Right, so here’s the thing: if you’re a first-time buyer in Perth, the government’s actually got money to help you with. Thousands of dollars, actually. The catch? These programs have very specific requirements. To qualify for them, other than knowing what they are, you have to structure your home purchase right to claim them. Get it wrong and you’re leaving a lot of cash on the table.
WA’s got a bunch of schemes that actually stack if you’re clever about it. Most people have no idea they can combine them. In this guide, The Property Plug will help you break down what’s available in 2026.
The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)
What You Get
This is the headline one. Ten grand. Tax-free. Just for being a first-home buyer.
You can use it when you’re buying or building a brand new home valued up to $750,000 in Perth metro areas. If you’re looking north of the 26th parallel, you can go up to $1 million. That opens up different options for people wanting to move further out.
However – and this is important: FHOG only works for new homes. You’re buying a gorgeous 30-year-old home that’s been done up? No grant. Established homes don’t qualify, period.
This is actually why so many first-time buyers choose to build instead of buy — the grants make building way more attractive financially.
The Rules
You’ve got 12 months from when you settle or finish building. Your lender or conveyancer usually sorts the paperwork as part of getting finance approved, so you don’t usually have to chase it. But seriously, mark it in your calendar. Life gets busy and you don’t want to miss the deadline.
Once you’ve qualified, some lenders let you use the $10,000 towards your deposit right away. Others give it to you as a one-off payment when you settle. Check this with your lender early because it changes your deposit planning.
Keystart Home Loans
This is WA’s shared-equity loan scheme and it’s basically become the way a lot of people actually get into their first home.
What You Get & How It Works
If you’re in metro Perth, you can borrow with only a 2% deposit (regional areas go up to 10%). You don’t pay lenders mortgage insurance (LMI), which normally costs $10,000-$20,000+ depending on how much you’re borrowing.
The way this works is that the WA Housing Authority is actually co-investing in your property and holding up to 30% of its equity. You can get either a fixed loan or a flexible one in return for this scheme. Flexible loans let you refinance later and buy back the government’s share as you build equity. That’s actually pretty good if you’re planning to stay long-term.
The Rules
To qualify, you need to pass an income limit check. For a single person, you must make than less than $90,000 a year, $110,000 as a couple, or $130,000 as a family.
We’ve seen these thresholds tripping a lot of people up. If you’ve crossed them or you’re close, please check with your bank again before you apply. They’ll actually verify your income through an assessment.
For all those troubles, though, Keystart is a great grant. If you’re in a situation like being self-employed, are a gig-worker, on FIFO rosters, or have non-traditional income, it’ll let you access cheap borrowing without bending over backwards for banks (who typically won’t touch these situations).
First Home Loan Deposit Scheme (FHLDS)
What You Get
This one’s federal. If you’re above Keystart income limits but still struggling to save a huge deposit, this might actually work for you.
Under FHLDS, you can borrow with 5% deposit and no lender’s mortgage insurance. The federal government basically guarantees 15% of the property value to your lender, so they’re less nervous about lending to you with a lower deposit.
The Rules
The rules are laxer than Keystart: every Australian citizen or permanent resident buying their first home will qualify. Income limits are higher than Keystart, but they still exist. Property price caps vary by location, though no need to worry – they’re designed around local markets.
And a bit of good news: before October 2025, spots for FHLDS are limited (Australian Government Treasury). Today, there’s no limit, so you can apply whenever it’s convenient for you.
Home Guarantee Scheme
What You Get
Another federal scheme. Pretty similar to FHLDS but with different numbers.
Essentially, you put in 5% deposit and the government will guarantee up to 15% to your lender. You borrow the remaining 80% under no lenders mortgage insurance.
The Rules
For Perth and its regional centres, you can borrow up to $850,000. Other parts of the state max out at $600,000.
The best part about the Home Guarantee Scheme compared to Keystart or FHLDS is that there’s no income test. If you earn decent money but just don’t have a big deposit saved, this will be the best programme for you.
Stamp Duty Concessions
Stamp duty’s the tax the government charges when you buy property. It can cost you thousands. But first-home buyers get a proper break here.
- Homes up to $500,000: Complete exemption. Nothing. Zero stamp duty. On a $400,000 home, you’d normally pay like $12,000. As a first-home buyer? You keep that money. Big difference.
- Homes $500,001–$750,000: You get a concession, not a full exemption. So you still pay something, but way less than a non-first-home buyer. The closer you are to $750,000, the more stamp duty bites, but you’re still miles ahead of what you’d normally pay.
- Vacant land under $350,000: If you’re buying just the land before you build, first-home buyers get stamp duty exempt on that portion. Separate from the building costs.
The whole “new home only” thing applies here too. Established properties don’t get any stamp duty relief. And honestly, in Perth, this concession often saves more money than the $10,000 grant itself. Worth factoring in when you’re deciding between building new and buying established.
You Can Actually Stack Schemes
Here’s where most buyers don’t think clearly. These programs actually stack together. You can use multiple ones.
Let’s say you’re buying a new home in Perth for $600,000 and you’ve managed to save $30,000 (5% deposit):
You get the $10,000 First Home Owner Grant. That’s available.
You get stamp duty exemption on the land portion. Normally stamp duty on a $600k purchase runs around $18,000. You pay nothing because it’s new and you’re a first-home buyer.
Then you access the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme. You borrow with your 5% deposit instead of needing 20%.
Add those three things together and you’ve got roughly $30,000–$40,000 in grants, savings, and reduced borrowing costs.
| Requirement | FHOG | Keystart | FHLDS | HGS |
| First-time buyer? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Australian citizen/PR? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| New home only? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Income cap? | No | Yes ($90k–$130k) | Varies | No |
| Deposit needed? | 2%+ | 2% | 5% | 5% |
| Property cap (Perth)? | $750k | Varies | Varies | $850k |
| Can combine? | Some | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Where Buyers Actually Go Wrong
- Buying an established home. This is the big one. You lose FHOG. You lose stamp duty relief. You just lost thousands in financial support. If you’re tight on budget, this is a genuinely costly decision to make casually.
- Missing the 12-month window. It feels like you’ve got forever after you settle. But it doesn’t work like that. Life gets in the way. People move, things get busy. Your conveyancer should remind you, but don’t rely on it. Mark your calendar now.
- Not telling your broker about previous home ownership. Keystart has specific eligibility rules. If you’ve owned a home before — interstate, anywhere — they need to know. Being cagey about this just creates problems later when they find out.
- Assuming all “new” homes qualify. A home’s only new for FHOG purposes if it’s actually freshly built or substantially renovated to proper building standards. Your lovely 20-year-old home with a fresh coat of paint doesn’t count.
- Overlooking the income caps. With Keystart especially, if you’re earning more than the limit, you’re out. These thresholds are firm. Don’t assume you’ll squeeze in.
Questions About Grants in Perth
Q: Can I claim FHOG if I’m building and my partner has owned a home before?
A: Depends. If you’re the applicant on the FHOG and you’ve genuinely never owned a home, you can apply. If your partner has owned one, they can’t apply. But that doesn’t necessarily block you if you’re applying individually. Thing is, your lender might structure the loan differently based on this. Talk to your broker about how to structure it properly.
Q: What if my new home costs more than $750,000?
A: You lose the FHOG entirely. And you lose stamp duty relief. It’s a cliff edge — one dollar over and you don’t get either benefit. This is why staying under the cap actually matters. People sometimes think going $20k over the limit is no big deal. It is. You just gave up $10k and stamp duty relief to save $20k on price. That’s backwards.
Q: I’m self-employed. Can I actually get Keystart?
A: Yeah. Actually, self-employed buyers are often Keystart’s target market. Bring two years of tax returns and a statement from your accountant showing income. Keystart lenders genuinely understand self-employed income in a way most banks don’t. This is one area where they’re actually better than traditional lenders.
Q: Do I have to use the $10,000 FHOG towards my deposit?
A: Not necessarily. Depends on your lender. Some let you use it immediately towards your deposit, reducing cash you need. Others give it to you as a one-off payment at settlement. Check with your lender early because this affects your deposit planning.
Q: What if I don’t qualify for FHOG but qualify for FHLDS or Home Guarantee?
A: You still benefit massively. You avoid lenders mortgage insurance — that’s easily $10k–$20k saved right there. And you borrow with a lower deposit. These schemes still make a genuine difference, even without FHOG on top.
Getting Specific Advice
Every situation’s different. Income, deposit size, where you’re buying, what type of purchase — all of it changes what you qualify for. You could spend days researching this and still miss something. A mortgage broker who knows WA schemes can tell you exactly what you’re eligible for in like 20 minutes.
We’ve worked with hundreds of first-home buyers through grant applications and financing. We know which brokers actually understand Keystart, FHLDS, and all the other WA programs. Once we know your specific situation, we can show you the exact financial picture and which programs actually work for you.