The ability to save enough money to pay for a mortgage can be one of the Holy Grail for first-home buyers.
However, in the present market, what amount do you really require? Do you require an initial deposit of 20? Will lenders allow you in by putting in a smaller amount?
Here’s what you should be aware of.
What is the minimum amount of deposit I require to buy an apartment?
20% was the minimum requirement for 澳洲买房首付, however, buyers are more likely to buy with a lower down payment rather than wait as the cost of homes tend to rise more quickly than they are able to save.
Most lenders require applicants to pay at minimum 5% of the value of the home they want to purchase, however based on the individual circumstances, they might need more.
A deposit of 5% for a loan of $680,000 is equivalent roughly $34,000. This is a lot smaller than most potential buyers think their deposits would require to be (although this does not include the hidden costs associated with purchasing a house).
What other costs upfront should I consider paying
Here are some additional expenses to be considered when purchasing the home of your dreams.
Legal and conveyancing fees
Stamp duty
Pest and building inspection
Mortgage registration fee
Transfer fee
Fees for loan application
Do you want to avoid paying stamp duty? Here are some options to save money:
Purchase your first home
Purchase or construct a brand new home
Find a cheap house
Purchase a house to reside within (not as an investment)
Federal government first home buyer incentives
There are many ways that the government can help in the purchase of a house.
First Home Guarantee
First Home Guarantee First Home Guarantee is designed to assist first time home buyers get their homes more quickly by offering a warranty 15% of the value of a home that is newly built. This means first-time buyers could be able to purchase the property for just a five-per percent deposit, without needing to purchase Lenders Mortgage Insurance.
In the latest budget, in the latest budget, the Federal Government announced an extension of the scheme, allowing an additional 35,000 spots and lifting the limit on the price for allowable homes.
Guarantee for family homes
The Family Home Guarantee, first made public in the 2021 federal budget, then modified in 2022, allows single parents with a qualifying income to purchase the property they want with a down payment of as little as 2%, and without having to pay for mortgage insurance.
With the help of the Family Home Guarantee single parents can construct a new house or buy an existing one with a deposit just 2 percent plus the costs and taxes, with the government ensuring an amount of 18% or more worth of the home.
Usually, those who don’t have the total of 20%, in addition to other costs upfront typically have to pay for mortgage insurance.
This can help single parents enter or return to the housing market earlier and also save thousands in LMI expenses.
Morrison government announced that the Morrison government announced that the amount of guarantees that are available each year for the scheme will increase to 5,000 each year up to June 2025. This is a doubling of the amount of guarantees available from the previous year’s budget.
First Home Super Saver scheme
The First Home Super Saver Scheme is a program of the government which allows first-time buyers to tap into their super funds to purchase an investment property.
It is important to take a look at the fine print This scheme allows buyers to use the extra super-payments they’ve made to the purpose of purchasing an apartment. That means they must make additional voluntary contributions to the First Home Super Saver (FHSS) Scheme, which they are able to withdraw when the time comes to purchase a home.
This permits customers to take advantage of the tax advantages that superannuation enjoys. The first $25,000 that you transfer in your super fund every year is taxed at 15%, not the typical marginal rate.
More Guides
All compulsory contributions that the employer pays along with your own contributions can be counted toward the threshold. This means that you may contribute more to your home’s deposit since less of it will be absorbed by tax.
The First Home Owners Grant
The state government grant is intended to lower the price that first-time homeowners are required to pay, based on whether they purchase a properties in regional or metro zones or if they are buying an existing or newly built property.
For instance, in Victoria the grant amount is $10,000 for those who purchase in metro areas , but increases to $20,000 for buyers looking in rural regions. The grant is available in South Australia the grant is only available to first-time home buyers who construct their own house or purchase the property as a new construction.
Guarantee for home security in the region
Regional Home Guarantee Regional Home Guarantee is an extension that is part of First Home Guarantee which allows qualified buyers to purchase an additional home that is not located in metropolitan areas with a smaller amount of deposit.
Regional Home Guarantee Regional Home Guarantee allows borrowers to not have to pay mortgage insurance to lenders (LMI) since the government functions as the guarantor of a part of the loan.
Typically, borrowers are forced to pay for LMI if they don’t have a 20percent deposit. But following a time of this rapid growth in prices the process has become more difficult.
The scheme allows qualified applicants can buy new homes with a deposit up to 5 percent.
Is a first-time buyer better off saving up for an additional deposit?
In the current market that is constantly changing, taking a few more months to save money and not have to pay mortgage insurance could result in the property within your price range rise in value far more than the price of the insurance.
© The Summer Whine 2025