Plain-English articles to help you navigate schemes, grants, and the numbers behind buying your first home in Australia.
Market Updates
Housing affordability in Australia sits at record lows since 1994-95. The real numbers by capital city, what actually drove it, and five practical levers first home buyers can still pull in 2026.
News and trends
New Housing Australia figures show almost 40,000 loans were written under the income-cap-free 5% Deposit Scheme in its first seven months, with about one in three going to borrowers who would have exceeded the old income caps.
News and trends
Median weekly rent has climbed to around $705 with renters now spending close to a third of household income on housing, according to the latest Cotality Rental Review. Here is what the squeeze means for anyone weighing renting, buying or rentvesting.
News and trends
From July 1, 2026 the 5% Deposit Scheme gave Darwin its own $750,000 property price cap, while the rest of the Northern Territory stays at $600,000. Caps in every other state are unchanged. See the current caps for your state.
News and trends
The ACT government has agreed to buy 243 hectares of CSIRO's former Ginninderra research station for $385 million, paving the way for a new suburb of more than 3,000 homes between Belconnen and Gungahlin, with about 15% earmarked as affordable, community and public housing.
Mortgages & Loans
Guarantor loans now underpin more than 60% of first home buyer purchases. How they work, what parents are really pledging, and when the guarantee can be released.
State Guides
Western Sydney International Airport opens October 2026 with Bradfield City, a new metro line, and $28 billion of infrastructure behind it. How the NSW schemes, price caps, and outer western suburbs actually stack up.
News and trends
From July 1, 2026 the federal Help to Buy scheme raised its income caps to $103,000 for singles and $165,000 for couples, with 10,000 new places for the 2026-27 financial year. Here is what changed and who it brings into range.
Schemes & Grants
Help to Buy sounds simple: a 2% deposit and the government takes an equity share. The fine print on selling, income caps, refinancing, and renovations is where it gets interesting.
News and trends
Cotality's Home Value Index shows national home values fell 0.4% in June 2026, the steepest monthly drop in about three and a half years, as Sydney and Melbourne lead a broader slowdown while Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth keep growing.
Opinion
Perth values are up nearly 90% in five years. Is it too late for first home buyers, or does the outer suburbs plus scheme stacking still work? A calm, honest look at both sides.
News and trends
July 1, 2026 marks a turning point for Australian first home buyers. The ACT has abolished stamp duty for all first home buyers with no price cap or income test, Tasmania's stamp duty exemption has ended, and Queensland's $30,000 FHOG continues. Here is what has changed and what is still on the table heading into FY2027.