WA first home buyer grants in 2026: what you can actually get
WA raised its first home buyer thresholds on 7 May 2026. Here are the current figures, and the purchase that qualifies for the grant, the duty concession and a 5% deposit at once.
What help can a WA first home buyer get in 2026?
A Western Australian first home buyer purchasing a new home in 2026 can combine three benefits: the $10,000 First Home Owner Grant for new homes valued at $800,000 or less in Perth and the south of the state, no stamp duty on a home valued up to $600,000 (or vacant land up to $450,000) under the first home owner rate from 7 May 2026, and the federal 5% Deposit Scheme with an $850,000 price cap in Perth.
If you read a WA guide written before May 2026, its stamp duty and grant cap figures are now out of date. The thresholds below are the ones RevenueWA applies to agreements entered into on or after 7 May 2026.
The three benefits at a glance
| Benefit | What it is worth | Key condition | Administered by |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Home Owner Grant | $10,000 | New home; total value $800,000 or less south of the 26th parallel (including Perth), $1,000,000 north of it | RevenueWA |
| First home owner rate of duty | No duty to $600,000 | Homes: concession to $800,000. Vacant land: no duty to $450,000, concession to $550,000 | RevenueWA |
| Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme | 5% deposit | Price and lender valuation at or below $850,000 (Perth and regional centres) or $600,000 (rest of state) | Housing Australia, via participating lenders |
Figures verified against RevenueWA fact sheets (as at 28 July 2026) and firsthomebuyers.gov.au on 20 October 2026. Government criteria change; check the official pages linked at the end of this guide before you rely on any figure here.
How much is the First Home Owner Grant in WA?
The WA First Home Owner Grant is up to $10,000, or the cost of the home if that is less. It is one grant per transaction, so joint buyers share it, and there is no income or assets test.
It applies only to new homes: buying a new or off-the-plan home, building under a comprehensive building contract, or owner-building. It does not cover established homes, vacant land on its own, or renovations.
For transactions entered into on or after 7 May 2026, the total value of the home and land must be $800,000 or less south of the 26th parallel, which includes all of Perth, and $1,000,000 or less north of it. Before that date the southern cap was $750,000. Each applicant must live in the home for six continuous months, starting within 12 months of completion.
Do first home buyers pay stamp duty in WA?
Not up to $600,000. Under the first home owner rate of duty, for agreements entered into on or after 7 May 2026:
| Purchase | No duty up to | Concessional rate | Not eligible above |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home (new or established) | $600,000 | $16.15 per $100 above $600,000 | $800,000 |
| Vacant land | $450,000 | $20.14 per $100 above $450,000 | $550,000 |
The separate Perth/Peel and regional thresholds are gone; the same figures apply across WA. The rate depends on the date you entered into the agreement, not when you settle. Buyers who settled between 7 May and 28 July 2026 under the old rates can ask RevenueWA to reassess.
For a house and land package bought as a land contract plus a separate building contract, duty is assessed on the land, so it is the vacant land thresholds that usually apply.
What is the 5% Deposit Scheme price cap in WA?
The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, formerly the First Home Guarantee, lets eligible first home buyers purchase with a minimum 5% deposit, or 2% for eligible single parents, without lenders mortgage insurance. Since 1 October 2025 it has had no income cap and no limit on places.
| Area | Price cap |
|---|---|
| Perth and regional centres | $850,000 |
| Rest of WA | $600,000 |
Both the purchase price and the lender-assessed value must be at or below the cap. Caps run by postcode; use the Housing Australia postcode tool to check a specific address.
Keystart and Help to Buy
WA buyers have two other low-deposit routes. Keystart, the WA Government lender, offers a Low Deposit Home Loan with a purchase price limit of $860,000 and income limits of $155,000 for singles and $228,000 for couples or families in metro and most regional areas (from 15 April 2026). The federal Help to Buy shared equity scheme has been available in WA since 22 December 2025, with a 2% minimum deposit and the government taking up to a 40% share of a new home, for singles earning up to $103,000 and couples or single parents up to $165,000.
Can you combine all three?
Yes. The grant and the duty concession are RevenueWA programmes; the deposit scheme is federal and reaches you through a participating lender. Each is assessed on its own criteria.
A $650,000 house and land package in Perth, in numbers
- Deposit of $32,500. Five per cent of $650,000 under the 5% Deposit Scheme, against a Perth cap of $850,000.
- $10,000 First Home Owner Grant. A new home under the $800,000 cap.
- No stamp duty. With a $280,000 block on its own land contract, the land is well inside the $450,000 vacant land threshold.
Illustrative only. Your borrowing capacity, the lender's valuation, your eligibility for each programme and the other costs of buying all determine what is actually possible. Working that out honestly is what the free 5-minute call is for — see how our first home buyer pathway works.
Find out which of the three you qualify for
Five minutes, no documents, no credit check. You get a straight answer either way, and if the timing is not right yet, the specific list of what would change it.
Prefer to talk now? Call 0418 252 432.
Questions people ask about WA first home benefits
How much is the First Home Owner Grant in WA in 2026?
The WA First Home Owner Grant is up to $10,000, or the cost of the home if that is less. It applies only to new homes, including off-the-plan homes and homes built under a building contract. For transactions entered into on or after 7 May 2026 the total value of the home and land must be $800,000 or less south of the 26th parallel, which includes all of Perth, or $1,000,000 or less north of it.
Do first home buyers pay stamp duty in WA?
Not up to $600,000. For agreements entered into on or after 7 May 2026, first home buyers pay no transfer duty on a home valued at $600,000 or less, and a concessional rate of $16.15 per $100 above $600,000 up to $800,000. The same thresholds now apply across all of WA, and they cover established homes as well as new ones. Above $800,000 the first home owner rate does not apply.
What is the stamp duty threshold for vacant land for first home buyers in WA?
For agreements on or after 7 May 2026, there is no duty on vacant land valued at $450,000 or less, and a concessional rate of $20.14 per $100 above $450,000 up to $550,000. This matters for house and land packages bought as a land contract plus a separate building contract.
Did the WA stamp duty thresholds change in 2026?
Yes. The 2026-27 WA Budget raised them from 7 May 2026. Before that, first home buyers paid no duty only up to $500,000, with a concession to $700,000 in Perth and Peel. Many guides still quote the old figures. The rate that applies depends on the date the agreement was entered into, not the settlement date.
What is the 5% Deposit Scheme price cap in WA?
$850,000 for Perth and regional centres, and $600,000 for the rest of Western Australia. Both the purchase price and the lender-assessed value must be at or below the cap. Since 1 October 2025 the scheme has no income cap and no limit on places.
What is Keystart and how does it compare with the 5% Deposit Scheme?
Keystart is the WA Government home lender. Its Low Deposit Home Loan has a purchase price limit of $860,000 across WA and income limits of $155,000 for singles and $228,000 for couples or families in metro and most regional areas, from 15 April 2026. The 5% Deposit Scheme instead works through participating private lenders and has no income limit. Which suits you depends on your income, deposit and the lender.
How much deposit do I need for a $650,000 house and land package in Perth?
Under the 5% Deposit Scheme a 5% deposit on $650,000 is $32,500, under the $850,000 Perth cap. The package is under the $800,000 grant cap, so the $10,000 First Home Owner Grant can apply, and if the land is bought on its own contract for $450,000 or less, no duty is payable on it. Your borrowing capacity, lender criteria and other costs still determine what is possible for you.
Official sources
Every figure in this guide comes from the administering body. If you check one thing before acting, check these.
- RevenueWA — First Home Owner Grant fact sheet (as at 28 July 2026)
- RevenueWA — First home owner rate of duty fact sheet (as at 28 July 2026)
- WA Government — 2026-27 Housing Taxation Package
- Housing Australia — 5% Deposit Scheme property price caps, including the postcode search tool
- Keystart — 2026 product settings (effective 15 April 2026)
Where to go from here
- First home buyer pathways — low- and no-deposit routes, and working out your borrowing capacity with My Finance People.
- QLD first home buyer grants 2026 and VIC first home buyer grants 2026 — if you are weighing up another state.
- Talk to the team — Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, on 0418 252 432.
This guide is general information, not financial, credit, legal or taxation advice, and it does not consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. Eligibility for grants, schemes and finance varies by state, lender and individual circumstances and is subject to current government criteria.