There's debate over how much the stamp duty assistance program is helping regional house buyers.

This follows calls by the NSW Government that the program has saved home buyers across the state an average of $20,540.  

The First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme gives eligible people an exemption from stamp duty for properties up to $800,000, and a concession for purchases between $800,000 and $1 million.  

Since it began in July 2023, more than 50,000 first home buyers have received support under the program, and total stamp duty savings has topped $1 billion.  

But has it helped people in regional Australia?  

NSW government data suggests that residents in the Far West and Orana region have saved $11.6 million across a total of 966 properties, with an average saving of $11,982.  

However, Katherine Gaff from Beyond Twenty One Real Estate in Gilgandra doesn't believe the scheme has had much impact on first home buyer's decisions.  

"We're not seeing an increased amount of people buying first homes because of the scheme. If they're buying their first home, it's because that's where they're at in life, not because of the scheme."  

Data from Gilgandra shows 27 first home buyers have used the scheme since it began in 2023, with an average of $7,858 in stamp duty saved.  

Fiona Foodey from Halcroft and Bennett in Coonamble agrees that the scheme makes little difference for first home buyers in regional areas.  

"Out here it doesn't really change," she said. "It's only your first home that's included in the scheme." 

Data shows 20 properties bought by first home buyers in Coonamble have used the scheme, with an average of $7,433 in stamp duty saved.  

The regional divide

The State Government reports that more than 3,200 buyer households in Parramatta in Sydney have saved a total of $74.1 million.  

But there is a big difference between property in Sydney compared to regional and rural areas. 

According to Domain, the average cost of a three bedroom home in Parramatta is $1.115 million, compared to $260,000 for a three bedroom home in Gilgandra and $200,000 in Coonamble.  

So while many city dwelling first home buyers are saving money with the program, regional and rural people are not necessarily seeing the same effect.

To see more specific statistics for Local Government Area and regional classifications you can visit here: https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/help-centre/resources-library/statistics/fhba-dashboard