A lot of first-home buyers ask the same question: “Can I use my super to help buy my first home?”
Good news — in some cases, yes you can.
But it only works through a specific scheme, and there are a few rules you need to know.
Here’s the simple version.
1. You can use super through the First Home Super Saver Scheme
The First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) lets you use some of your super contributions to help buy your first home.
Here’s how it works:
- You make voluntary contributions into your super (either before-tax or after-tax)
- Later, you can withdraw up to $50,000 of those voluntary contributions
- You can then use it towards your deposit or upfront costs
You’re not pulling money out of your normal balance — only the voluntary contributions you’ve added for this purpose.
A lot of buyers do this because super is taxed at a lower rate, which helps your savings grow faster.
2. The rules you need to know
To use your super for your first home, you must:
- Be a first-home buyer
- Live in the property (not buy it purely as an investment)
- Apply to the ATO before signing a contract (or within the allowed time frame)
- Only withdraw voluntary contributions — not your full super balance
It’s not the same as “accessing your super early.”
You’re simply using the FHSSS to boost your deposit in a tax-effective way.
3. Other ways your super can’t be used
Apart from the FHSS Scheme, you generally cannot use your super to buy a home.
You can’t withdraw:
- Your full super balance
- Your employer contributions
- Super for building a home (unless using FHSS funds you contributed voluntarily)
There are strict rules to protect retirement savings, so the FHSSS is the main pathway if you want to use super for property.
4. Low-deposit alternatives if you don’t want to use super
Even without using your super, there are strong options to get into the market sooner:
✔️ Home Guarantee Scheme (5% deposit, no LMI) — Makes it possible to buy with small deposits.
✔️ First Home Owner Grant (if building a new home) — Can help cover upfront costs.
✔️ MWC $10k Deposit Boost™ — Designed to help first-home buyers close the gap and get in with $5k–$15k saved.
So you don’t always need to rely on super — most of our clients get in with these lower-deposit pathways instead.
If you’re unsure which option suits you best, we can help you compare both pathways and see what’s possible.