Last updated: July 31, 2026
The short answer
Buying your first home on the Sunshine Coast in 2026 is more achievable than it has been in years. Queensland first home buyers now have access to a $30,000 First Home Owner Grant on new homes (extended to 30 June 2030 in the June 2026 State Budget), zero stamp duty on new homes and vacant land with no price cap, and a federal 5% Deposit Scheme with no income limits and no place caps. The combined value can exceed $60,000 to $80,000 for an eligible buyer. This playbook covers what you actually qualify for, how much deposit you really need, the 8-step process, and the mistakes to avoid.
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What counts as a first home buyer in Queensland?
For Queensland Revenue Office (QRO) grant purposes, a first home buyer is someone who has never previously owned residential property in Australia that they lived in, and who has never previously received a first home owner grant in any state or territory. You must be at least 18 years old, be an Australian citizen or permanent resident (a joint applicant can be, if you are applying together), and intend to live in the home as your principal place of residence within 12 months of settlement for at least 6 months continuously.
For the federal First Home Guarantee, the eligibility rules are similar but slightly different: you can have previously owned property in some cases, provided you have not owned in the last 10 years. Rules for each scheme are set by different agencies, which is why they need to be checked scheme by scheme.
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The three big pieces of assistance you can stack in 2026
Queensland has one of the most generous first home buyer support packages in Australia right now. Most first home buyers on the Sunshine Coast can access at least two of the three programs below, and many qualify for all three at once.
1. The $30,000 First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) QLD
A one-off $30,000 cash grant from the Queensland Government, paid at settlement (or first loan drawdown for a build), for eligible first home buyers who purchase or build a brand new home valued at $750,000 or less including land.
- New homes only. The property must never have been lived in or sold as a residence before. This includes off-the-plan apartments, house-and-land packages, and substantially renovated homes.
- $750,000 cap. Total price including land and any contract variations.
- Contract date matters, not settlement date. The $30,000 amount applies to contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2030 (extended in the June 2026 QLD Budget from the previous 30 June 2026 deadline).
- Paid per property, not per applicant. Two people buying together receive one $30,000 payment, not two.
- Application: Applied for through your lender or broker as part of the loan process, or directly through the Queensland Revenue Office.
2. Zero stamp duty on new homes (no price cap)
Since 1 May 2025, first home buyers in Queensland pay zero stamp duty on new homes and vacant land, with no price cap on the exemption. This is one of the biggest changes to first home buyer support in the past decade. On a new home purchased for $700,000, this alone is worth roughly $17,000 to $18,000 in duty saved.
For established homes, the picture is different. First home buyers get a full stamp duty concession on established homes valued under $700,000, and partial concessions up to $800,000. Above $800,000 on an established home, standard stamp duty applies.
3. The federal 5% Deposit Scheme (First Home Guarantee)
Administered by Housing Australia, the First Home Guarantee lets eligible first home buyers purchase with just a 5% deposit and pay zero Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). Since 1 October 2025 the scheme has been expanded significantly: there are no longer any income caps, and there are no longer any place limits (previously it was capped at a set number of places per financial year).
Sunshine Coast property price caps under the scheme:
- $1,000,000 for South East Queensland (which includes the Sunshine Coast)
- $700,000 for the rest of regional Queensland
Because LMI on a 95% loan on a $700,000 property is typically $20,000 to $25,000, the value of avoiding it under the scheme is significant. This is often the single biggest lever for a first home buyer who has a solid income but hasn’t saved a 20% deposit.
Optional: Boost to Buy and Help to Buy shared equity schemes
Queensland launched two shared equity programs for first home buyers with lower deposits: Boost to Buy (state) allows a 2% deposit with the Queensland Government contributing up to 30% of a new home purchase price or 25% of an existing home, on properties up to $1 million. Help to Buy (federal, live from December 2025) offers similar shared equity arrangements. Income caps apply to both. These are useful in specific situations but come with the ongoing implication that the government owns part of your home, so they need to be considered carefully rather than defaulted to.
How much deposit do you actually need?
The honest answer depends on which schemes you qualify for. Here’s what the numbers look like for a $700,000 new home on the Sunshine Coast.
| Scenario | Deposit needed | Grant / LMI benefit | Estimated cash to close |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 20% deposit | $140,000 | n/a | ~$145,000 (deposit + fees) |
| 5% deposit + First Home Guarantee (new home) | $35,000 | $30,000 FHOG + $0 stamp duty + $0 LMI | ~$5,000 (fees, minus grant) |
| 10% deposit (new home, no scheme) | $70,000 | $30,000 FHOG + $0 stamp duty + ~$8,000 LMI | ~$45,000 (deposit + LMI + fees, minus grant) |
| 5% deposit + First Home Guarantee (established home) | $35,000 | Partial stamp duty concession + $0 LMI | ~$35,000 (deposit + fees) |
Indicative only, based on a $700,000 purchase. Actual figures depend on your specific situation, lender fees, and current government scheme rules.
For a new home purchase using the First Home Guarantee, an eligible Sunshine Coast first home buyer can be in the market with as little as $35,000 to $40,000 in savings once the $30,000 grant lands. That’s a substantially lower bar than most first home buyers assume.
New home vs established home: which path is better?
This is the biggest decision most first home buyers face on the Sunshine Coast in 2026, because the scheme landscape strongly favours new builds. Here’s the honest comparison.
| Factor | New home / build | Established home |
|---|---|---|
| $30,000 FHOG | Yes (up to $750,000) | Not eligible |
| Stamp duty | $0 (no price cap) | Concession under $700k, partial to $800k |
| First Home Guarantee (5% deposit) | Yes (up to $1m in SEQ) | Yes (up to $1m in SEQ) |
| Sunshine Coast availability | Limited in central suburbs; more options in outer growth areas | Broad availability across all suburbs |
| Typical timeline | 6 to 18 months (build) | 6 to 12 weeks (purchase) |
| Ongoing costs (year 1) | Lower (new appliances, warranty) | Variable (established properties may need work) |
The financial case for new builds is compelling in 2026: combining the $30,000 grant, zero stamp duty, and the First Home Guarantee can total $55,000 to $65,000 in equivalent benefit on a $700,000 purchase. That said, an established home in an established suburb still has real advantages: instant access, no build risk, and a genuine community. There is no universally right answer. There is only the right answer for your situation, your suburb preferences, and your timeline.
The 8-step first home buyer process
- Get pre-approved. Before you look at a single property, get your borrowing capacity confirmed. Pre-approval typically takes 3 to 7 business days and gives you a clear price range.
- Confirm which schemes you qualify for. Not every buyer qualifies for every scheme. A broker will map this at the start so you’re not chasing an option you can’t access.
- Decide new build or established. This shapes your search, your timeline, and how the schemes stack for you.
- Search and inspect. Focus on suburbs that suit your price range and lifestyle. On the Sunshine Coast that might be Sippy Downs, Maroochydore, Caloundra, Buderim, or the growth areas at Palmview and Aura, depending on price.
- Make an offer or sign a contract. For new builds this is signing with the builder or developer. For established homes it’s making an offer through the selling agent.
- Formal loan approval and valuation. The lender orders a valuation and issues formal approval, typically 5 to 10 business days after full application.
- Grant application. Your broker or lender lodges the FHOG application with your loan documents. Approval typically follows within 10 business days.
- On settlement day, the lender pays out the vendor (or the builder milestone), the grant is applied, and you get the keys. Total end-to-end timeline for an established purchase is typically 4 to 8 weeks from pre-approval.
Common first home buyer mistakes to avoid
Assuming you can’t afford it. The biggest single mistake we see. The 2026 scheme landscape has moved so much that assumptions from even 12 months ago are often outdated. Get a proper borrowing assessment before you decide you can’t buy.
Falling in love with a property before checking scheme eligibility. If the property is over the $750,000 FHOG cap or off scheme in another way, you may be walking away from $30,000 for the sake of one specific house.
Using the FHOG as your deposit. The grant lands at settlement, not before. You still need genuine savings to get to the settlement table.
Skipping pre-approval. Making an offer without pre-approval risks losing the property or being forced into a rushed loan choice.
Choosing a lender based on the advertised rate alone. Rates matter, but so does the lender’s willingness to work with the grant, their timelines, and their servicing calculator, which can vary by 20% or more between lenders on the same income.
Not stacking the schemes. The three big pieces of assistance work together, and the applications need to be lined up correctly. Missing one because the paperwork wasn’t in the right order is a very expensive mistake.
First home buyer options on the Sunshine Coast: where to look
The $750,000 FHOG cap and the $1 million First Home Guarantee cap shape what’s realistic in each part of the Coast. Here’s a general view of where first home buyer options are strongest in 2026.
- Growth corridor (Palmview, Aura, Nirimba, Bells Reach): The strongest concentration of new house-and-land packages under $750,000. This is where FHOG stacks most easily.
- Established outer suburbs (Sippy Downs, Meridan Plains, Little Mountain, Beerwah): Established homes under $800,000 are still findable. Partial stamp duty concession applies.
- Central suburbs (Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, Buderim, Kawana): Typically above the FHOG cap but often within the First Home Guarantee cap for units and townhouses.
- Northern beaches (Noosa, Coolum): Usually above scheme caps except for specific units. Requires careful search.
We work with first home buyers across the Sunshine Coast, including in Maroochydore, Noosa, Mooloolaba, Buderim, Caloundra, Sippy Downs, Coolum, Kawana and the surrounding suburbs. Our office is at 18/8 Fairfax Street, Sippy Downs.
Ready to see what’s actually possible for you?
We offer a free 15-minute call for first home buyers on the Sunshine Coast. We’ll walk you through your scheme eligibility, work out how much you can borrow, and give you a clear picture of what deposit you actually need. No hard sell, no pressure to buy before you’re ready.
Or call us on 07 5437 9073 during business hours. Our office is at 18/8 Fairfax Street, Sippy Downs, and we work with first home buyers across the Sunshine Coast.
Frequently asked questions about buying your first home in Queensland
The FHOG QLD is $30,000 for eligible new homes under $750,000, for contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2030. From 1 July 2030 it reverts to $15,000, subject to any further government extensions.
From 1 May 2025, first home buyers pay zero stamp duty on new homes and vacant land with no price cap. On established homes, first home buyers pay zero stamp duty up to $700,000, and reduced stamp duty between $700,000 and $800,000. Above $800,000 on an established home, standard rates apply.
Yes, through the federal First Home Guarantee scheme, administered by Housing Australia. Since 1 October 2025 there are no income caps and no place limits. Sunshine Coast price caps are $1 million (as part of South East Queensland). The scheme allows purchase with a 5% deposit and no Lenders Mortgage Insurance. It’s also worth remembering that while a 5% deposit can get you into your first home, you’ll still need to satisfy the lender’s lending criteria. Depending on the lender and your circumstances, this may include showing genuine savings. That’s something we’ll help you understand and prepare for before you apply.
Yes, provided the property meets each scheme’s criteria. This is the ideal setup for a new home purchase under $750,000, and it’s what produces the $55,000 to $65,000 in combined benefit for eligible buyers.
On a $700,000 new home using the First Home Guarantee, an eligible buyer needs around $35,000 to $40,000 in savings once the $30,000 grant is applied at settlement. On an established home the number is similar under the same scheme, though without the FHOG.
Genuine savings are funds you have accumulated in your own name, typically over at least 3 to 6 consecutive months, that most lenders require to demonstrate financial discipline. The FHOG and gifted money from parents are generally not counted. There are lender workarounds if genuine savings is the specific issue holding you back.
Yes. A family guarantor (usually a parent) can pledge equity in their property against part of your loan, which can eliminate the need for a large deposit and remove LMI. Not all lenders offer guarantor loans, and the structure needs to be set up correctly to protect both you and the guarantor.
From pre-approval to settlement, an established home purchase typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. A new build can take 6 to 18 months from contract signing to keys, depending on the builder and when titles are issued.
No. If either applicant (or their spouse) has previously owned residential property they lived in, the application is generally not eligible. There are limited exceptions where a previous property was held solely as an investment since 1 July 2000 and never lived in.
No, you can approach lenders directly. But for a first home buyer navigating multiple stacking schemes (FHOG, stamp duty exemption, First Home Guarantee, potentially shared equity), a broker gives you access to 40+ lenders and coordinates the paperwork so the schemes actually stack correctly. Brokers regulated under the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) are legally required to act in your best interests.
Yes. First home buyers are one of the core client profiles we serve. We map every scheme you qualify for, compare across our panel of 60+ lenders, lodge the applications, and coordinate settlement. Our team has over 250 years of combined broking experience and more than 750 five-star Google reviews.
Meet Chris Wilson, the heart of Sunshine Coast Financial Solutions (SCFS). With over a decade of experience in finance, Chris started his journey as a broker with Aussie Home Loans in 2009. His dedication earned him the title of Rookie of the Year in 2010. By 2011, he was ready to build a business based on trust and strong partnerships.
