More than 8,200 first‑home buyers across the Hunter, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie have received financial support through the NSW Government’s First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme, according to new data released by the State Government.
The figures show local buyers have saved an average of $21,513 on stamp duty, with the program providing a full exemption on properties up to $800,000 and tapered concessions for homes priced between $800,000 and $1 million. The scheme replaced the previous Coalition Government’s land‑tax alternative, which Labor described as a “forever tax” on first‑home buyers.
Wallsend recorded the highest number of homes sold under the program with 641, followed by Maitland with 586, Cardiff with 570 and Cessnock with 520. Singleton saw 268 homes sold, Muswellbrook had 257, and the Upper Hunter had 34.
At a local government level, 2,302 buyers in Lake Macquarie have used the program, along with 1,983 in Newcastle, 1,575 in Maitland, 1,275 in Cessnock and 613 in Port Stephens.
Statewide, 82,174 first‑home buyers have benefited from the scheme since July 2023. Of those, 58,111 paid no stamp duty at all, while 24,063 received a concession.
The Government says the figures show the reforms are helping more young people enter the housing market at a time of rising prices and tight supply.
