More than 8,200 first‑home buyers across the Hunter, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie have received financial support through the NSW Government’s First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme, according to new data released by the State Government. The scheme replaced the previous Coalition Government’s land‑tax alternative, which Labor described as a “forever tax” on first‑home buyers. Wallsend recorded the highest number of homes sold under the program with 641, followed by Maitland with 586, Cardiff with 570 and Cessnock with 520. Singleton saw 268 homes sold, Muswellbrook had 257, and the Upper Hunter had 34. Statewide, 82,174 first‑home buyers have benefited from the scheme since July 2023.