Buying a home is a huge milestone, but the cost of deposits, fees and other expenses can make it feel out of reach. Fortunately, in South Australia and the Northern Territory, there are grants and financial assistance programs designed to help home buyers, particularly first home owners, get a foot on the property ladder.
While most first home buyer grants are aimed at people building or buying a new home, there are also grants for those buying an existing property in the NT.
From stamp duty discounts to grants, there are ways to make home ownership more affordable. To save you time, we’ve done some research on these grants and financial assistance for you…
South Australia
Consult Revenue SA website regularly as dates and eligibility criteria can change.
First Home Owner Grant
This is a one-off payment of up to $15,000 for eligible first homeowners from the South Australian Government. To be eligible, you must be buying or building a new residential property which will be used as a principal place of residence in South Australia.
As per the Revenue SA website, the first home owner grant applies to:
- the purchase or construction of a new home
- an off-the-plan apartment
- a substantially renovated home
- a comprehensive building contract or a contract to build a home
- owner builders
- knock-down rebuild projects (for contracts entered into prior to 13 February 2025)
You can apply for the first home owner grant anytime within the first 12 months of purchasing your home.
Stamp Duty Relief
When you buy a property or have ownership transferred to you, you will have to pay stamp duty. Stamp duty is a tax calculated based on property value and is paid at the time of settlement.
If you are a first home buyer in South Australia, you may be entitled to stamp duty relief. The amount of relief you receive, and your eligibility will depend on the date you entered a contract. If you entered your contract on or after 6 June 2024, full stamp duty relief is available regardless of your property value.
Stamp duty relief is available for:
- a new home
- an off-plan apartment
- vacant land to build your home on (including for owner builders and contracts to build or comprehensive building contracts)
Visit the Revenue SA website to find out if you’re eligible.
Northern Territory
HomeGrown Territory Grant – first home buyers
These packages are designed to assist first home buyers in the Northern Territory with new or established homes, currently there are no caps on the build or purchase price. There are start and end dates for these grants, please review the NT government website as these dates and eligibility criteria regularly change.
Buying or building a new home
First home buyers who are building or buying a new home can receive up to $50,000.
The $50,000 grant is available for:
- owner-builders
- off-the-plan purchases
Visit NT government website to determine your eligibility.
FreshStart New Home Grant – existing home owners
The FreshStart New Home Grant is for existing home owners and offers $30,000 to buy or build a new home.
It’s available to:
- applicants who are not first-home buyers
- owner-builders and for off-the-plan purchases.
This grant cannot be used in conjunction with the HomeGrown Territory Grant. There are currently no caps on the build or purchase price. Visit the NT government website to see if you’re eligible.
Talk to a Police Credit Union Home Loan Specialist today!
Police Credit Union offers tailored First Home Buyer Home loans with smaller deposits and longer loan terms to help first home buyers get their foot in the door of their home sooner. Check out our First Home Buyers loans.
Did you know you don’t have to use a mortgage broker? Our Home Loan Specialists are ready to find the home loan that works best for you. Save yourself time and streamline the communication by speaking directly to us. If you’re still at the budgeting phase and would like to discuss where to get started, perhaps book in for a Your Money Plan appointment. Regardless of whether you’re at the start of the journey or want to get a pre-approval sorted, we’d love to chat. Call us on 1300 131 844 or visit your local branch.
For more information, tips and tricks on navigating buying your first home, download our First Home Owner Guide. Calculators like our How Much Can I Borrow and Stamp Duty Calculator are also handy tools.
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