You may have heard stories about the property market getting harder and harder to enter, but first home buyers all across Newcastle are getting their foot on the ladder. Not sure how? Here are the most popular Newcastle suburbs for first-home buyers.
Wondering where you should be looking to buy your first home in Newcastle?
Data from the state government released in 2026 shows where more than 8000 people bought their first home around the Newcastle and Hunter region. This data reflects the tens of thousands of dollars saved by each buyer because of the stamp duty exemption for first homes.
Where are first home buyers purchasing in the Hunter region
Looking at the data in May 2026, these were the most popular council areas for first homes:
- Lake Macquarie (27% of eligible buyers)
- Newcastle (26%)
- Maitland (22%)
- Cessnock (17%)
- Port Stephens (8%)
Where are first home buyers purchasing in Lake Macquarie LGA?
Despite the smaller population, there’s been a slight preference for buying a home in Lake Mac rather than Newy (2241 vs 2157). Part of this is due to the lower median house price, while the closer proximity to Sydney may also be a consideration.
The most popular suburbs in Lake Macquarie for first home buyers have been:
- Cardiff (612 homes)
- Charlestown (412)
- Toronto (268)
- Belmont (191)
An incredible $49.8m has been saved by homebuyers because of stamp duty exemptions.
Where are first home buyers purchasing in Newcastle LGA?
Almost as popular as Lake Mac for first homes, buyers in Newcastle favoured one suburb far above all others:
- Wallsend (704 homes)
- Mayfield (224)
- Newcastle (175)
- Adamstown (172)
First time buyers in Newy have saved an average of $22,539 on stamp duty in this time.
Where are first home buyers purchasing in Maitland LGA?
Saving $37.6m on stamp duty, buyers in Maitland were focused heavily in the hub around Maitland CBD and East Maitland:
- Maitland (660 homes)
- East Maitland (406)
- Morpeth (374)
- Beresfield (340)
Where are first home buyers purchasing in Cessnock LGA?
Savings in Cessnock had an average of $20,507 per homebuyer, suggesting that there were more buyers in the $800k-$1m category.
The most popular Cessnock suburbs were:
- Cessnock (571 homes)
- Branxton (224)
- Kurri Kurri (206)
- Abermain (154)
Where are first home buyers purchasing in Port Stephens?
Property prices in Port Stephens tend to be a bit more expensive, meaning buyers may not qualify for all (or any) of the stamp duty concession.
Of the 681 recorded purchases in Port Stephens, the most popular suburbs were:
- Raymond Terrace (306 properties)
- Williamtown (126)
- Tanilba Bay (91)
- Nelson Bay (64)
The average value saved by homebuyer in Port Stephens was $21,769.
Buying a home near Newcastle
If you’re a first homebuyer looking for property in or around Newcastle, there are plenty of ways you can save money on your purchase. It can be an overwhelming process to tackle on your own, but with an experience mortgage broker by your side we can guide you through the maze.