Buying your first home in Rockdale comes with more support than most people expect. Government schemes can cut your stamp duty, lower your deposit or add to your savings, but some of them cannot be combined. Choosing the right mix before you sign a contract is what protects your budget.
A bank will usually show you its own products. As a broker, we compare home loan options across lenders and explain how each scheme fits your situation. Our first home buyers page gives a wider overview, and our Rockdale mortgage broker team is local to you.
How Much Stamp Duty Do First Home Buyers Pay in NSW?
In NSW, a first home buyer pays no transfer duty (stamp duty) on a home valued at $800,000 or less, and pays a reduced amount on homes valued above $800,000 and below $1,000,000. At $1,000,000 or more, no concession applies.
As an example, consider a buyer purchasing a home valued at $850,000. This is a figure from the NSW Government's published duty table, not a Rockdale price. General duty at that value is $32,437. Under the First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme, the published reduced duty is $9,796.75. The buyer saves $22,640.25 and keeps that money for the deposit, legal costs and moving in. Those figures apply to transactions from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
To qualify, neither you nor your spouse or partner can have owned residential property in Australia before. At least one buyer must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. You must also move in within 12 months of settlement and live there for at least 12 continuous months. Your solicitor or conveyancer lodges the claim after exchange. It is not automatic.
Can You Get the First Home Owner Grant in Rockdale?
The NSW first home owner grant is $10,000, but only for newly built, off-the-plan or substantially renovated homes. It is not available for established homes.
A new home or substantially renovated home must cost $600,000 or less. For vacant land plus a building contract, the total must be $750,000 or less. There is no means test. You must live in the property within 12 months and stay for at least 12 continuous months. If you are considering an established home, check this early, because the grant is not available for established homes. If you are considering a new apartment, the grant could be part of your plan.
Ready to get started?
Book a chat with a Finance & Mortgage Broker at Home Loans Hub today.
How Does the 5% Deposit Scheme Work?
Under the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, eligible first home buyers can buy with a 5% deposit and avoid lenders mortgage insurance (LMI). Eligible single parents or legal guardians need only 2%. Housing Australia backs the lender for the part of the loan between your deposit and 20% of the property value.
There are no income caps and no place limits. You apply through a participating lender, not directly. For NSW, the price cap is $1,500,000 in the capital city and regional centres category, and $800,000 in other areas. The cap for a specific home depends on its suburb and postcode in Housing Australia's postcode search tool, so check Rockdale there.
The trade-off is the occupancy rule. You must move in within six months of settlement and keep living there while the backing is active. If you do not, your lender may require you to pay LMI. The backing also protects the lender, not you. The lender sets the deposit using its own valuation, which can differ from your purchase price.
Get pre-approval before you bid. It shows what you can borrow, and our borrowing capacity page explains how lenders work that out. You can also test repayments with our mortgage repayment calculator.
Help to Buy: Sharing Equity With the Government
Help to Buy is a shared equity scheme where the Australian Government contributes 5% to 30% of the price of an existing home, or 5% to 40% of a new home, in exchange for an equity share. You pay no interest or rent on that share and make no monthly repayments to the Government.
You need at least a 2% deposit from savings. You must also have loan approval from a participating lender, and the lender tests your financial capacity. Income thresholds from 1 July 2026 are $103,000 for a single applicant and $165,000 for joint applicants or a single parent. The NSW price cap is $1,300,000 in the capital city and regional centres category, which is lower than the 5% Deposit Scheme cap. Help to Buy cannot be combined with the 5% Deposit Scheme, but you can still claim grants and stamp duty concessions.
The trade-offs are real. The Government's share rises or falls with your home's value. You cannot rent out any part of the home without written approval. If your income stays above the threshold for two consecutive financial years, you may need to repay some or all of the Government's share, depending on your capacity to pay. Do not bid at auction or pay a deposit without conditional approval. A mortgage broker can liaise with a participating lender for you.
Boosting Your Deposit With the First Home Super Saver Scheme
The First Home Super Saver scheme lets you release voluntary super contributions towards a first home deposit. Up to $15,000 a year and $50,000 in total of voluntary contributions count towards release.
You release 100% of after-tax contributions and 85% of before-tax contributions, plus notional earnings. You must request a determination from the ATO before ownership of property transfers to you. Release usually takes 15 to 20 business days. Each person is assessed individually, so partners can each use their own contributions.
The trade-offs are that the money is locked in super until released, and tax is withheld on the taxable part. If you do not sign a contract or recontribute within the time limits, extra tax applies. Speak with your accountant before making contributions. The scheme can be used alongside state concessions and Help to Buy.
Matching the Right Loan to Your Situation
The schemes above set the starting point, and the loan sets your repayments for years. We compare lenders on rates, features such as offset accounts, and fees across home loans suited to first home buyer eligibility rules. Rates vary depending on your deposit size and lender. If a family member could help with security, ask us about guarantor loans too.
Call one of our team or book an appointment at a time that works for you, and we will map out which schemes you can use for your Rockdale purchase before you start your home loan application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do first home buyers pay stamp duty in NSW?
Not on homes valued at $800,000 or less, which are exempt. Homes valued above $800,000 and below $1,000,000 pay a reduced rate, and no concession applies at $1,000,000 or more.
Can I use the 5% Deposit Scheme and Help to Buy together?
No. Help to Buy participants cannot receive help from other schemes that provide loan backing or shared equity. You can still claim grants, stamp duty concessions and the First Home Super Saver scheme.
Does the NSW first home owner grant apply to established homes?
No. The $10,000 grant applies only to newly built, off-the-plan or substantially renovated homes, within set price limits.
How long does a First Home Super Saver release take?
In most cases it takes 15 to 20 business days for the fund to release the money and the ATO to pay it. You must request your determination before ownership of a property transfers to you.
