Buying your first home is one of life’s biggest milestones and one of the hardest in today’s market. Rising house prices, endless saving for deposits, and additional costs like Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) have put home ownership out of reach for many. But there’s good news: as of October 1st 2025, the Australian Government’s first home buyer scheme is helping to lower some of those barriers and that’s great news for you if you’re a first home buyer looking to build in the Tapscott Homes build region.

Here’s how the Government scheme will help, and how Tapscott Homes can work with you to help get you into your dream home sooner.

Key Facts about the New First Home Buyers Scheme

• As of October 1st 2025 the scheme allows first home buyers to purchase a home with a minimum 5% deposit, with the government providing a guarantee to the lender so you don’t need to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).
• The scheme allows first home buyers in Queensland to purchase a home or house and land package between up to $700,000 in regional areas and $1,000,000 in Brisbane, Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast.

• The First Home Buyer Scheme has removed caps on how many people can participate. That means if you meet the criteria, you’re much less likely to be blocked by spots being used up which has occurred with previous first home buyers grants.
• The scheme is available within a three-year time period and is open to individuals or jointly (max 2 applicants) who intend to live in the home as an owner-occupier, meaning investors cannot participate which gives first home buyers unprecedented opportunities.

These changes make the first home buyers scheme more accessible than ever before. If you’re a first home buyer and looking in a Tapscott Homes build region, now is an excellent time to get your foot in the door in the property market, with a quality build and superior inclusions.

How Tapscott Homes is Perfectly Positioned to Help

Tapscott Homes builds in regions where:

• There is ongoing land supply and housing zones opening up, so options are available and affordable, particularly in the Fraser Coast area.
• Our pricing on many home designs is structured so that with a modest deposit, and with help from the first home buyers scheme, people can afford to enter their dream home.

So practically, here’s what working with Tapscott Homes + the first home buyers government scheme looks like:

1. Check eligibility early: Look at the scheme criteria (personal criteria, location price caps, whether the home/lots qualify) before deciding on a home.
2. Pick a design to build on your chosen lot: Tapscott Homes offers a variety of floorplans and lot sizes; some will be within those price points that will be eligible, dependant on the value of your land.
3. Timing: We understand the time required to build a new home, so we can work with you to ensure you have everything mapped out prior to starting your build journey.

What This Means for Fist Home Buyers in Tapscott Homes Regions

• Faster access: Many people have been waiting years just to save enough for a traditional 20% deposit. These schemes allow people to get into homes much sooner.
• Lower upfront costs: Less deposit, no LMI, stamp duty concessions, and grants can cut tens of thousands off the upfront cost.
• More choice: Because price caps are set on property values in the specific region, buyers have more flexibility in choosing location, design and inclusions.
• Boosting supply: As more people are able to buy new homes in growth regions (where Tapscott Homes builds), there is increased demand that supports lot development, infrastructure investment, and helps justify new subdivisions, while ensuring surrounding regions continue to grow and evolve.

Other Considerations

Of course, while the first home buyer scheme is designed to make ownership more accessible, there are things buyers should consider carefully:

• Even with a low deposit, the mortgage repayments, rates, insurance, maintenance, land/water rates etc., all add up. Make sure the ongoing repayments are affordable.
• Price caps and scheme criteria vary by locality; you need to do your due diligence to ensure that your land and chosen home option qualify.
• Timing matters: Scheme changes (price caps, eligibility) may apply from certain dates. If you sign contracts or settle close to the effective date, you’ll need to ensure you meet the criteria in effect at that time.

Conclusion: What First Home Buyers Should Do Now

If you’re considering buying your first home in a Tapscott Homes region, here are some steps you can take:

• Talk to a mortgage broker about eligibility for the scheme and what requirements are needed to qualify and service your loan for the life of the loan.
• Explore Tapscott Homes’ current available homes and pricing and work within limits to select land that will ensure eligibility.
• Factor in all government incentives (grants, stamp duty concessions, super saver) in your budgeting.
• Start preparing early: plan savings, get finances in order, look at the numbers so you know what to expect in repayments.

With the current scheme expansions and the variety of designs and custom options with Tapscott Homes, this really is an exciting moment. More people will be able to settle into brand-new homes sooner – homes built with quality craftsmanship in communities Tapscott homes is proud to build.