First home buyer · NSW
First home buyer guide for NSW
Map deposit, stamp duty, grants, and the federal 5% deposit scheme for a New South Wales purchase — then confirm every number on official Revenue NSW and Housing Australia pages before you exchange.
NSW quick reference
Illustrative cheat sheet only — verify on official calculators before exchange.
- Stamp duty — full exemption
- $0 duty ≤ $800k
- New or existing home (FHBAS, from Jul 2023)
- Stamp duty — partial
- $800,001 – $999,999
- Concessional rate — not full $0
- Vacant land exemption
- ≤ $350,000
- Build within required timeframe
- FHOG (new homes)
- $10,000
- New build ≤ $600k (verify Revenue NSW)
- FHBG cap — Sydney/metro
- $1,500,000
- Illawarra, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie
- FHBG cap — other NSW
- $800,000
- Regional & other areas
- Cooling-off (private sale)
- 5 business days
- Auction = unconditional
- Pre-approval validity
- ~90 days
- Reconfirm before offer
Who this helps
- Buyers comparing NSW stamp duty exemption vs partial concession bands
- Households checking whether an FHBG 5% path fits Sydney / Illawarra / Newcastle caps
- Purchasers modelling funds to complete beyond the deposit (legals, LMI, buffers)
- Remote NSW buyers who want broker support by phone, video, or WhatsApp
How we work the file
Step 1
Confirm state + federal rules
Check duty and grant pages for your state, then FHBG caps on firsthomebuyers.gov.au for your property area.
Step 2
Model funds to complete
Deposit, duty, grants, LMI (if any), and settlement buffers in one ledger — estimates only until your scenario is assessed.
Step 3
Prepare the lending file
Income evidence, genuine savings story, and lender shortlist. You decide whether to apply.
Responsible lending applies. We do not guarantee approval, grants, stamp duty outcomes, or scheme eligibility.
Official NSW links
Common questions
Related hubs
Important information
The information on this website is general in nature only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs, and you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it.
Credit assistance and lending are subject to lender assessment, terms, conditions, fees, charges, and eligibility criteria. A loan product that suits one borrower may not suit another.
You should consider obtaining independent legal, financial, and taxation advice before making decisions about credit or property.
Ready to map a NSW first-home pathway?
Bishnu Adhikari — call 0400 77 77 55 or send an enquiry. General information only.
Prefer the phone? 0400 77 77 55 — direct line to Bishnu Adhikari.

