Unlocking First Home Buyer Support in Western Australia (WA)
If you’re a first home buyer in Western Australia, there’s a range of support options to help make entering the market more achievable, from stamp duty savings and grants to state-backed finance pathways.
But just because an incentive is available doesn’t mean it’s the right move for you long term.
In this guide, we’ll break down what’s available right now (as of October 2025), how each one works, and how to think strategically about which option suits your goals, not just your starting deposit. That includes:
Stamp duty concessions through the First Home Owner Rate (FHOR)
The $10,000 First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) for new homes
The First Home Guarantee Scheme and how it applies in WA
Keystart and Shared Home Ownership, part of WA’s Opening Doors initiative
This resource supports Episode 19 of the First Home Unlocked Podcast, where Jack walks through each scheme and how it fits into your overall strategy.
Stamp Duty Concessions for First Home Buyers in WA
Stamp duty is a one-off tax paid when purchasing property, and in Western Australia it can add tens of thousands to your upfront costs.
To help reduce that, WA offers the First Home Owner Rate of Duty, a concessional rate (and in some cases, full exemption) for eligible first home buyers purchasing a home or vacant land to build their principal residence.
The savings depend on the property’s value and location, with different thresholds across metro and regional WA.
Homes (all regions)
No duty payable up to $500,000
Concessional rate up to $700,000 (Metropolitan & Peel)
Concessional rate up to $750,000 (regional areas)
Vacant Land (all regions)
No duty up to $350,000
Discounted rate up to $450,000
This rate applies to new or established homes, or vacant land you intend to build on as your first home.
Example Breakdown
Metropolitan or Peel Region:
At $500,000: You’ll pay no stamp duty at all as a first home buyer, saving around $18,000 compared to a non-FHB.
At $600,000: You’ll pay around $14,000 instead of roughly $23,000 for a non-FHB.
At $700,000: The concession phases out, and you’ll pay the full rate, around $27,000.
Eligibility Rules
To qualify for the First home owner rate of stamp duty, you must:
Be at least 18 years old
Have never owned property anywhere in Australia
Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident (at least one applicant)
Live in the home as your principal residence for at least six continuous months within the first year after settlement or completion
Apply jointly with your partner only if both of you are first home buyers
Strategy Insight
This concession can save you thousands, especially in regional areas where the thresholds are higher but remember, cheap doesn’t always mean smart.
While it can be tempting to stay under the cap to avoid duty, the better question is:
Does this location fit my long-term lifestyle and work plans?
Am I compromising on quality or growth potential just to save upfront?
Would paying some duty give me access to stronger suburbs or homes with better fundamentals?
When a property grows in value, it creates equity you can later use to upgrade, invest, or simply have more financial freedom.
As we cover in Episode 6: Unlocking Asset Quality, buying a higher-quality home that fits your strategy usually outperforms a cheaper option over time.
You can find all the details and eligibility information on the First Home Owner Rate of Duty here
First Home Owners Grant in WA
Let’s move on to another key support for first home buyers in WA, the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG). If you’re buying or building a brand-new home, this grant can give your deposit a boost and help you get into the market sooner.
What Is It?
The FHOG is a $10,000 one-off payment to eligible first home buyers who buy or build a new residential property to live in as their principal place of residence. It can be used for:
The purchase of a brand-new home
Building a new home under a comprehensive building contract
Owner-builders constructing their first home
The grant doesn’t apply to vacant land purchases on their own.
You’ll need to meet the same eligibility requirements we talked about earlier for the First Home Owner Rate of Duty, but you’ll need to apply for the grant separately.
A key difference is that the grant doesn’t apply to vacant land purchases, it’s only for the home itself.
Value Caps
The value cap depends on where in WA you buy:
Up to $750,000 if the property is south of the 26th parallel (including Perth Metro)
Up to $1,000,000 if the property is north of the 26th parallel
The 26th parallel is the line of latitude that runs across the middle of Australia.
Strategy Tip
The FHOG can be a useful boost toward your deposit but like all new-build grants, it’s important to make sure the home aligns with your long-term goals.
Before chasing the $10,000 grant, ask yourself:
Is a new build the best fit for my lifestyle and stage of life?
Does the location have strong future demand?
Is there a risk of oversupply in the area?
Sometimes building new makes sense, but other times an established home in a proven suburb can deliver stronger growth and greater flexibility, even if it means missing out on the grant. The key is buying smart, not just cheap.
You can find all official information for the First Home Owners Grant here
First Home Guarantee (FHGS)
The First Home Guarantee Scheme (FHGS) is a federal initiative available across Australia, helping first home buyers purchase sooner with a smaller deposit and no Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).
You can buy with as little as a 5% deposit, while the government acts as a guarantor for the remaining 15% of the 20% usually required.
That means:
You don’t pay LMI, saving $10,000–$20,000+
You still access competitive interest rates
You retain 100% ownership of the property and future growth
We break this down in full in Episode 10 of the podcast, including how the scheme works, the pros and cons, and how to eventually remove the guarantee once your equity grows. It’s a must-listen if you’re considering using this option.
WA Property Price Caps (as of 1 October 2025)
Perth: Up to $850,000 (up from $600,000)
Rest of WA: Up to $600,000 (up from $450,000)
And with income caps now removed, more Western Australians can qualify, opening the door to better-quality homes in stronger markets.
Strategy Tip
This scheme is one of the most effective ways to buy sooner — especially in a rising cost environment.
With the First Home Guarantee, you can:
Avoid LMI and save thousands
Buy with just a 5% deposit instead of 20%
Retain 100% of your home’s equity and future growth
With income caps now removed, it’s more accessible than ever, particularly across Perth and regional WA, where price growth has been steadily increasing. But remember: speed should never override strategy.
Make sure the home fits your long-term goals, offers strong fundamentals, and aligns with your lifestyle.
If you’re not sure whether this scheme is the right fit, we can help you compare your options, assess what’s possible, and plan your pathway with confidence. You can Book a Get to Know You Chat and we can see how the FGHS would look in your situation.
Keystart & Shared Home Ownership: Opening Doors (WA)
The Shared Home Ownership program, part of the Opening Doors initiative, is a partnership between the WA Government and Keystart, the state’s government-backed lender.
It’s designed to help more Western Australians get into their own home sooner, particularly those who may not qualify for a traditional bank loan.
How It Works
Under this program, the WA Department of Communities acts as a co-owner, contributing up to 30% of the property’s value.
That means:
You take out a smaller Keystart loan for your share
Your repayments and deposit are lower
You live in the home as your principal place of residence
There are two shared-ownership loan types:
Flexible: You can buy back the government’s share over time (minimum 5% repayments based on current value).
Fixed: The government permanently retains its share, and will buy your portion if you sell.
Eligible homes are available through the Opening Doors website, primarily in Perth and select regional areas.
Eligibility
Be 18+, an Australian citizen or permanent resident living in WA
Earn up to $123,000 (single) or $189,000 (couple/family)
Have at least a 2% deposit
Plan to live in the home as your principal residence
Not currently own another property
What Makes It Different
Unlike the First Home Guarantee, where the government only acts as a guarantor, the Shared Home Ownership program means the government actually owns a portion of your home.
You don’t pay rent or interest on their share, but:
You’re limited to Keystart as your lender
You can only purchase from pre-approved listings
You can’t refinance without repaying the government’s share
Strategy Insight
Shared ownership can help you enter the market sooner, but it comes with trade-offs. Before applying, consider:
Are you comfortable giving up part of your future growth?
Does this home meet your asset-quality standards?
Could you instead use the First Home Guarantee to buy a property with full ownership and more flexibility?
As we discuss in Episode 11: Unlocking Shared Equity Schemes, these programs can work well in certain cases but they’re best used as a stepping stone, not a long-term solution.
A small shift in strategy could help you enter the market sooner and smarter, without giving up control of your home.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Chase the Incentives
Government incentives in Western Australia, like the First Home Owner Rate, FHOG, First Home Guarantee, and Keystart Shared Ownership can make home ownership feel more achievable.
But these supports are only part of the picture. They reduce upfront costs, they don’t guarantee long-term success.
The best results come from having a clear strategy, choosing a quality property, and structuring your plan around your life goals, not just what’s available right now.
That’s where we come in. We’ll help you:
Compare all your options, Federal, state, and lender-based policies
Find the right structure and timing for your plan
Make sure you’re using what WA offers without sacrificing long-term value or flexibility
Listen to Episode 19 for the full breakdown or Book a Get to Know You Chat to map out your plan with clarity and confidence.
