Guides

Know what you're signing up for. These guides break down the rules behind Australian property costs — stamp duty brackets, FHB concessions, state-specific quirks — so nothing at settlement comes as a surprise. Use the calculator for your own figures.

First home buyers

• First Home Guarantee — 5% deposit, no LMI

  How the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme works, who qualifies, price caps by state, and how it stacks with other schemes.

• PAYG Withholding Variation — negative-gearing cash flow

  Turn the negative-gearing tax refund into monthly cash. Form NAT 2036, lodgement cycle, and how depreciation flows through the same way.

• Property Depreciation — Division 43, Division 40, the first-owner rule

  How residential investment property depreciation works: capital works, plant and equipment, the 9 May 2017 reform, and when to commission a QS schedule.

• LMI Calculator — what will you pay?

  LVR rate brackets, indicative estimates at $500k/$750k, worked examples by city, and every legitimate way to avoid LMI.

Australian Capital Territory

• ACT conveyance duty — how much will you pay?

  General and owner-occupier rate tables, Home Buyer Concession Scheme up to $1.02M (income-tested, new + established), no foreign buyer surcharge, worked examples.

New South Wales

• NSW stamp duty — how much will you pay?

  Current brackets, first home buyer exemption up to $800,000, sliding concession to $1M, and worked examples.

Queensland

• QLD stamp duty — how much will you pay?

  Home concession at all price points, uncapped new-home FHB exemption from 1 May 2025, $700k exempt on established homes, 8% AFAD foreign surcharge.

South Australia

• SA stamp duty — how much will you pay?

  Full exemption on new builds at any price, no concession on established homes (ended Jun 2023), nine-bracket rate table, and worked examples by buyer type.

Tasmania

• Tasmania stamp duty — how much will you pay?

  Hard cliff FHB exemption at $750k (expires 30 Jun 2026), permanent uncapped FHB exemption for new homes, $30k FHOG, 7-bracket rate table.

Victoria

• Victoria stamp duty — how much will you pay?

  Two-tier PPR and general rate tables, first home buyer exemption to $600k, concession to $750k, and worked examples for Melbourne buyers.

Western Australia

• WA stamp duty — how much will you pay?

  General and residential rate tables, FHB exemption to $500k with dual metro ($700k) and regional ($750k) concession caps, off-the-plan concession to 30 Jun 2026, 7% foreign surcharge.