Can I use more than one first home buyer scheme at once?

Often yes. It's common to combine a grant, a stamp duty concession, and a low deposit scheme on the same purchase, since they're assessed separately. Eligibility rules differ for each, so confirm you meet all three before assuming you qualify.

Do these schemes apply to any property?

No. Most carry conditions on property value, whether it's new or established, and sometimes location. A broker or the relevant WA government agency can confirm whether your target property qualifies before you get too far into the search.

Is a low deposit scheme the same as a grant?

No. A grant is a cash contribution toward your purchase. A low deposit scheme lets you borrow with a smaller deposit, sometimes without paying lenders mortgage insurance, but you still need to service the full loan amount.

Do I need a broker to access these schemes?

Not always, but a broker who works with first home buyers regularly will usually know current eligibility criteria and lender-specific quirks that aren't obvious from a government website alone.

First home buyer grants and schemes in WA: what's actually available

By Nathan Ellis · Updated 2026-07-04

Buying your first home in WA comes with more government support than most people realise going in, but it’s spread across a few different schemes with different eligibility rules. Getting a clear picture before you start looking at property, or before you sit down with a mortgage broker, makes it far easier to work out what you can actually use.

The main categories of support

Support for first home buyers generally falls into three buckets:

Cash grants: a lump sum contribution toward buying or building a home, subject to price caps and property type.
Stamp duty concessions: a reduction in the transfer duty payable on a first home purchase, up to a set property value.
Low deposit schemes: government-backed arrangements that let eligible buyers purchase with a smaller deposit than a standard loan would require, often avoiding lenders mortgage insurance.

These aren’t mutually exclusive. A single purchase can potentially combine a grant, a concession, and a low deposit scheme, since each is assessed on its own criteria.

A young couple looking at a house with a real estate sign in a Perth suburb

What tends to catch people out

Reviewers who’ve used a broker for their first purchase often mention how much stress was removed simply by having someone explain which schemes actually applied to their situation, rather than trying to work it out from scattered government pages. Common trip points include:

Property value caps that rule out homes in some suburbs but not others.
New-build-only conditions on certain schemes, which don’t apply to established homes.
Places on a low deposit scheme being capped each financial year, so timing can matter.
Income or first-time-buyer eligibility tests that differ from scheme to scheme.

None of this is complicated once it’s explained, but it’s easy to assume you qualify for something and find out later you don’t.

How to check what applies to you

Question	Why it matters
Is the property new, established, or vacant land?	Some schemes only apply to certain property types
What’s the purchase price?	Most schemes have a value cap
Have you owned property before, anywhere in Australia?	Most schemes require genuine first-time buyer status
How much deposit do you currently have?	Determines whether a low deposit scheme is worth pursuing

Timing matters more than people expect

Some schemes, particularly the low deposit ones, operate with a limited number of places released each financial year. That doesn’t mean you need to rush a purchase decision, but it does mean checking availability early rather than assuming a place will still be open by the time you’re ready to buy. A broker who works with first home buyers regularly will usually know roughly where allocations sit at any given time, which a general government information page won’t always make obvious.

It’s also worth checking whether a scheme requires you to live in the property for a minimum period after settlement. Some do, and renting the place out too soon can put your eligibility at risk retroactively. This is easy to miss if you’re focused purely on the purchase and not on the conditions that continue afterward.

Working scheme eligibility into your budget

It helps to treat any grant or concession as a bonus that reduces what you need upfront, not something to plan around before it’s confirmed. Get pre-approved based on your own savings and income first, then have your broker or conveyancer confirm exactly which schemes apply once you’ve settled on a property. That order avoids the situation of falling for a home assuming a concession applies, only to find the property or purchase price puts you just outside the cap.

Grants and concessions only cover part of the picture though; see our breakdown of the upfront costs to budget for beyond your deposit for the rest.

This is general information about how these schemes typically work, not a confirmation of what you personally qualify for. Rules and thresholds change, so check current eligibility with a broker or the relevant WA government agency before relying on any figure. Browse Perth mortgage brokers who specialise in first home buyer lending, and see our scoring methodology for how listings are ranked.

FAQ

Can I use more than one first home buyer scheme at once?: Often yes. It's common to combine a grant, a stamp duty concession, and a low deposit scheme on the same purchase, since they're assessed separately. Eligibility rules differ for each, so confirm you meet all three before assuming you qualify.
Do these schemes apply to any property?: No. Most carry conditions on property value, whether it's new or established, and sometimes location. A broker or the relevant WA government agency can confirm whether your target property qualifies before you get too far into the search.
Is a low deposit scheme the same as a grant?: No. A grant is a cash contribution toward your purchase. A low deposit scheme lets you borrow with a smaller deposit, sometimes without paying lenders mortgage insurance, but you still need to service the full loan amount.
Do I need a broker to access these schemes?: Not always, but a broker who works with first home buyers regularly will usually know current eligibility criteria and lender-specific quirks that aren't obvious from a government website alone.