How to buy your first home in Stafford and northern Brisbane in 2026

If you are buying your first home in Stafford or the northern Brisbane suburbs, the biggest lever is usually your deposit, and three government schemes can change what you actually need. This is how they fit together in 2026.

How much deposit do I really need?

Many first home buyers assume they need 20 percent. You often do not. Eligible buyers can use the federal First Home Guarantee to buy with as little as a 5 percent deposit and pay no Lenders Mortgage Insurance, because the government guarantees the gap to the lender. Income caps and property price caps apply and are set by Housing Australia, so the first step is checking your eligibility and the current cap for your area. See our First Home Guarantee guide for the detail.

Which schemes can I use, and can I combine them?

There are three main schemes, and eligible buyers can often use more than one:

• First Home Guarantee: buy with a 5 percent deposit and no LMI (federal, administered by Housing Australia).
• Queensland First Home Owner Grant: a grant for eligible buyers of new or substantially renovated homes (Queensland Government).
• First Home Super Saver Scheme: withdraw eligible voluntary super contributions to boost your deposit (administered by the ATO).

You may also qualify for a stamp duty concession on your transfer duty. Grant amounts, caps and thresholds are set by government and change over time, so always confirm the current figure with the governing body, or ask us to check what applies to you.

Where are first home buyers looking on the north side?

Stafford and the northern ring are popular because they offer houses and townhouses closer to the city than many outer suburbs. Each pocket has its own lending quirks:

• Stafford and Everton Park: post-war homes and newer townhouses, practical value entry points.
• Chermside: apartments near Westfield, where some buildings carry lender restrictions worth checking before you make an offer.
• Kedron and Gordon Park: character homes and post-war houses close to the inner north.

What should I do before I start looking?

Get a pre-approval so you know your real budget and can move quickly. We confirm your scheme eligibility, present your income in the way lenders need (which matters if you are self-employed), and check lender policy on the property types you are considering. Then you shop with certainty instead of guessing.

Ready to map your first purchase? Start a 2-minute assessment and a Brisbane broker replies within one business day, with no credit check to begin.