Home Loan FAQ Knowledge Hub

NSW's First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme (FHBAS) provides full stamp duty exemption for homes valued up to $800,000 and a concessional rate for homes between $800,001 and $999,999. However, median property values in Clovelly and Queens Park significantly exceed these thresholds, meaning most first home buyers in these suburbs will not qualify for FHBAS concessions. Local Knowledge Finance advises Eastern Suburbs first home buyers on alternative strategies, including the First Home Super Saver (FHSS) Scheme, gifted deposit structuring, and lender-specific LMI waiver programmes for eligible professionals.

NSW offers stamp duty exemptions for first-home buyers purchasing new or existing homes valued up to $800,000, and concessions on properties up to $1,000,000 under the First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme (FHBAS). Vacant land thresholds differ. Eligibility conditions apply.

Yes. First home buyers purchasing in Beaconsfield (postcode 2015) may be eligible for several NSW and federal government schemes. The First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme (FHBAS) provides stamp duty exemptions for properties up to $800,000 and concessions up to $1,000,000. The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) offers a $10,000 grant for eligible new home purchases. The First Home Guarantee allows eligible buyers to purchase with as little as a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI), for properties up to $900,000 in Sydney. Local Knowledge Finance can assess your eligibility and structure your application to maximise available incentives.

NSW's First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme (FHBAS) provides a full stamp duty exemption for properties valued up to $800,000 and a concessional rate for properties between $800,001 and $999,999. However, median property prices in Malabar and Little Bay typically exceed $1 million, meaning most purchases in these suburbs do not qualify for stamp duty relief. First home buyers in these areas should explore alternative strategies such as the First Home Guarantee (5% deposit, no LMI, up to $900,000), the federal Help to Buy shared equity scheme, or family guarantor arrangements. A mortgage broker with local Eastern Suburbs expertise can assess your eligibility and identify the most suitable pathway.

Under the NSW First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme (FHBAS), properties valued at $800,000 or less are fully exempt from stamp duty, with a concessional rate applying up to $1 million. Most houses in Queens Park (median ~$4.15M) and Clovelly (median ~$5.81M) exceed these thresholds. However, units in Queens Park (median ~$1.54M) and Clovelly (median ~$1.95M) also exceed the concession cap. Local Knowledge Finance can help you explore alternative strategies, including the First Home Guarantee, LMI waivers for eligible professions, and tax-effective loan structuring to maximise your borrowing capacity.

First home buyers in Alexandria may be eligible for the First Home Guarantee (5% deposit, no LMI), the NSW First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme (stamp duty concessions or exemptions), and the Family Home Guarantee for eligible single parents. Local Knowledge Finance can assess your eligibility for all applicable schemes, compare products across our 40+ lender panel, and help you navigate lender policies for Alexandria's diverse property types — including warehouse conversions and heritage terraces — where lender appetite can vary significantly.

Yes. Under the expanded First Home Guarantee scheme, eligible first home buyers in Bondi can purchase a property up to $1.5 million with a 5% deposit, avoiding Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). Stamp duty concessions may also apply for properties under the NSW threshold. Local Knowledge Finance guides first home buyers through the full process — from FHOG eligibility and the First Home Super Saver Scheme to strata and apartment-specific lender policies common in the Bondi market.

Yes. First home buyers purchasing in Alexandria or Green Square may be eligible for full stamp duty exemption on properties valued up to $800,000, or concessional rates on properties between $800,000 and $1,000,000 under the NSW First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme. The expanded First Home Guarantee also allows eligible buyers to enter the market with as little as a 5% deposit on properties up to $1.5 million. Local Knowledge Finance can assess your eligibility, structure your loan to maximise your borrowing capacity, and guide you through the entire application process — from pre-approval to settlement.

Yes, first home buyers in Darling Point may be eligible for several NSW government schemes. The First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme (FHBAS) provides full stamp duty exemptions for properties up to $800,000 and concessional rates up to $1 million. The First Home Guarantee (FHBG) allows eligible buyers to purchase with a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI), subject to a $900,000 price cap for Sydney. The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) provides $10,000 for eligible new builds up to $600,000. Given Darling Point's price points, many first home buyers target entry-level apartments — Local Knowledge Finance can assess your eligibility, structure your loan to maximise borrowing capacity, and navigate strata levy impacts on serviceability.

Under the NSW First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme (FHBAS), first home buyers receive a full stamp duty exemption on properties valued up to $800,000 and a concessional rate on properties between $800,000 and $1,000,000. However, with median house prices in Bondi at approximately $4.45 million and Coogee at approximately $4.95 million, most Eastern Suburbs properties fall well above these thresholds. First home buyers in these suburbs should explore the First Home Super Saver (FHSS) Scheme and seek specialist mortgage advice to maximise their borrowing capacity. Local Knowledge Finance can help you navigate all available government incentives.

Yes. First home buyers purchasing in Beaconsfield (postcode 2015) or Kingsford (postcode 2032) may be eligible for significant stamp duty relief under the NSW First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme (FHBAS). As of 2026, a full stamp duty exemption applies to properties valued up to $800,000, with a concessional (tapered) rate for properties between $800,001 and $1,000,000. Eligible buyers can also access the First Home Guarantee — allowing a 5% deposit with no Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) on purchases up to $1.5 million — and the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) of $10,000 for eligible new homes. Local Knowledge Finance can assess your eligibility for all available schemes and structure your loan to minimise upfront costs.

Yes. Following the October 2025 expansion of the Australian Government's First Home Guarantee scheme, eligible buyers in Clovelly and Queens Park can now purchase properties up to $1.5 million in Sydney with just a 5% deposit and no Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). The scheme now has no income cap and unlimited places. Local Knowledge Finance can assess your eligibility, structure your application, and connect you with participating lenders from our 40+ lender panel — saving you potentially $20,000 to $40,000 in LMI costs.

Yes. First home buyers in Kingsford may be eligible for the First Home Guarantee (5% deposit without Lenders Mortgage Insurance), the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG), and stamp duty exemptions for properties under $800,000. Additionally, medical professionals and academics — many of whom work at UNSW or the Prince of Wales Hospital — may qualify for profession-based LMI waivers, potentially saving between $15,000 and $40,000. Local Knowledge Finance can assess your eligibility across all applicable schemes and structure your loan accordingly.

Yes. First home buyers purchasing in Malabar (2036) or Maroubra (2035) may be eligible for the NSW First Home Owner Grant ($10,000 for eligible new homes), stamp duty exemptions for properties up to $800,000, and the Federal Government's First Home Guarantee (5% deposit without Lenders Mortgage Insurance). The First Home Super Saver Scheme may also allow buyers to use voluntary super contributions as part of their deposit. Local Knowledge Finance, led by James Chee — a CPA, Registered Tax Agent, Mortgage Broker, and Commercial Finance Broker — provides integrated advice that combines grant eligibility assessment with tax-effective deposit structuring.

Yes. First home buyers purchasing in Randwick may be eligible for the NSW First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme (FHBAS), which provides a full transfer duty (stamp duty) exemption on properties valued up to $800,000 and a concessional rate on properties between $800,001 and $1,000,000. Eligibility requires the buyer to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, to have never previously owned residential property in Australia, and to occupy the property as their principal place of residence within 12 months of settlement. Local Knowledge Finance can assess your eligibility and help structure your deposit strategy to maximise your First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) entitlements alongside any stamp duty savings.

Yes. Eligible NSW first home buyers purchasing a new home under $600,000 can simultaneously access the $10,000 First Home Owner Grant (FHOG), a full stamp duty exemption under the First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme (FHBAS), and the First Home Guarantee. Stacking these benefits can save tens of thousands of dollars. Contact Local Knowledge Finance to confirm your eligibility.

Yes, eligible first home buyers in NSW can potentially stack multiple schemes. The $10,000 First Home Owner Grant (for new homes under $600,000) can be combined with the federal First Home Guarantee (5% deposit, no LMI, $900,000 cap in Sydney) and the First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme stamp duty exemption. A broker can model your specific eligibility — contact Local Knowledge Finance for a complimentary assessment.

Yes. First home buyers in Maroubra and Bondi may be eligible for the federal First Home Guarantee, which allows eligible buyers to purchase with as little as a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). In NSW, the First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme (FHBAS) provides full stamp duty exemption on properties up to $800,000 and partial concessions up to $1,000,000. The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) of $10,000 is also available for eligible new home purchases up to $600,000. Local Knowledge Finance can assess your eligibility across all available schemes and match you with the most suitable lender from our panel of 40+ lenders.

Yes. Through the federal Home Guarantee Scheme, eligible first home buyers can purchase with as little as a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). Local Knowledge Finance can assess your eligibility, help you apply for the NSW First Home Owner Grant ($10,000 for new homes), and identify lenders on our 40+ panel who participate in the scheme.

Yes. Local Knowledge Finance serves buyers and investors in Kensington, providing specialist guidance on the suburb's high-density apartment market, strata lending requirements, and LMI considerations. With access to 40+ lenders, Local Knowledge Finance can structure loans for professionals, investors, and first home buyers purchasing near UNSW and the surrounding hospital precinct.