Buying your first home in Sydney?
Rateseeker helps first home buyers in Sydney navigate grants, compare loans across 40+ lenders, and move from pre-approval to settlement without the confusion. No broker fee. No obligation.
Buying your first home in Sydney is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make. Rateseeker compares loans across 40+ lenders, helps you understand which government grants and schemes you qualify for, and supports you from your first question through to settlement at no cost to you.
3 things every first home buyer in Sydney needs and how Rateseeker helps with all of them.
Know what you're entitled to
The NSW First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme, the First Home Guarantee, and the First Home Owner Grant all exist, but most first home buyers either miss them or misunderstand eligibility. We identify exactly which schemes apply to your situation before you make an offer.
Know your number before you search
Going to open homes without pre-approval is a Sydney mistake. We model your borrowing power across 40+ lenders in one conversation, so you know your budget and your realistic price range before you fall in love with the wrong property.
Someone in your corner from start to finish
From the first call to the day you get your keys, we handle lender communication, paperwork, and follow-up. First home buyers don't know what they don't know. We fill that gap, at no cost to you.
What grants are available for first home buyers in NSW?
Several federal and NSW state schemes reduce the upfront cost of buying your first home, but eligibility depends on purchase price, property type, and whether you've owned property before.
First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme
Full stamp duty exemption on properties valued up to $800,000. A concessional rate applies between $800,000 and $1,000,000. Must be your primary place of residence and your first property in Australia. Use our stamp duty calculator to see your figure.
First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)
A one-time payment for eligible buyers purchasing or building a new home. Available for new builds only. Established homes are not eligible. Verify the current NSW grant amount with a broker before making financial decisions, as figures are updated by the government.
First Home Guarantee
Enables eligible first home buyers to purchase with a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). A limited number of places are available each financial year. Income caps and property price limits apply. Confirm current eligibility with your broker.
Family Home Guarantee
Designed for eligible single parents. Purchase with as little as a 2% deposit with no LMI. This scheme is not limited to first home buyers. Separate from the First Home Guarantee. A broker can confirm which scheme applies to your situation in one conversation.
Scheme details, grant amounts, and eligibility thresholds are subject to change. Confirm current eligibility with a broker or at the relevant government website before making financial decisions.
Not sure which schemes you qualify for? Our Sydney mortgage brokers can confirm your eligibility in one conversation, before you make an offer on any property.
From your first question to the day you get your keys.
Tell us your situation
One conversation. We look at your income, deposit, employment type, and whether you're buying new or established. Then we identify which schemes and grants apply before we even look at lenders.
We check your borrowing power
We model your borrowing power calculator results across 40+ lenders at once. You'll know your real budget, not just a bank's estimate, before you start the search.
We find the right loan and get you pre-approved
We shortlist loan options, explain the trade-offs, and manage pre-approval with the right lender. From first call to pre-approval typically takes 5–10 business days.
We handle settlement
Found a property? We manage the lender, the paperwork, and the timeline through to settlement. You focus on the move. We handle the finance.
Know your numbers before you make an offer.
Borrowing Power Calculator
See how much you could borrow across 40+ lenders before you start looking at properties. The first number every first home buyer needs.
Try the calculatorLoan Repayment Calculator
Use the home loan repayment calculator to map out your monthly repayments across different loan amounts and interest rates. No surprises.
Try the calculatorStamp Duty Calculator
Calculate your NSW stamp duty — and check whether the first home buyer exemption applies at your purchase price. Factor this into your total upfront budget.
Try the calculatorWhy first home buyers choose a broker over their bank.
Your bank can only offer its own products. A broker who works with 40+ lenders, and has helped first home buyers settle over $2.5B in loans across 15 years, can find something that actually fits your situation, your grant eligibility, and your budget. Not sure what to believe about the process? Read up on common first home buyer myths before your first call.
Free service.
We're paid a commission by your lender after settlement. Nothing comes out of your pocket at any point in the process.
40+ lenders compared.
Including non-bank lenders with competitive first home buyer products you won't find by walking into a branch.
Grant navigation included.
We identify every scheme you qualify for: FHBAS, First Home Guarantee, FHOG. We do this before we compare lenders, not after.
300+ five-star Google reviews.
Many from first home buyers who didn't know where to start. Read them before you pick up the phone.
FAQs about buying your first home in Sydney.
You can purchase your first home with as little as a 5% deposit if you qualify for the Federal Government’s First Home Guarantee. Without the scheme, most lenders require 10–20%. With less than 20%, Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) usually applies unless you qualify for an exemption. Use our borrowing power calculator to check your options.
First home buyers in NSW may be eligible for 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. Eligibility requires the property to be your primary place of residence and that you have not previously owned property in Australia. Use our stamp duty calculator to check your figure.
Key schemes include the First Home Owner Grant (new builds), the First Home Guarantee (5% deposit, no LMI), the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee, and the Family Home Guarantee for single parents. Eligibility criteria and amounts vary. A broker can confirm which schemes apply to your situation before you make an offer on a property.
Yes. A mortgage broker compares loans across multiple lenders. Rateseeker works with 40+, finding the right product for your situation. The service is free, as brokers are paid by the lender after settlement. For first home buyers, a broker also helps you navigate grants and schemes you may not know you qualify for.
From initial consultation to pre-approval typically takes 5–10 business days, depending on the lender and how quickly you can provide documentation. Rateseeker guides you through every document required and follows up with lenders directly so you’re not waiting on hold or chasing emails.
Ready to buy your first home in Sydney?
Fifteen minutes, zero obligation. We'll tell you exactly what you can borrow, which grants you qualify for, and what the next step looks like.
Or meet our Sydney mortgage brokers and see who you'll be working with.