If you are buying your first home in New South Wales, three separate forms of help are commonly discussed: a transfer-duty exemption or concession, a grant that only applies to new homes, and a Commonwealth scheme that lets you release voluntary super contributions. They have different caps, and qualifying for one does not automatically mean you qualify for the others.
First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme (transfer duty)
Under the First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme (FHBAS), eligible first home buyers may pay no transfer duty, or a reduced amount, on a home or on vacant land in NSW. For transactions entered into from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, NSW Government guidance is:
- New or existing homes: a full exemption at or below $800,000, and a reduced rate for homes above $800,000 and under $1 million.
- Vacant land on which you intend to build a first home: a full exemption at or below $350,000, and a reduced rate above $350,000 and under $450,000.
Published examples of the 2026–27 reduced home rate include $9,796.75 of duty at $850,000, $19,593.50 at $900,000, $29,390.25 at $950,000 and $37,227.65 at $990,000. Use the official calculator for your exact price.
Typical eligibility tests include that you are an individual aged 18 or over, at least one purchaser is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you and your spouse or partner have not previously owned residential property in Australia or already received the scheme benefit, the transfer is of the whole property, and you meet the residence requirement: move in within 12 months of completion and live there as your principal place of residence for at least 12 continuous months. Companies and trusts are generally not eligible. Always confirm the current rules with Revenue NSW — this is a summary, not an assessment.
First Home Owner (New Home) Grant
Eligible first home buyers who buy or build a new home may also be able to apply for a $10,000 grant. The grant is not means tested and is not available for existing (already lived-in) homes.
NSW Government price caps currently described for the grant are $600,000 for a newly built or substantially renovated residence (including off the plan), and $750,000 for a home-and-land package or a contract to build, covering the land, building contract and variations. The home must not have been lived in before (or, for a substantial renovation, not lived in after the work and not sold since). You generally apply through your bank or an approved agent, and a 12-month residence requirement also applies. Confirm caps and definitions on the official grant page, because they are tighter than the duty concession thresholds.
First Home Super Saver Scheme
The First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSS) is a Commonwealth scheme administered by the Australian Taxation Office. It lets eligible first home buyers release voluntary super contributions, plus associated earnings, to help buy or build a first home. It is separate from NSW duty relief and the NSW grant.
As described by the ATO (page published 8 July 2026), eligible voluntary contributions are limited to $15,000 in any single financial year from 1 July 2017 and $50,000 in total. Your maximum release amount includes 100% of eligible non-concessional (after-tax) contributions, 85% of eligible concessional (before-tax) contributions, and a notional amount of associated earnings. The amount actually released can therefore differ from $50,000. You must request an FHSS determination before legal ownership of a property transfers to you. Use the ATO’s current guidance and tools before you contribute or request a release.
A scheme that is closed
First Home Buyer Choice — the option to pay an annual property tax instead of upfront transfer duty — closed to new applications on 1 July 2023. People who already opted in continue to pay property tax for as long as they own that property. New buyers cannot choose that path.
Last reviewed: November 2026. Check official pages before you rely on any threshold.