What we publish
AI disclosure. Some of our editorial articles, calculations, and data analysis are drafted with the assistance of AI tools (large language models). All AI-assisted content is reviewed by a human editor before publication, and every figure is verified against a primary source. AI assists with research, drafting, and number-crunching — but every claim published on this site is reviewed and approved by a human.
We publish neutral, factual information about:
- Australian federal and state first home buyer schemes
- Stamp duty concessions and exemptions in every state and territory
- Government-backed low-deposit lenders (Keystart, HomeStart)
- How the application processes work in practice
- The mathematics of buying — deposit, stamp duty, LMI, grants, cash at settlement
- Buyer stories and case studies (anonymised where appropriate)
We do not publish opinions about whether you should buy, where you should buy, which lender to use, or which property to buy. Those decisions depend on your personal situation and require advice from licensed professionals.
How we source our data
Primary sources only
Every figure on this site is sourced from the relevant government or regulatory authority:
- Federal schemes: Housing Australia (formerly NHFIC), firsthomebuyers.gov.au
- Tax: Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
- Stamp duty and FHOG: Each state revenue office (Revenue NSW, SRO VIC, QLD Revenue Office, RevenueWA, RevenueSA, SRO Tasmania, ACT Revenue Office, NT Treasury)
- Market data: Cotality (formerly CoreLogic), ABS
We do not rely on third-party summaries or aggregated data. Where we cite a figure, we link to the primary source so you can verify.
Review schedule
Each article carries a "Last reviewed" date. We re-verify every figure against the primary source at least every 90 days, or sooner when:
- A state budget is handed down (typically May/June each year)
- A scheme is opened or closed (e.g. Help to Buy opened 5 December 2025)
- A figure is flagged by a reader or referenced in the press as having changed
Articles on this site are reviewed on the schedule above. The next scheduled review is January 2027.
Editorial stat-row
01
Information, not advice
Every page carries a disclaimer. We describe what schemes exist, who they're for, and how the numbers work — we don't recommend any particular action.
02
Primary sources
We don't rely on third-party summaries. Every figure links to the state revenue office, Housing Australia, or ATO page where you can verify it yourself.
03
Independence
We are not a lender, broker, scheme administrator, or financial adviser. We accept no payment for editorial coverage of any scheme, lender, or project.
04
Plain language
We explain what things mean, not just what they are. The rules around first home buyer schemes are confusing enough without jargon.
05
No marketing dressed as advice
We don't recommend products. Where we mention a lender, developer, or project, we do so because it's relevant, not because we were paid to.
06
Update transparency
Every page shows a "Last reviewed" date. When something changes, we update the date, flag the change, and explain what changed.
What we won't do
- We won't recommend a lender or product. We describe the landscape so you can choose; we don't pick for you.
- We won't recommend a property or project. That's a buyer's agent's job — and they charge for it.
- We won't guarantee scheme eligibility. Eligibility is determined by the participating lender, the state revenue office, or the scheme administrator. Always confirm with them.
- We won't publish personal finance advice. We describe rules and figures; we don't say "you should do X".
- We won't publish undisclosed sponsored content as editorial. Sponsored content is clearly labelled.
- We won't publish "5% deposit scheme explained" articles from lenders as if they were independent. Sponsored content is marked as such, in line with ACCC guidance.
Our team
L
lodeposit.com.au editorial team
Australian · independent editorial · ABN 14 127 573 219
We're a small team of Australian writers, editors and researchers who focus exclusively on first home buyer schemes and pathways. We're not licensed to give personal financial advice; we publish factual, sourced information. If you need advice specific to your situation, talk to a licensed mortgage broker or financial adviser. We don't recommend particular brokers or advisers, and we don't accept payment for editorial coverage.
How we make money (transparency)
This site is funded by:
- Featured listings from property developers (clearly marked, see our developer disclosure)
- Pay-per-qualified-lead from property developers (only after a user submits an enquiry form)
- Future: sponsored newsletter issues (clearly marked)
We do not receive payment from any government scheme, lender, broker, or financial adviser in exchange for editorial coverage. Where a scheme, lender or project is mentioned on the site, it is because it's relevant to the article — not because we were paid to mention it.
Developer disclosure (affiliate / featured listings)
Some pages on this site may include featured listings or recommended projects from property developers. When we feature a project:
- It is clearly labelled as a featured listing or sponsor.
- We do not edit our editorial content to favour the developer.
- The featured placement is sold separately from any editorial coverage.
- We do not accept "guaranteed positive coverage" arrangements.
- If we wouldn't recommend the project to a friend, we don't feature it.
Featured projects are billed at a flat monthly fee ($200–$400/month, by market) or per qualified lead ($30–$60/lead). Prices reflect our editorial independence — we set them, and we won't negotiate them for editorial considerations.
How to send us feedback
If you spot a figure that looks wrong, a scheme that's changed since we published, or a calculation that doesn't match yours, please tell us. We respond to reader corrections within 5 business days.
Standards we follow
lodeposit.com.au follows industry standards for editorial content about financial services in Australia:
- Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles. See our Privacy Policy.
- Spam Act 2003 — we don't buy email lists, and we only email people who opt in.
- Australian Consumer Law — we don't make misleading representations about schemes or eligibility.
- ASIC Information Sheet 269 — general advice warning on every educational page.
- E-E-A-T stat-row (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) — author bylines, last-reviewed dates, primary source citations on every article.
Information, not advice. lodeposit.com.au publishes general information about Australian first home buyer schemes. We are not a licensed mortgage broker, financial adviser, tax agent, or legal adviser. We don't recommend particular lenders, brokers, properties, or projects. Where we describe what a scheme does, we recommend that you confirm details with the relevant authority (Housing Australia, ATO, your state revenue office, or your lender) before relying on it.