Metricon Homes has helped many first home buyers in regional Victoria build a place to call their own, and you can be one of them. Choose from our wide range of house and land packages and home designs tailored to suit regional blocks. Plus, with expert support from start to finish, we make it easier to start your homeownership journey.
Buying your first home is one of life’s biggest milestones. It’s exciting, a bit overwhelming, and sometimes, it feels just out of reach. But that’s changing. For first home buyers in regional Victoria, the path to home ownership has never been more achievable.
With new and expanded government grants, lower deposit options, and smart home designs made for all budgets, getting into your first home is no longer just a dream. At Metricon, we’ve helped thousands of first-time buyers build homes that tick all the right boxes. Our affordable house and land packages, flexible designs, and expert advice make it easier for you to get started.
There’s never been a better time to buy in regional areas, thanks to a wide range of support options for first home buyers backed by the Australian and Victorian governments. Here are some key incentives that can help boost your budget:
1. First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)
Eligible first home buyers in regional Victoria can receive a one-off $10,000 grant when building a new home. It applies to homes with a property value under the current cap and can go a long way in covering upfront costs.
2. Stamp Duty Concession and Exemption
If your home is valued under $600,000, you may be eligible for a full stamp duty exemption. Concessions apply for homes up to $750,000, helping reduce your purchase price significantly.
3. Off-the-Plan Duty Concession
This temporary extension lets you pay less stamp duty if you buy an off-the-plan townhouse or apartment, giving first-time buyers more flexibility in property types.
4. First Home Guarantee (FHBG)
This Australian Government-backed scheme lets owner-occupiers get into the market with as little as 5% deposit, without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). From October 2025, the scheme will have expanded eligibility and property price caps, making it even easier to access. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are also supported by the new changes. Learn more about the recent changes to FHBG in our blog.
5. Help to Buy (Shared Equity Scheme)
Under this, the Federal Government contributes up to 40% of the property purchase price, reducing the amount you need to borrow. This lowers your repayments and helps cut LMI.
6. First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSS)
This allows you to withdraw voluntary super contributions to put towards your deposit, helping you save faster.
Eligibility criteria can vary, but here are the basics you need to know:
For the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee, you also need to purchase in an eligible regional area like Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, or parts of Gippsland. Check the latest regulations from your State Revenue Office or NHFIC, or speak with a participating lender or mortgage broker to find out if your postcode qualifies.
Everything you need to know about buying your first home.
There are many benefits to building a new home over buying an established home. You’ll enjoy a home tailored to your style, with potential grants and stamp duty savings for first home buyers.
Use our First home buyer checklist to help find the right home for you
Calculate everything from how much you can borrow, to stamp duty you may need to pay.
Find out how you could own your own home at our free First Home Buyer information sessions.
From the very beginning Metricon were AMAZING! We love our home...
To access these schemes, your new home must meet certain guidelines. Luckily, Metricon has plenty of eligible options that still give you choice and flexibility:
At Metricon, our HomeSolution and Home Complete ranges are popular with first-time buyers. They’re designed to be affordable and easy to personalise, with layouts suited to regional blocks.
A lot less than you might think.
The Home Guarantee Scheme allows you to buy with just a 5% deposit, or 2% for single parents. That means if your property price is $600,000, your deposit could be as low as $12,000. No need to save the full 20% or pay lenders’ mortgage insurance.
If you’re using the Shared Equity Scheme, your deposit and repayments could be even lower. And if you tap into the First Home Super Saver Scheme, you might reach your deposit goal faster than you expected.
With all these options available, the old myth about needing hundreds of thousands upfront no longer holds.
Our mortgage and finance partners are on hand to guide you through various financial options. If you’re eligible, they’ll explain the steps to getting your first home buyers grant and help you find out what other benefits may be available. Our mortgage partners will also help you find the right home finance option that works for you.
Financial assistance:
They’ll help you assess lenders and products tailored specially for first home buyers.
Find out how much you can afford to borrow.
Metricon will help you find the perfect block of land for your first home. We’ll guide you through the various steps to securing your block, and ensure factors such as land size, incline and street frontage are taken into consideration. We’ll also help with any developer guidelines governing your land and home design choice.
To keep the process simple, we've created checklists of the key considerations to note when buying land for your Metricon home.
There’s a reason regional Victoria is booming. Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, and other regional centres offer more space, better affordability, and a lifestyle that feels more relaxed.
You get more home for your money, lower property prices, and the chance to build a family home in a community with schools, parks, and shops nearby. Many of these areas are now included in the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee too, with higher property price caps to match local property market conditions.
That means more first home buyers can access support in places they actually want to live.
At Metricon Homes, we know buying your first home can be a little daunting. So, we’re with you every step of the way. Here’s what your journey might look like:
Metricon has a range of home designs specifically tailored to first home buyer budgets.
Start by browsing our stunning, contemporary home designs and by visiting our display homes to see our floor plans come to life!
We also offer affordable home and land packages in leading estates. Talk to our new home advisors about options to suit your budget and lifestyle.
Ready to make the dream of owning your first home a reality? Get started today.
Buying your first home is a big deal, but you don’t have to go it alone. With Metricon Homes, you’ll have an experienced team to support you from start to finish. We’ll help you understand your eligibility, compare property types, and compare your options.
You can also get help from our finance partners, who can assess your eligibility and repayments based on your circumstances.
We’ve done this with thousands of first home buyers in Australia. We can do it for you, too. Talk to our team today.
Metricon has been building homes for Australian families since 1976. We have the expertise and understanding to ensure your journey to home ownership is as smooth and simple as possible.
When you build with Metricon we give you our commitment to quality design, construction and customer care. We even guarantee it with a lifetime structural guarantee
Our stunning home designs are just the beginning when you build with Metricon. You can customise your home colours, finishes and fixtures in our industry-leading selection centre Studio M to add your personal touch to your selected design.
Metricon home designs have won many awards and industry accolades, testimony to the skill of our design team in creating stunning home designs that work for the Australian lifestyle and your family.
1. Which Victorian regional areas get higher property price caps?
Places like Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, and Latrobe Valley often have higher price caps under the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee. This helps match the local property market conditions and lets more buyers qualify.
2. What are the best regional areas in Victoria for first home buyers?
Geelong is great for those who still want easy access to Melbourne. Ballarat and Bendigo offer strong infrastructure and growing communities. For affordability, look at areas further out, like Warrnambool or Shepparton.
3. Are first-time home buyer programs worth it?
Yes. These programs can save you thousands on stamp duty, reduce your deposit, and cut LMI. So you may be able to buy sooner or even afford a better home.
4. Is it cheaper to build or buy a house in Australia?
Building can often be more cost-effective, especially in regional areas. You get a brand-new home, a custom design, and you may qualify for more grants compared to buying an existing home.
5. When is the best time to buy a home?
If you’re eligible for grants and schemes right now, that’s a great time to start. Interest rates and property prices shift, but government support makes now one of the most affordable times for first-time buyers in regional Victoria.
