First home buyer assistance in NSW is structured around price thresholds that have not kept pace with Sydney property prices in many postcodes. In Willoughby (2068), understanding whether the suburb's typical sale prices fall inside or outside the concession range is a practical starting point for budget planning. The card below also covers the First Home Guarantee (federal) and the NSW Shared Equity Home Buyer Helper scheme where relevant.
Can I afford Willoughby?
First-home buyer eligibility
At $3,338,000, here’s which schemes you can use in Willoughby. Drag to test other budgets.
Purchase price
$3.34M
$500k$2M
Stamp duty discount (FHBAS)
✕Not eligible
$165,999 duty
Properties at or above $1,000,000 do not qualify for FHB stamp duty relief in NSW.
over 3 yrs. The deposit target grew $84,000 faster than savings
Numbers assume a 20% deposit. The First Home Guarantee can let you buy with 5%; the FHSS can release up to $50k from super.
Sources: Revenue NSW↗ (FHBAS, FHOG, standard duty), Housing Australia↗ (First Home Guarantee),Treasury↗ (Help to Buy). FYApr 2026 thresholds. Caps refresh each July; verify before signing. Not financial advice.
If median prices in Willoughby consistently exceed $1,000,000, first home buyers will typically pay full stamp duty, approximately 4 to 4.5 percent of the purchase price at that level. On a $1.1M purchase, that is around $44,000 to $50,000 in additional upfront cost. This does not rule Willoughby out as a first purchase, but it needs to be factored into your deposit and savings plan alongside legal costs and building inspections.
