First Home Buyer Grants in WA: The Complete 2026 Guide

Buying your first home in Perth is one of the most exciting things you'll ever do. It's also, let's be honest, one of the most financially overwhelming. Between saving a deposit, understanding lender requirements, and navigating the application process, it can feel like there's a mountain of complexity standing between you and the keys.

The good news is that the WA government — and the federal government — have put real money on the table to help first home buyers get into the market. The frustrating part is that most people don't fully understand what they're entitled to, and some miss out entirely because they apply incorrectly or use the wrong lender.

This guide covers every grant, concession, and scheme available to Perth first home buyers in 2026 — what they are, who qualifies, how much you can get, and what the traps are.

The WA First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)

The WA First Home Owner Grant is a one-off payment from the state government for eligible first home buyers purchasing or building a new home. In 2026, the grant is worth $10,000.

To be eligible, you must:

Be purchasing or building a new home — established homes don't qualify for the FHOG in WA. The property must be brand new, never previously lived in, or a substantially renovated home that has never been sold as a residence.

Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. At least one applicant on the loan must hold citizenship or permanent residency at the time of settlement or the first progress payment for a construction loan.

Intend to live in the property as your principal place of residence for a continuous period of at least six months, starting within 12 months of settlement or completion of construction.

Not have previously owned a residential property in Australia.

Meet the property value cap — in WA, the home must be valued at $750,000 or less.

The $10,000 is paid directly to your lender or settlement agent at settlement for an established new home, or at the first progress payment stage for a construction loan. You don't receive it as cash in your account — it's applied toward the purchase.

Stamp Duty Concessions for First Home Buyers in WA

This is where significant money is available, and a lot of first home buyers don't realise how much they can save.

In WA, first home buyers are exempt from stamp duty on properties valued up to $430,000. Between $430,000 and $530,000, a sliding scale concession applies. Above $530,000, full stamp duty is payable — though you'll still benefit from the lower threshold concessions on the first portion.

To put that in dollar terms: on a $500,000 home purchase, a first home buyer in WA pays approximately $7,240 in stamp duty rather than the standard $17,765 — a saving of over $10,000.

Combined with the FHOG, a first home buyer in WA purchasing a $500,000 new home could receive or save up to $20,000 in government assistance. That's a material contribution toward your deposit or upfront costs.

The concession is available regardless of whether the property is new or established, which means unlike the FHOG, the stamp duty concession applies to buying an older home too. You just need to meet the income and ownership criteria.

The First Home Guarantee (Federal)

The federal government's First Home Guarantee (formerly the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme) allows eligible first home buyers to purchase a home with a deposit as small as 5% — without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

Normally, if your deposit is below 20% of the property value, your lender requires you to pay LMI — an insurance premium that protects the lender (not you) in case you default. On a $600,000 Perth property with a 5% deposit, LMI can cost between $15,000 and $20,000. The First Home Guarantee eliminates this cost entirely for eligible buyers.

The scheme is administered through a limited number of participating lenders. Places are allocated annually and do run out, so timing matters. For 2026, price caps in Perth have been updated to reflect current market conditions — your broker will confirm the exact figure when you apply.

Eligibility criteria include:

Australian citizenship, aged 18 or over.

Annual income of $125,000 or less for individuals, or $200,000 or less for couples.

This must be your first home purchase.

You must intend to live in the property as your principal place of residence.

The Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee

If you're looking to buy outside the Perth metro area — in regional WA towns like Mandurah, Bunbury, Geraldton, Broome, or Albany — the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee offers the same LMI-waiver benefit as the First Home Guarantee, but with a dedicated allocation for regional buyers.

This scheme recognises that regional buyers face different market conditions and often have fewer lender options. If you're considering a regional purchase, this guarantee can make the difference between being able to proceed and not.

What About the First Home Super Saver Scheme?

The First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSS) allows first home buyers to make voluntary contributions to their superannuation and then withdraw those contributions (plus associated earnings) to use as a deposit.

You can contribute up to $15,000 per financial year and withdraw a total of up to $50,000. The tax advantage is significant — contributions are taxed at 15% going in (rather than your marginal income tax rate), and the associated earnings are taxed at a concessional rate on the way out.

This scheme is most valuable for people who are still actively saving for a deposit. If you have 12–24 months before you plan to buy, contributing to FHSS now can meaningfully boost your deposit while reducing your tax bill.

The application to release funds is made through the ATO and takes time to process, so you need to plan ahead. Your broker can walk you through timing this correctly with your purchase.

The Traps That Catch First Home Buyers Out

After working with first home buyers across Perth, these are the mistakes we see most often:

Applying for the FHOG on an established home. The grant only applies to new builds or substantially renovated homes in WA. A lot of first home buyers assume it applies to any purchase. It doesn't. If you're buying an established home, you won't receive the FHOG — but you can still access the stamp duty concession and the First Home Guarantee.

Choosing the wrong lender for the First Home Guarantee. Not every lender participates in the scheme. If your broker doesn't check this upfront, you could end up locked into a loan with a lender that isn't part of the guarantee, and then face LMI costs you thought you'd avoided.

Not meeting the residency requirement. The FHOG requires you to live in the property for at least six continuous months within 12 months of settlement. If you move out early or rent it before you move in, you may be required to repay the grant.

Applying with the wrong ownership structure. If you or your partner have previously owned a residential property in Australia — even if it was sold years ago — you may not be eligible for the FHOG or the stamp duty concession. It doesn't matter if the property was interstate or overseas. A broker will check your ownership history before applying.

Leaving it too late for the First Home Guarantee. Annual allocations fill up. If you're ready to buy in the second half of the financial year, places may already be taken. Get your application in early.

So How Much Could You Actually Receive?

To make this concrete, here's an example based on a Perth first home buyer purchasing a new $550,000 home in 2026:

WA First Home Owner Grant: $10,000. Stamp duty (with concession): approximately $6,175 vs standard $18,295 — saving $12,120. LMI waived through First Home Guarantee (with 5% deposit): saving approximately $12,000–$16,000.

Total benefit: up to $38,000 in grants, concessions, and waived costs. That's not a small amount.

Getting It Right

Every first home buyer's situation is slightly different — your income, your deposit size, whether you're buying new or established, and your property value all affect which schemes you can access and how to structure your application.

The cleanest way to navigate all of this is with a licensed mortgage broker who works with first home buyers every day. They know which lenders participate in which schemes, how to time your applications correctly, and how to structure your loan to maximise everything you're entitled to.

Bridgeway Finance matches Perth first home buyers with exactly those brokers — for free. Submit your details, we'll call to understand your situation, and we'll introduce you to the right specialist within 24 hours.

No cost. No obligation. Just the right broker for your first home.