Top 20 Suburbs for First Home Buyers as Policy Shift Opens the Door to Ownership

• The expanded and accelerated Home Guarantee Scheme will make buying a home easier for first-home buyers from October 1.

• MyFirstHome has identified 20 suburbs in Melbourne, South East Queensland, and Adelaide where FHBs will be eligible.

• MyFirstHome believes the scheme will go some way to easing pressure on FHBs after many years of challenges.

• The proportion of first-home buyers purchasing in Oliver Hume projects across greenfield corridors in Melbourne, Adelaide, and SEQ has declined from a high of 54% in mid-2023 to 41% in July 2025.

Home buying service MyFirstHome has identified the 20 best suburbs in Melbourne, South East Queensland, and Adelaide, where first home buyers can take advantage of the Federal Government’s expanded Home Guarantee Scheme.

From 1 October 2025, eligible Australians will be able to purchase a home with a deposit as low as 5 per cent without paying lenders’ mortgage insurance (LMI). The scheme, previously capped at 35,000 first-time buyers annually, will now be uncapped, subject to property price thresholds.

MyFirstHome is backed by Oliver Hume Property Group’s 70-year history in property and community development, and is designed explicitly to guide Australians, especially first home buyers, through a personalised, research-driven approach to property buying that focuses on client needs and future goals.

Oliver Hume Home Solutions CEO Adam Duster said the changes to the Home Guarantee Scheme come at a critical time.

“For almost three years, first home buyers have battled falling borrowing capacity as interest rates rose by nearly 4 per cent, the lending buffer increased, and house and land prices climbed sharply,” Mr Duster said.

“The result has been a steady decline in first-home buyer participation across growth markets. This new policy provides immediate relief and real hope.”

Oliver Hume’s sales data underscores the challenge. The proportion of first-home buyers in its projects across Melbourne, Adelaide, and South East Queensland fell from 54 per cent in mid-2023 to just 41 per cent in July 2025.

To help buyers move quickly, MyFirstHome has identified 20 suburbs nationally where houses are priced within the new scheme’s caps. These include growth areas in Melbourne’s north and west (Tarneit, Wyndham Vale, Cranbourne East and Beveridge), South East Queensland (Rocklea, Yarrabilba, Ripley and Deebing Heights), and Adelaide’s northern and southern corridors (Morphett Vale, Port Adelaide).

Victorian Suburbs for First Home Buyers

Suburb	Total number of properties	# of sales last 12 months	Median sales price last 12 months	Eligibility cap
Tarneit	21,874	1,559	$646,000	$950,000
Wyndham Vale	8,592	555	$570,000	$950,000
Cranbourne East	7,129	382	$716,000	$950,000
Beveridge	3,063	166	$623,750	$950,000
Armstrong Creek	5,971	495	$650,000	$950,000
Craigieburn	18,139	862	$670,000	$950,000
Caroline Springs	6,574	301	$740,000	$950,000
Cranbourne East	7,129	382	$716,000	$950,000
St Albans	10,053	397	$665,000	$950,000
Hampton Park	7,283	346	$672,500	$950,000
Hoppers Crossing	11,354	618	$630,000	$950,000
Officer	7,733	370	$720,000	$950,000
Pakenham	16,949	910	$665,000	$950,000

 Queensland Suburbs for First Home Buyers

Suburb	Total number of properties	# of sales last 12 months	Median sales price last 12 months	Eligibility cap
Rocklea	661	32	$737,500	$1,000,000
Yarrabilba	4,478	448	$700,000	$1,000,000
Deception Bay	6,632	344	$739,000	$1,000,000
Ripley	3,448	257	$750,000	$1,000,000
Deebing Heights	1,643	130	$749,900	$1,000,000

South Australian Suburbs for First Home Buyers

Suburb	Total number of properties	# of sales last 12 months	Median sales price last 12 months	Eligibility cap
Morphett Vale	9,267	399	$685,600	$900,000
Port Adelaide	579	31	$660,000	$900,000
Parafield Gardens	5,826	198	$707,000	$900,000
Gawler East	2,367	110	$721,000	$900,000

Mr Duster said the list highlights where first-home buyers should look to be ready for October 1.

“If buyers act quickly, they can secure a home in any number of great suburbs, avoid tens of thousands of dollars in LMI costs, and take advantage of reduced deposit requirements. For many Australians, this is the best chance in years to enter the market.”

Mr Duster said Oliver Hume expects strong demand across its communities as the policy comes into effect and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting first-home buyers into sustainable, long-term ownership.

The MyFirstHome platform is designed specifically to support first-home buyers to get on the property ladder by providing access to dedicated Home Buying Coaches to help navigate the increasingly complex world of grants, lending, co-ownership models, and property searching.

MyFirstHome's relationship with Oliver Hume Property Group also means buyers can leverage its relationships, built over 70 years of success, to access nationwide opportunities.

MyFirstHome.com.au partners with MyFirstLoan.au – connecting users with expert guidance and tailored financing solutions — even for those overlooked by the big four banks.

The MyFirstLoan.au platform simplifies every step of the process, helping users to:

• Unlock clever savings strategies to build a deposit faster

• Navigate government grants and first-home buyer schemes with confidence

• Understand loan types and access independent mortgage advice

  
  

The MyFirstHome.com.au platform simplifies every step of the process, helping users to:

• Browse a curated list of first-home-friendly properties, from trendy apartments to cosy suburban houses and

• Connect with Oliver Hume’s trusted network of professionals, including developers, brokers and property advisors.

To begin your home ownership journey and take control of your financial future, visit MyFirstHome.com.au to schedule a complimentary discovery session.