Can I use the 5% scheme if I've owned a home before?

Yes, if you haven't held an interest in property in Australia in the last 10 years. Previous owners outside that window are eligible for the scheme again.

Can I get the first home buyer stamp duty exemption if I owned a home years ago?

Generally no. First home buyer stamp duty exemptions are usually a lifetime test, so if you've ever owned residential property, you won't qualify again. Check your state's rules.

How is the 10 year rule for the 5% scheme measured?

From when you last held an interest in property in Australia, generally when the sale of your last property settled. If you're close to 10 years, check the exact date.

Does my partner's past ownership affect first home buyer benefits?

Yes. If you're buying together, both of your property histories are looked at for the scheme and for stamp duty concessions.

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Straight Answers · First home

I owned a place many years ago. Do I become a first home buyer again?

Bayley Clarke · Mortgage broker on the road · Last checked 16 October 2026 · 3 min read

The short answer

It depends. If you haven't owned property in the last 10 years, you're eligible again for the 5% scheme.

Stamp duty is different. First home buyer stamp duty exemptions are generally a lifetime test: if you've ever owned property before, you won't be eligible for them again. So you can get back in with a 5% deposit, but you'll most likely pay stamp duty.

The 60 second version, filmed from the driver's seat. The rest of this page is the detail underneath it.

The 5% scheme: a 10 year test

The 5% scheme, the Home Guarantee Scheme, isn't only for people who have never owned. It's also open to previous owners who haven't held an interest in property in Australia in the last 10 years.

So if you sold your last place more than 10 years ago, you can come back in with a 5% deposit and skip lenders mortgage insurance, the same as a first home buyer. The same rules apply once you're in: you live in it as your home while the guarantee is on, and price caps depend on where you're buying.

Stamp duty: a lifetime test

First home buyer stamp duty exemptions work differently, and they're set by the state. In most cases they're a lifetime test. If you have ever owned residential property before, you won't be eligible for the first home buyer exemption again, no matter how long ago it was.

That's the difference people miss. Ten years on, you can qualify for the 5% scheme and still pay full stamp duty on the same purchase. It's worth knowing the stamp duty number upfront so it's in your budget from day one, not a surprise at the end.

Putting it together

If you owned more than 10 years ago: 5% scheme yes, first home buyer stamp duty exemption most likely no. If you owned within the last 10 years: neither, generally, though you can still buy with a normal deposit or with lenders mortgage insurance.

If you're buying with a partner, both of you need to be looked at. Their history counts too, for both the scheme and the stamp duty side. That's the difference, and it's worth checking before you start looking.

The honest bit: check the exact dates

The 10 year test is measured from when you last held an interest in property, which usually means when the sale settled, not when you moved out. If you're close to the 10 year mark, a few months can decide it.

Get the dates right before you assume you qualify.

Want to know which benefits you can still get?

A 30 minute call. We go through when you last owned, what that means for the 5% scheme and stamp duty, and what you can realistically buy.

Book a 30 minute call Call 0437 189 939

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Next question

My partner owned a house before. Am I still eligible for first home buyer benefits?

Buying jointly, generally no. Some states give a small concession, but by and large you forgo the deposit schemes and stamp duty concessions.