First home loans in WA
A first home loan in WA is more than a low-rate mortgage. It is a stack of grants, duty savings and low-deposit schemes that, lined up right, can get you building sooner than you think.
Last updated 14 June 2026
A WA first home loan combines low-deposit lending with the $10,000 First Home Owner Grant, the WA stamp duty concession and schemes like the First Home Guarantee and Keystart. The Property Plug stacks these on a new build, where the grant applies and duty is charged on land only. It is free to you and general information, not credit advice.
Every WA first home support, 2026
| Support | What you get | 2025-26 cap |
|---|---|---|
| First Home Owner Grant | $10,000 toward a new build | Property to $800,000 |
| Stamp duty exemption | No transfer duty on a home | Up to $500,000 |
| Stamp duty concession | Reduced duty | $500,001 to $700,000 |
| First Home Guarantee | 5% deposit, no LMI | Eligibility and price caps |
| Keystart | Low-deposit WA lending, no LMI | Income and price caps |
| Help to Buy | Shared equity, smaller loan | Rolling out, caps apply |
Figures reflect 2025-26 WA settings. Verify with RevenueWA and scheme administrators. Last updated 14 June 2026.
Build new and the maths shifts in your favour
Two structural advantages reward first home buyers who build rather than buy established. The $10,000 grant applies only to new builds. And when you buy a block then sign a separate building contract, transfer duty is generally assessed on the land alone, not the finished house-and-land value, which can cut your duty sharply.
On a $560,000 new build, an eligible first home buyer typically collects the grant and pays a concessional duty figure well below what an investor pays on the general rate. Stacked, that can be over $20,000 of benefit before a dollar of loan cost. Run your own numbers in the first home incentive estimator.
Low-deposit pathways
The deposit, not the rate, is usually what stands between a first home buyer and a build. WA offers more than one way around it.
- First Home Guarantee: eligible buyers build with a 5% deposit and the government guarantees the rest, so no LMI is charged.
- Keystart: a WA government lender offering low-deposit loans with no LMI, within income and property caps.
- Family guarantor: a parent pledges equity as additional security to lift you over the 80% line and skip LMI.
- Grant as funds: the $10,000 grant generally reduces the loan you need at settlement or first draw.
Use the deposit and LMI calculator to see where your deposit sits and what LMI might cost if a scheme does not apply.
Build and finance, arranged together
The mistake first home buyers make is chasing each program alone, then finding their build budget does not match their loan. As a broker for both the build and the finance, we line up the design, the block and the loan so the supports actually land and the numbers fit from day one. That is the advantage of one team holding the whole picture.
This is general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not credit assistance or a credit quote. Consider whether it is right for you and seek advice. Finance is arranged through Central Lending Solutions, the licensed credit partner The Property Plug works with (Australian Credit Licence or credit representative number [TBC]).
How much deposit do I need for a first home loan in WA?
Many first home buyers get in with 5%. The First Home Guarantee lets eligible buyers borrow up to 95% with no Lenders Mortgage Insurance, and Keystart offers low-deposit WA lending with no LMI within its caps. With a 20% deposit you avoid LMI outright. We confirm which path costs you least.
What grants and concessions can I stack in WA?
On a new build you can combine the $10,000 First Home Owner Grant (property up to $800,000), the stamp duty exemption on a home to $500,000 with a concession to $700,000, and a low-deposit scheme like the First Home Guarantee or Keystart. Stacked, that is over $20,000 of support on a typical build before loan costs.
Do I get the grant if I buy an established home?
No. The WA First Home Owner Grant applies only to new builds. You can still get the first home stamp duty concession on an established home up to the thresholds, but the $10,000 grant is reserved for building or buying brand new, which is a core reason building suits first home buyers.
Can I use a first home loan to build, not just buy?
Yes, and it is often the better move. A first home loan can fund a construction loan on a new build, where you pay interest only during the build, pay duty on the land alone, and collect the grant. We arrange the build and the finance together so the budget and the loan are sized as one.
Does The Property Plug charge first home buyers?
No. We are paid by the builder, never by you. We help you choose a builder, design and loan and we are paid by the builder and the lender you proceed with. First home buyers get independent help at no cost, which matters most when every dollar of deposit counts.
Start your first home plan
Book a free first home call. We confirm the grants and schemes you qualify for, then match a design, a block and the finance so it all fits your deposit.