Home loans by choice

Buying your first home made simple

Explore first home buyer loan options and support from real mortgage brokers. Learn about deposits, grants and schemes to help you get into your first home.
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Buying Your First Home Starts Here

Buying your first home is an exciting step. It can also feel overwhelming with so many options, rules and costs to consider. At Home Loans By Choice, we help you understand the process, compare loan options from major banks and non bank lenders, and guide you through every stage from planning to settlement.

What You Need to Get Started

Before you begin, it helps to understand a few key areas.

Deposit

Many lenders require a deposit, but some options may allow you to buy with as little as 5 percent, depending on your situation.

Borrowing Power

Your income, expenses, debts and credit profile all play a role in how much you may be able to borrow.

Upfront Costs

This can include stamp duty, legal fees and lender costs. Some first home buyers may be eligible for concessions or exemptions.

Loan Options

Fixed, variable and split loans all have different features. We help you compare what may suit your needs.

Getting approved for a home loan online

1. Start your application online 24/7

Tell us a bit about yourself, your needs and home loan preferences. We’ll ask about your income, expenses, credit history, employment history and any current loans. You can complete this in your own time. Your application will be securely saved and waiting for you. 

2. Provide supporting documents

You’ll need to provide supporting documentation that helps the lender assess your profile. These include identification, recent payslips, bank statements and any loan statements you might have for existing loans. These are all securely uploaded online, in your own time. 

3. Choosing the right lender for you

Once we have an accurate view of your financial situation, our smart technology will compare thousands of different home loan options to find a shortlist of the loans that best matches your specific needs.

4. Discuss your options with a Home Loan Specialist

From here our Home Loan Specialists will do the heavy lifting for you. They liaise with the lender, keep you updated on your loan’s progress, and are available to answer your questions via phone, email or live chat.

5. Your lender makes a decision

Next, your chosen lender will assess your application and your ability to pay back the loan amount. If all goes to plan, they will approve your loan and you can move towards settlement.

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Wondering how much you can borrow?

If you are thinking about buying your first home, the best place to start is understanding your options.

Speak with our team today or use our calculators to explore your borrowing power and repayments.

Find the right program for you

The Australian Government is making home ownership more achievable for more people with new and expanded programs that make it easier to get started. There are three programs designed for first-time home buyers, people re-entering the market, and aspiring homeowners across Australia. Use our first home buyers grant and scheme finder to match the right one to your situation in under a minute.
Your Details
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✨ We've Unlocked:
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Join 1,000+ Aussies who claimed these benefits

Join 1,000+ Aussies who claimed these benefits!
Drop your details below to access your savings, full borrowing power report and connect with expert advice 👇

Your Path to Home Ownership

💰 Your Financial Position

Calculation Method
Available Savings
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Estimated Annual Income
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Update to Your Actual Income

Enter your actual annual household income (before tax) for more accurate calculations.

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Assessment Rate (Buffer)
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🏠 Your Buying Options

🏆 BEST MATCH: 5% Deposit with Home Guarantee Scheme

SAVE ~$15K
🏠 Property Price You Could Afford
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Minimum Deposit (5%)
$0
Your Available Savings
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✅ Buffer remaining
Loan Amount (95%)
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Govt Guaranteed
Estimated Monthly Repayments
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30 years
🎁 PLUS Government Grants:
Lenders Mortgage Insurance: $0 (Waived!)
First Home Owner Grant: +$0
Stamp Duty Saving: $0
YOUR TOTAL BUYING POWER: $0
✨ Why This Option Is A Good Match:
  • Buy now instead of saving for years
  • Save ~$15,000 in LMI fees
  • No income caps, no waitlist
  • Government backing gives lenders confidence

Option B: 10% Deposit

Property Price

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Required Deposit (10%)

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Loan Amount

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LMI (added to loan)

~$0

Monthly Repayments

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FHOG

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About this option: With a 10% deposit, you'll need to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI), which adds to your loan. You'll use most or all of your savings, leaving little emergency buffer.

Option C: Traditional 20% Deposit

Property Price

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Required Deposit (20%)

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Additional $ Needed

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Loan Amount

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Monthly Repayments

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LMI

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⏰ Time to save additional amount:

About this option: The traditional 20% deposit avoids LMI but requires significant additional savings. Consider the 5% HGS option to buy now instead of waiting years.
🎁 Government Support You Could Qualify For
Home Guarantee Scheme
Save LMI
~$15,000
First Home Owner Grant
Cash Grant
$10,000
Stamp Duty Concession
Saving
$22,000
TOTAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
~$47,000
💡 Want to Save Even More?

First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSS)

The FHSS lets you save for your deposit INSIDE your super fund with TAX ADVANTAGES. Combine this with your current savings to increase your buying power even more!

📊 How It Works:

  • Save up to $15,000/year in voluntary super contributions
  • Maximum $50,000 total across all years
  • Withdraw to use as home deposit
  • Get back 85% of pre-tax + 100% of after-tax contributions
  • Plus earnings calculated by ATO

💰 Example Scenario:

✅ Benefits:
  • Can be combined with 5% Deposit Scheme
  • Can be combined with FHOG & stamp duty concessions
  • Tax-effective way to save faster
📋 About the Schemes

Home Guarantee Scheme (5% Deposit)

How it works: The Australian Government provides a guarantee to approved lenders, allowing first home buyers to purchase with just 5% deposit (or 2% for single parents) without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance.

Eligibility:

  • Australian citizen or permanent resident, 18+ years old
  • First home buyer OR haven't owned property in 10 years
  • Property price below location-specific caps
  • Owner-occupier home (no investment properties)
  • No income caps
  • Unlimited spots, no waitlist

Property Price Caps (Your State):

More info: firsthomebuyers.gov.au

Important Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates only and should not be considered financial advice. Actual borrowing capacity, grants, and stamp duty will depend on your individual circumstances, lender assessment criteria, current government policies, and property specifics. Interest rates are indicative. Home Guarantee Scheme eligibility and property price caps are subject to change. LMI estimates are approximate. Always consult with a licensed mortgage broker or financial advisor, and verify current grant eligibility with your state revenue office and Housing Australia. Calculations assume: 30-year loan term, principal and interest repayments, owner-occupied property, and standard lending criteria. Grant amounts, stamp duty concessions, and scheme details are current as of November 2025 but may change.

Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme

Eligible first home buyers may be able to purchase a property with a low deposit without paying lenders mortgage insurance.

  • Buy with as little as 5% deposit

  • The government guarantees part of the loan to avoid lender mortgage insurance

  • Income caps and property price limits apply

First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS)

Allows eligible buyers to save for a home deposit using their super, with potential tax advantages.

  • Make voluntary super contributions to build your deposit faster

  • Benefit from concessional tax treatment on contributions

  • Withdraw eligible contributions and earnings to put towards your first home

Help to Buy Scheme

A shared equity scheme where the government contributes towards the purchase price to reduce your loan size.

  • Government may contribute up to 40 percent for new homes or 30 percent for existing homes

  • Buy with as low as a 2% deposit

  • Income limits, property price caps and eligibility criteria apply

For full details, eligibility and current limits, users should still be directed to https://www.firsthome.gov.au/

Call an expert

Our expert insights will help guide you through the process and get you to your goal sooner.

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Choice

Home Loans By Choice help you compare thousands of loan options from Australian bank and non-bank lenders, get expert help from a local mortgage broker, and explore tools to help you find, buy and own with confidence.

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IMPORTANT NOTE: All content is general information only and is subject to change at any given time. Your complete financial situation will need to be assessed before acceptance of any proposal or product. Rates and product information should be confirmed with the relevant financial institution, and you should review the PDS before you decide to purchase. Any recommendations made about a financial product are general advice only and has not taken into account your particular needs and circumstances. You should consider the Product Disclosure Statement to determine if the product is suitable for you before you decide to purchase it.

Home Loans By Choice compares loan options from a range of lenders but may not consider all products available in the market. If you choose to proceed, you may be connected with a licensed mortgage broker who can assist with your application. We may receive a commission if you obtain a loan through our platform. CDR data is sourced from participating Australian financial institutions in accordance with the Consumer Data Right.