, we stay in touch and review your loan as your circumstances change.
First home buyers on the Sunshine Coast
Our
Maroochydore office works with first home buyers across the Sunshine Coast every week, from Caloundra to Coolum and out to the hinterland. The local picture matters, including which new estates fall under the grant's $750,000 cap, how the Home Guarantee Scheme's South East Queensland price cap fits coast prices, and
which lenders are moving quickly on coastal postcodes. If you are weighing up buying established in Buderim against building in Aura or Harmony, we can put actual numbers side by side, including every dollar of assistance each pathway attracts.
Why use a broker instead of going straight to a bank?
Walking into one bank gets you one set of products, one lending policy and one view of your borrowing power. A broker shows you the market. Because not all lenders participate in every first home buyers scheme, and eligibility criteria differ even within the same scheme, lender choice can decide whether you access a scheme at all. Our service is generally at no cost to you, because lenders pay us a commission when your loan settles, and if a fee ever applies to your situation, we tell you before you proceed.
This page is general information only, not credit or financial advice. Your circumstances have not been considered, and any loan is subject to lender approval. Synergy Mortgage Brokers is an authorised credit representative under Australian Credit Licence 517192.
Your Journey Starts Here.
The road to homeownership may have twists and turns, but with Synergy Mortgage Brokers by your side, it becomes a smoother and more enjoyable ride. We're here to help you turn your dream of owning your first home into a reality.
Explore our First Home Buyers service, learn about the mortgage options available to you, and reach out to us when you're ready to take the next step. Your future home is waiting, and we can't wait to help you get there.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What grants and schemes am I eligible for as a first home buyer in Queensland?
Most eligible buyers can access some combination of the $30,000 First Home Owner Scheme (new homes under $750,000), zero stamp duty on new homes or a duty concession on established homes, the federal Home Guarantee Scheme's 5% deposit pathway, and potentially Boost to Buy shared equity. Which combination applies depends on your citizenship status, the property, and each scheme's current rules, which we check for you.
How much deposit do I need as a first home buyer?
Traditional lending targets 20%, but the Home Guarantee Scheme lets eligible first home buyers purchase with 5% and no lender's mortgage insurance, and Boost to Buy can bring the deposit down to 2% for eligible buyers. The right number for you depends on the property price, your savings pattern and which schemes you can access.
Can I combine the First Home Owner Grant with the stamp duty exemption and the 5% deposit scheme?
Often, yes. A buyer building a new home in Queensland can potentially claim the $30,000 grant, pay zero stamp duty and buy through the Home Guarantee Scheme on a 5% deposit, provided they meet each scheme's separate criteria. Some combinations affect each other, so we coordinate the applications and the timing.
Did the Home Guarantee Scheme really remove income caps?
Yes. From 1 October 2025, the federal government removed the scheme's income caps and place limits and lifted property price caps, which opened the 5% deposit, no-LMI pathway to far more first home buyers. Lender participation and property price caps still apply, so eligibility should be checked against the current settings before you make an offer.
Is the First Home Owner Grant paid to me directly?
Usually the grant is paid through your lender at a set milestone, such as settlement for a new home purchase or first construction drawdown for a build, rather than as upfront cash. Some lenders also treat the grant differently in their deposit and genuine savings assessments, which can affect which lender suits your application.
What does it cost to use Synergy as a first home buyer?
In most cases, nothing. Lenders pay brokers a commission when a loan settles, so our comparison, scheme applications and support are generally at no cost to you. If your situation involves a product that carries a fee, we tell you exactly what it is before you decide to proceed.
Use our user-friendly home loan calculator to estimate your potential mortgage payments and plan your budget with confidence.
