Last updated: July 2026
Buying Your First Home as a Couple in Australia 2026
Buying as a couple gives you a genuine advantage with Australian first home buyer schemes. The biggest benefit is the FHSS: each person can contribute up to $50,000 independently, giving you access to $100,000 in tax-advantaged savings for your deposit. Combine that with the FHBG (which has no income cap) and you can buy with just 5% deposit while avoiding Lenders Mortgage Insurance entirely.
Double the FHSS Benefit
The First Home Super Saver Scheme entitlement belongs to each individual, not each household. Each person can salary sacrifice up to $15,000 per financial year and up to $50,000 over their lifetime into super under the FHSS. When both partners contribute, you can build up to $100,000 in FHSS funds for a single property purchase.
Both partners salary sacrifice $15,000 per year. Over three years, that is $90,000 in total contributions. Each person requests their own FHSS determination and release from the ATO independently.
Even if only one partner is currently employed, the working partner can still contribute their own full $50,000 over time. The non-working partner could make personal non-concessional contributions if they have savings, though the tax benefit is smaller.
Use the FHSS calculator to see your combined tax benefit
Joint Income and Scheme Eligibility
Each scheme treats couple income differently:
- FHBG: No income cap since October 2025. Your combined income does not matter for eligibility. Unlimited places are available.
- Help to Buy: Combined income must be under $165,000, based on your previous financial year's ATO Notice of Assessment. Both partners must individually meet eligibility (Australian citizenship, aged 18+, not currently owning property).
- FHSS: No joint income test. Each person's tax benefit depends on their own marginal tax rate.
- FHOG and stamp duty: Eligibility is based on individual first home buyer status, not income (in most states).
Joint Tenants vs Tenants in Common
When buying together, you need to choose how the property title is held. This decision affects what happens if one person passes away or if you separate.
Joint Tenants
The most common choice for couples. Both owners have equal shares. If one person dies, their share automatically passes to the other (right of survivorship). You cannot leave your share to someone else in your will.
Tenants in Common
Each person can own a different share (for example, 60/40 based on contributions). Each person's share passes via their will, not automatically to the other owner. Useful when contributions are unequal or for estate planning purposes.
What If Only One Partner Is a First Home Buyer?
This is one of the most common complications for couples. The rules differ by scheme:
- FHBG: Both applicants must be first home buyers, or must not have owned property in Australia in the last 10 years. If one partner owned a property 5 years ago, the couple is not eligible.
- Help to Buy: Both partners must not currently own property in Australia or overseas. If one partner has previously owned but has since sold, Help to Buy may still be available.
- FHOG and stamp duty: Rules vary by state. In some states, if either applicant has previously received a FHOG or owned a home, the concession is reduced or unavailable for the couple.
What If One Partner Is Not a Citizen?
Citizenship and residency status affects which schemes you can access together:
- FHBG: Both Australian citizens and permanent residents are eligible. If one partner is a PR and the other is a citizen, you can still use the FHBG.
- Help to Buy: Australian citizens only. Both applicants must be citizens. If one partner is a permanent resident, you cannot use Help to Buy as a couple.
- FHSS: Available to anyone with a super fund, including PRs and temporary residents with an Australian super account.
If one partner is a PR and you want to maximise your options, the FHBG combined with FHSS is your strongest strategy. You lose access to Help to Buy, but the FHBG has no income cap and lets you retain 100% of your property equity.
Maximising Your Combined Benefit
Here is a worked example for a couple earning $75,000 and $65,000 ($140,000 combined) buying an $800,000 property.
| Scheme | Benefit |
|---|---|
| FHSS (both partners, 3 years at $15k/year each) | $90,000 in contributions + ~$13,500 combined tax benefit |
| FHBG (5% deposit on $800k) | Deposit: $40,000. LMI saved: ~$12,600 |
| Stamp duty concession | Varies by state. NSW: exempt under $800,000 |
| FHOG | New builds only, $10,000 to $50,000 depending on state |
In this scenario the couple uses FHSS funds as their 5% deposit under the FHBG, avoids LMI entirely, and keeps the remaining FHSS funds plus their tax savings for settlement costs. The combined benefit can easily exceed $25,000 in direct savings before counting the deposit boost.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can both of us use the FHSS for the same property?
Yes. Each person has an independent FHSS entitlement of up to $50,000. A couple buying together can access up to $100,000 in total FHSS funds. Both partners request a separate determination and release from the ATO.
What if one of us earns over the Help to Buy income cap?
Help to Buy uses combined household income for couples. The cap is $165,000 combined, based on your most recent ATO Notice of Assessment. If your combined income exceeds this, you are not eligible for Help to Buy, but you can still use the FHBG which has no income cap.
Can we use the FHBG if only one of us is a first home buyer?
The FHBG requires both applicants to either be first home buyers or to not have owned property in Australia in the last 10 years. If one partner owned a property 5 years ago, that partner does not meet the requirement and the couple cannot use the FHBG together.
Do we both need to be on the mortgage?
For the FHBG and Help to Buy, yes, all applicants must be on the loan and the property title. For the FHSS, each person applies individually to the ATO, but the released funds can be used towards a jointly purchased property.
Sources:
ATO: First Home Super Saver Scheme | Housing Australia: First Home Guarantee | Housing Australia: Help to Buy
Disclaimer: This information is general in nature and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Calculations are estimates only and may not reflect your exact circumstances. Eligibility criteria and dollar amounts may change without notice. Always verify with the relevant government authority, your mortgage broker, or a licensed financial adviser before making decisions.