A free, independent guide for Australian home buyers
Work out what you can borrow, which grants and schemes may apply and what it all really costs, using current Australian rules and figures. Then follow one clear path from first thought to keys.
Current figures
The main grants and federal schemes as they stand today, from the same figures our calculators use.
Checked September 2026
5% Deposit Scheme
5% deposit
Help to Buy
2% deposit
Eligibility rules apply to every grant and scheme. Your state revenue office or Housing Australia makes the final decision.
The journey
Each step has the tools for that moment, the question people ask most, and the trap worth knowing about before it costs you.
Step 1 of 6
Before deposits and auctions: can you actually take this on right now? Income stability, emergency buffer, lifestyle fit, and the honest "do I want this?" question.
Step 2 of 6
Australia has 23 overlapping grants and schemes. Most first home buyers only use one. We stack them all.
Step 3 of 6
The price is not the price. Stamp duty, LMI, conveyancer, building inspection, loan setup, moving. Expect 5-7% on top.
Step 4 of 6
Pre-approval is a letter saying "this bank will probably lend you $X." You need it before you can bid with confidence.
Step 5 of 6
This is where your research gets tested. Know your walk-away number, know the local comps, and don't let a 30-second auction bully you into $40k more.
Step 6 of 6
Most people go quiet after signing. Then they're surprised. Here's what actually happens over the next month.
Browse by topic
All 44 tools sit in five groups, the same ones as the menu at the top of every page.
Work out if you can buy, how much you can spend and when.
Find the grants, concessions and schemes you may be eligible for.
Every cost on top of the price, from stamp duty to the first year.
Compare loans, test them against rate rises and plan what comes next.
Take-home pay, tax, study loans and family payments.
Not sure where to begin?
A plain-English path from "can I do this?" to settlement day, with the right tool at each step.
Why use Unpack Property
Grants, scheme caps, stamp duty and rates are checked against government sources. Last checked September 2026.
No account and no email needed. The calculators run in your browser.
We sell nothing and take no commissions, so no tool points you towards a product.
Every state's grants, duty and concessions, plus the federal schemes and tax rates.
Results are estimates and general information, not personal financial advice. About Unpack Property
Latest
Buying Strategy
Regional centres are outpacing the capitals on price growth in 2026 while still offering entry prices well below Sydney and Melbourne medians. How the growth data, infrastructure pipelines and scheme eligibility actually compare, and the real lifestyle trade offs for first home buyers choosing between a regional and a capital city purchase.
State Guides
From 1 July 2026 the ACT Home Buyer Concession Scheme removed its income test and its property price cap, so eligible first home buyers in Canberra pay zero stamp duty at any price. How HBCS works in 2026, how Help to Buy and the 5% Deposit Scheme stack on top, and what the house vs unit price gap means for buyers now that the old cap is gone.
News and trends
Cotality's Home Value Index fell 1.1% in September, with values about 5.2% below March's peak. Here is what the data shows and how to think about it alongside higher interest rates.
Stay updated
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