April 6 2026
New data has revealed first home buyers in the Blue Mountains have been given a helping hand by the Minns Labor government to the tune of more than $17 million dollars.
A total of 793 properties were purchased in the Mountains from July 2023, with total savings adding up to a whopping $17,005,107.
It means on average Blue Mountains first-home owners saved $21,444 off the cost of their first home by avoiding paying stamp duty.
One of those lucky new homeowners is Kasper Mercer-Smith, 24, who with partner Thomas Bowden, 27, was able to purchase a townhouse near his family in Blaxland for $700,000 with the full stamp duty exemption.
“We are really enjoying it out here. It’s beautiful, we’re in a real nice spot,” Ms Mercer-Smith said.
“We really dialled in our spending [but] the [First Home Buyers] scheme helped massively. It would have taken us a couple of years to get into the market - to get our foot in the door - if the stamp duty wasn’t cleared. It definitely felt like the government had our back.
“Originally, we were looking at apartments, but we were able to access townhouses thanks to the scheme ... this really helped our quality of life as we have our dog Toby and our cats.”
Ms Mercer-Smith works for an NDIS provider coordinating participant services, and her partner is a software engineer. Previously the couple were renting in Penrith.
Having the stamp duty wiped also allowed them to re-paint and put in new floors.
Member for Blue Mountains Trish Doyle said she was delighted to see the scheme working and helping young people, like Kasper and Thomas, get into their first home.
“Saving up to $30,000 on stamp duty means more money goes into the pockets of young people like Kasper and Thomas and it gives families more opportunities to achieve that dream of home ownership.
“Having struggled myself for many years to buy a house as a casual teacher and sole parent, it’s very important to me to give more people the chance to put down roots in this community, and to give people that are struggling, a brighter future ... wherever that is possible. It can be precarious living as a tenant.”
The First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme provides a full stamp duty exemption of $30,412 for first home buyers purchasing a property up to $800,000 and a concession for homes priced between $800,000 and $1 million.
New data reveals state-wide more than 82,000 first home buyers have been helped through the scheme - an average of 80 new first home buyers every day under the Labor government. It replaces the previous Liberal-National government’s forever tax on first-home buyers, which left first home buyers paying an annual tax back to the government.
In total, 82,174 first home buyers have saved a combined $1.7 billion since July 2023. Of those, 58,111 people paid no stamp duty at all, while 24,063 individuals paid a reduced amount.
The scheme works with the Albanese Labor government’s 5 per cent Deposit and Shared Equity schemes. Housing is the number one cost-of-living pressure on young people, families and downsizers. Helping first home buyers is a critical piece of the state government’s plan to address cost-of-living pressures.
Premier Chris Minns said: “We’re backing first home buyers because everyone deserves a fair shot at owning a home in NSW.”
Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said: “More than 82,000 people have got the keys to their first home faster thanks to this program. As our landmark planning reforms deliver more homes, we will continue making it easier for first-time buyers to make them their own.”
Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos said: “This is a critical piece of the puzzle in the Government’s plan to help families plant their roots across the state.”
Ms Mercer-Smith's tips to other young people trying to get into the market were to seek out a good mortgage broker, be in contact with real estate agents, do your research and check the Revenue NSW website for grant assistance. See: https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/grants-schemes/assistance-scheme.
MEDIA: Brenda Cunningham-Lewis | Trish Doyle MP (02) 4751 3298
MEDIA: Matthew Satherley | Minister Houssos | 0457 625 820
