07 May 2026

For a lot of first home buyers, the hardest part hasn’t been the repayments. It’s been getting through the front door in the first place.

Today, the WA State Government announced changes that could genuinely help more first home buyers get moving sooner.

Here’s what’s changing:

  • First home buyers will now pay no stamp duty on vacant land purchases up to $450,000 (previously $350,000), with reduced rates available up to $550,000.
  • The property cap for the $10,000 First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) will increase from $750,000 to $800,000.
  • First home buyers building a new home may also be eligible for stamp duty exemptions or concessions on vacant land, even if the combined house and land package exceeds the FHOG cap.

Let’s look at an example.

If you were purchasing an $800,000 house and land package with:

  • $450,000 land
  • $350,000 build cost

Before these changes, you may have needed around $60,000 upfront under a 5% Deposit Scheme, without access to the $10,000 First Home Owner Grant.

Now, that same package could potentially be achievable with closer to $35,000 upfront, while also qualifying for the grant.

For Keystart buyers, the difference could be even bigger.

Where some buyers may have previously needed around $37,000 upfront without grant eligibility, that same purchase could now potentially be achievable with around $12,000 upfront, plus the $10,000 grant.

That’s a massive shift for buyers who have been stuck in the cycle of:
“I can afford repayments… I just can’t get the deposit together fast enough.”

Of course, everyone’s situation is different. Your borrowing capacity, income, existing debts and eligibility still matter. But changes like this can open doors that simply weren’t open a week ago.

And with speculation that next week’s Federal Budget could bring additional support for first home buyers, there’s a lot happening right now.

Here’s what one of our Finance Brokers, Ray Shanks, had to say about the changes:

If you want help understanding what these changes could mean for you, our team can walk you through your options and help you build a plan that actually fits your situation.

No pressure. No spin. Just honest advice and a clearer path forward.

Ready to get started with a real advocate on your side?

Stop navigating confusing promises alone. Start with a partner who’s committed to making your experience smooth and successful.

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