First Home Buyer Grants & Stamp Duty in NT
A plain-English 2026 guide to Northern Territory first home buyer help: the $50,000 HomeGrown Territory grant, stamp duty on house-and-land, and the 5% deposit First Home Guarantee.
The Northern Territory has the single most generous first home buyer grant in the country right now. Combined with the federal 5% deposit scheme and the Territory's affordable prices, it is one of the most accessible markets in Australia for getting into your first home. Here is the current 2026 position in plain English.
The $50,000 HomeGrown Territory Grant
The NT's HomeGrown Territory Grant gives eligible first home buyers $50,000 to build or buy a brand new home, with no cap on the build or purchase price. It applies to contracts signed between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2026. You need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, aged 18 or over, who has never owned property in Australia, and you must live in the home for at least 12 months. This is the largest first home owner grant in the country.
Stamp duty in the Territory
Unlike most states, the NT does not have a broad first home buyer stamp duty concession. However, if you buy a house and land package, you may be eligible for a stamp duty exemption under the Territory's House and Land Package Exemption. Because the rules here are different to the rest of the country, it is worth getting specific advice on your situation, which I can help with.
The First Home Guarantee: 5% deposit, no LMI
The federal First Home Guarantee lets eligible first home buyers purchase with a 5% deposit and no Lenders Mortgage Insurance. From 1 October 2025 there is no income test and no limit on places.
In the NT the price cap is $750,000 for Darwin, with $600,000 for the rest of the Territory. Given the NT's affordable prices, most properties sit comfortably within these caps.
Not a first home buyer? The FreshStart grant
If you have owned before and so do not qualify as a first home buyer, the NT also offers a $30,000 FreshStart New Home Grant to build or buy a new home, for contracts between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2026. You cannot receive both FreshStart and the HomeGrown Territory grant for the same home. I can help you work out which one applies to you.
What to do next
With a $50,000 grant on the table and contract deadlines in 2026, the timing is worth getting right. My service is free and runs online. Book a free 20 minute chat and I will confirm your eligibility, your price cap, and get you pre-approved so you can make the most of what the Territory is offering.
Find out exactly what you qualify for
A free 20 minute chat. I will check your eligibility for every scheme, confirm your price cap, and get you pre-approved. No cost, no obligation.
Book a Free ChatCommon questions
Is the NT first home owner grant really $50,000?
Yes. The HomeGrown Territory Grant is $50,000 for eligible first home buyers building or buying a brand new home, with no price cap, for contracts signed between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2026. It is the most generous in the country.
Do first home buyers get a stamp duty concession in the NT?
There is no broad first home buyer stamp duty concession in the NT, but a House and Land Package Exemption may apply if you buy a house and land package. I can check whether your purchase qualifies.
What is the First Home Guarantee cap in the NT?
It is $750,000 for Darwin and $600,000 for the rest of the Territory. Most NT properties sit within these caps.
I have owned a home before. Is there anything for me?
Yes. The FreshStart New Home Grant offers $30,000 to build or buy a new home for buyers who are not first home buyers, for contracts up to 30 September 2026. You cannot combine it with the HomeGrown Territory grant on the same home.
Mortgage broker across NT
Figures and scheme rules reviewed June 2026 and can change. This is general information only and not financial or credit advice. Eligibility and amounts depend on your circumstances and the lender's and government's current criteria. Matty Teague is a Credit Representative (CR 573962) of Flint Group Pty Ltd (ACL 488313).