Update 8/11/26: Reader orin says ‘you can just click don’t have receipt and then chat with AI for a bit keep saying whatever and u can get free code still’. Obviously only do this if you can’t find your transaction ID.
Update 8/9/26: Looks like it now requires a transaction ID to be able to complete this deal.
The Offer
Burger King is offering a free whopper when you text SEND-THIS-TEXT-FOR-FREE-WHOPPER To 250783
Our Verdict
They will send you a link with a way to claim the whopper tomorrow. You can send the text multiple times, not sure if it’ll work to get multiple whoppers tomorrow or not (update the code is the same each time so it won’t work unless you use a different number). Free is free.
F.A.Q’s
I received a 403 error, why!?
Make sure you’re not using a VPN
Is it just a regular Whopper?
No, you should be given the choice between these three:
Whopper
Whopper with cheese
Whopper with bacon and cheese
YMMV on store.
How long do I have to wait after sending the text message?
Down payments can be one of the most daunting parts of the homebuying process. We all know that buying a home costs money! Thankfully, you don’t necessarily have to drain your savings account to come up with the sum. There are other ways to secure a down payment, including gift funds, grants, and down payment assistance programs.
We’ve laid out all three so you can determine if any of these options are right for your financial situation as you navigate buying a house. It’s important to understand that the rules for these forms of down payment assistance vary by state, region, and even city and are subject to change at any time.
What Is Down Payment Assistance?
Down payment assistance (DPA) refers to a variety of programs designed to help qualified homebuyers cover some or all of the upfront costs associated with purchasing a home. Depending on the program, assistance may come in the form of grants, forgivable loans, deferred-payment loans, low-interest loans, or other financial assistance.
These programs are often offered through federal, state, local, nonprofit, or housing finance agencies and are intended to make homeownership more accessible for qualified borrowers. Program availability, eligibility requirements, and benefits vary based on where you’re buying a home and the mortgage program you choose.
Before we dive into the details, there are a couple of things you should know:
Not all loan programs allow down payment assistance, gift funds, or grants. You’ll need to consult with your mortgage loan officer regarding loan programs.
Down payment assistance typically applies only to a primary residence. Although there are some exceptions to this rule, generally speaking, you cannot buy a second home or investment property with down payment assistance programs.
You Don’t Always Need 20% Down
One of the biggest homebuying myths is that you need a 20% down payment. Many qualified homebuyers purchase a home with significantly less, and down payment assistance programs may help reduce upfront costs even further. The right mortgage solution depends on your financial situation and the loan program you choose.
How Do Down Payment Assistance Programs Work?
Most down payment assistance programs work alongside your mortgage rather than replacing it. Once you’ve qualified for a mortgage, your Loan Advisor can help determine whether you’re also eligible for one or more down payment assistance programs.
Depending on the program, the assistance may help cover:
Your down payment
Closing costs
Both
Some programs provide funds that never have to be repaid if certain requirements are met, while others are structured as second mortgages with deferred or low-interest repayment terms.
Because every program is different, reviewing your options with an experienced Loan Advisor is one of the best ways to determine which solutions fit your financial goals.
Each option has different eligibility requirements, documentation standards, and program guidelines. Your APM Loan Advisor can help determine which solutions may be available based on your financial situation and where you’re purchasing a home.
Gift Funds
“Gift” is one of the best four-letter words out there—and for good reason! We all love receiving money for special occasions like weddings, graduations, birthdays…or maybe simply because we’re first-time homebuyers and a loved one wants to help us out.
Either way, gift funds are a wonderful way to take some of the pressure off first-time homebuyers. However, there are a few steps you need to follow if you plan to use a significant monetary gift toward your down payment.
Let’s start with what “significant monetary gift” really means. For conventional loans, it’s typically defined as any amount that equates to more than half of your total monthly qualifying income. For example, if you make $3,800 a month, a significant monetary gift would be any single deposit of $1,900 or more. The gift standard for FHA or USDA loans is anything over 1% of the home’s purchase price, sale price, or appraisal value, whichever is lower.
The mortgage loan application process typically includes 60 days’ worth of bank statements, which means that a mortgage lender or underwriter will want to understand the origin of any large sums that aren’t accounted for in your history of assets and income.
Not to worry—these gift funds can be easily acknowledged through a gift letter that indicates that this money is, in fact, a gift and not a loan. The letter should contain the gifter’s name, address, phone number, relation to you, dollar amount gifted, and date of the gift. You may be required to show a paper trail of the gift, so be sure to keep receipts and statements.
There are some parameters on who can give you money for a down payment. For conventional loans, this gift needs to come from a family member, which can include anyone from spouses and domestic partners to step-aunts, adopted cousins, or grandfathers-in-law.
In addition to gifts from family members, FHA loans also allow you to receive gift funds from a close friend, your employer, a labor union, or a charitable organization. USDA and VA loans allow you to receive gift funds from just about anyone—as long as that person isn’t involved in the home transaction. This disqualifies the home’s seller, builder, developer, or either party’s real estate agent.
Keep in mind that although you don’t have to pay taxes on the gift funds, the person giving you the gift might, so it’s always wise to talk to a tax professional. Your loan officer will be happy to explain more about gift fund requirements anytime.
Grants
Down payment grants can help bridge the gap between the money first-time homebuyers can put toward a down payment and the remaining balance. Down payment assistance grants are offered through government agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and through nonprofits like the National Homebuyers Fund.
Who Qualifies for Down Payment Assistance Grants?
Eligibility varies by program, but many grants consider factors such as:
Household income
Credit profile
First-time homebuyer status (when applicable)
Property location
Occupancy requirements
Purchase price limits
Some assistance programs are also available for repeat homebuyers or individuals working in professions such as education, healthcare, law enforcement, firefighting, or emergency medical services.
Not every program requires you to be a first-time homebuyer, so it’s worth exploring all available options.
Though these mortgage programs can vary by state, amount, and requirements, they typically take into account the home price and geographic area, as well as your income and credit score.
Your loan officer will also know what these programs require, so be sure to ask them if you’re interested in more information.
Generally speaking, grant programs offer down payment assistance free and clear, meaning you don’t have to pay the money back (though you’ll want to read the fine print). Some programs require stipulations like a recapture period, which means the money is free and clear only if you stay in the home for a specific number of years.
Loans
Down payment assistance loans are a broad category that can mean different things. They can range from interest-free, forgivable loans to interest-free deferred-payment loans and even low-interest-rate loans. Some of these programs have eligibility requirements. These can include income limits, approved geographic locations, purchasing a home below the given median home price for that area, how much money you can put toward your down payment, and more.
Down payment assistance homebuyer programs can come from:
Federal agencies
State agencies
Regional organizations
Community organizations
Charitable funds
Many people are surprised to learn that “down payment assistance” doesn’t always mean free money. Some programs are structured as loans that may:
Be completely forgivable after a certain number of years
Require no monthly payments until the home is sold or refinanced
Offer below-market interest rates
Help cover both the down payment and eligible closing costs
Understanding how each program works is important before deciding which option best fits your long-term financial goals.
In addition, some programs offer multiple options, including using these funds as a payment for closing costs. For a breakdown of what these types of programs are and how to find them, visit our blog.
How to Apply for Down Payment Assistance
The application process for down payment assistance typically begins with getting pre-approved for a mortgage.
Your APM Loan Advisor can help you:
Review available assistance programs
Determine your eligibility
Gather required documentation
Complete any program-specific applications
Coordinate your mortgage and assistance program throughout the homebuying process
Because eligibility requirements and available funding can change, starting early gives you the best opportunity to explore all available options.
APM Can Help You Navigate Down Payment Assistance Options
Though not every first-time homebuyer will qualify for down payment assistance—or be lucky enough to have a generous relative—they’re worth looking into. Examining all your options before plunking down your hard-earned cash is a great way to put your mind at ease when it comes to down payments.
A trusted APM Loan Officer is ready to help you find solutions that get you into your dream home. Click here to locate an APM Loan Advisor near you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Down Payment Assistance
What is down payment assistance?
Down payment assistance refers to financial programs that help qualified homebuyers cover some or all of their down payment and, in some cases, closing costs. Assistance may be provided through grants, forgivable loans, deferred-payment loans, or other housing assistance programs.
How do down payment assistance programs work?
Most programs work alongside your mortgage. Eligible buyers receive financial assistance to help reduce upfront costs, making homeownership more affordable.
What is the difference between a first-time homebuyer grant and a loan?
A grant generally does not require repayment if program requirements are met. A down payment assistance loan may require repayment immediately, over time, when the home is sold, or may be forgiven after meeting specific occupancy requirements.
What are the eligibility requirements for down payment assistance?
Requirements vary by program but often include income limits, property location, occupancy requirements, purchase price limits, and minimum credit guidelines. Some programs are available only to first-time homebuyers, while others are open to repeat buyers.
What types of down payment assistance programs are available?
Programs may include:
Down payment assistance grants
Forgivable loans
Deferred-payment loans
Low-interest second mortgages
Closing cost assistance
Employer-sponsored homebuyer programs
How do I apply for down payment assistance through my mortgage lender?
The first step is speaking with an experienced Loan Advisor. They can help identify available programs, determine eligibility, complete the required documentation, and coordinate your mortgage application with the appropriate assistance program.
*Refinancing may result in finance charges that may be higher over the life of the loan. Consult with your loan advisor for details.
Most companies spend enormous resources trying to anticipate what competitors will do next. They analyze earnings calls, track press releases, commission market research, and interview customers. Yet many overlook one of the clearest and most accessible signals of strategic intent: the jobs their competitors are trying to fill.
It’s every worker’s dream: You work hard and climb the ladder until eventually you’re rewarded with an executive title and cushy salary to go with it. But according to Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington, the reality isn’t quite as glamorous as it looks—and plenty of CEOs, she says, are desperate to quit, despite seemingly having it all.
“Success can be a trap,” Huffington told Fortune, adding that once you’ve dedicated years of your life to honing your craft and gaining recognition, it can feel impossible to leave it all behind and start something new. Even if you’re miserable where you’re at.
“It’s a trap because a lot of very successful people have a hard time leaving,” she explained. “I have CEO friends who’ve stopped loving their jobs, but they’re afraid to leave.”
And it’s not just the huge mortgages, private school fees and luxury first-class vacations they’ve become accustomed to bankrolling with their multi-million dollar pay packages keeping them stuck.
“The financial trap is much easier to see, while the identity trap is less tangible but no less real,” Huffington added. “They’re so identified with the CEO role, or the anchor of an evening show, or whatever big job comes with a lot of recognition—it’s become their identity.”
Huffington could have stayed at the top of Huffington Post. She walked away instead.
Huffington spent a grueling 11 years building Huffington Post into one of the biggest names in digital media, growing its newsroom to more than 850 journalists and becoming the first digital-native outlet to win a Pulitzer Prize. She graced the covers of magazines, made Time’s list of most influential people and was a regular at the likes of Davos.
By any measure, she’d made it. Walking away from that to start over would have made no sense to many people—and yet that’s exactly what she did in 2016 to found her new wellness venture, Thrive Global.
“There are no guarantees anytime you start a new company,” the 76-year-old multimillionaire said. “But I was ready to throw myself into health, and if I hadn’t done it, I would have kind of betrayed myself.”
At the time, when she was weighing up whether to hold onto what she had built or walk away, Huffington said that her mother’s voice was in her head.
“She brought me up not to be afraid of failing,” she said, adding that women in particular are hit harder by perfectionism and therefore more likely to remain stuck and not take that leap of faith in case it doesn’t work out. “My mother used to say failure is not the opposite of success, it’s a stepping stone to success.”
It’s why, for Huffington, how a role makes you feel matters more than what it looks like from the outside.
“I’ve always believed that there is no job that defines us, no success that defines us,” she added. “If we are able to follow our heart, it means we can keep growing and evolving.”
From Airbnb’s CEO to Wingstop’s cofounder: These leaders say success felt hollow
Huffington’s far from the first person to admit that reaching the top can leave you feeling empty rather than fulfilled. After cofounding Wingstop UK and selling a majority stake for £400 million (around $540 million), Tom Grogan should have been ecstatic. Instead, he felt hollow.
“For seven years, your whole mind is occupied on making a success of this business,” Grogan told Fortune. “It’s all you think about. And then when you get there, it’s just a bit surreal. It’s like, Okay, it’s done now. Now what? And money doesn’t necessarily fill that void either.”
Growing up, Brian Chesky, the cofounder and CEO of Airbnb, said he “desperately wanted to be successful” because he thought it would bring him adoration. Plus, having social worker parents who were by no standards rich, he also thought a large sum of money could “solve every problem.” But actually, he said the company’s blockbuster 2020 IPO—despite making him a billionaire—was “one of the saddest periods” of his life.
Loom cofounder Vinay Hiremath hit a similar wall after selling his company to Atlassian for $975 million. In a blog post candidly titled “I am rich and have no idea what to do with my life,” he described the identity collapse that followed the company’s rapid rise and eventual sale. “I lost myself,” he wrote, adding that the windfall left him with “infinite freedom” but no idea what to do with it.
It’s why, despite having no current plans to step down, TIAA’s CEO Thasunda Duckett is already thinking about who she is outside of her job.
“I rent my title. I own my character,” Duckett recently told Fortune, noting that a job title is never permanent—and therefore shouldn’t be mistaken for who you actually are. “I own my intellectual curiosity. I own my grit. I own my perseverance. I own my compass.”
Thailand’s government has introduced a temporary tax relief measure designed to support cryptocurrency activity within its regulated financial system. The Finance Ministry confirmed that capital gains arising from crypto trading will be exempt from tax for a five-year period running from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2029.
The relief applies solely to profits generated through platforms that hold licences issued by the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission.
These include authorised exchanges, brokers and dealers.
Trades executed on unlicensed venues, decentralised exchanges or peer-to-peer channels fall outside the exemption and remain fully taxable.
In addition, income derived from mining or staking continues to be treated as taxable under existing rules.
Officials present the policy as a deliberate effort to increase participation on supervised platforms.
By removing the capital-gains burden for a defined window, the authorities hope to improve liquidity, encourage more investors to migrate to licensed venues and strengthen Thailand’s standing as a regional centre for digital assets.
The move builds on the regulatory foundations first laid in 2018, when the country placed cryptocurrencies under SEC oversight and began constructing a formal framework for the sector.
Market observers note that the exemption lowers the cost of frequent trading and may therefore stimulate higher volumes on compliant exchanges.
At the same time, it creates a clear compliance incentive: only those who route their activity through approved intermediaries will enjoy the tax holiday.
Investors who continue to operate outside the regulated perimeter, or who generate returns from mining and staking, will still face ordinary capital-gains obligations.
The temporary nature of the measure is equally significant. Because the exemption expires at the end of 2029, market participants are advised to incorporate the sunset date into longer-term planning.
Future governments may choose to extend, modify or withdraw the relief, so reliance on the current rules beyond that horizon carries uncertainty.
Taken together, the announcement signals Thailand’s objective of fostering a lively digital-asset market while preserving regulatory control.
By linking tax advantages exclusively to licensed intermediaries, the authorities reinforce the preference for supervised channels without imposing an outright ban on other forms of crypto activity.
For active traders the policy offers immediate cost relief; for the broader ecosystem it represents another step toward integrating digital assets into the mainstream financial landscape. As with any tax change, individuals and businesses should verify their specific circumstances with qualified advisers to ensure full compliance and to maximise the available benefits while the exemption remains in force.
How Actress Mashal Khan Stepped into Stock Markets and Investing!
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In the heady days following the 2008 real estate collapse, entire seminars were devoted to short sales. Investors walked out with binders filled with scripts on how to talk to a bank’s loss mitigation department and what to photograph to convince them that their property was a financial money pit, increasing the chances that they would let them buy it for pennies on the dollar.
We might not be back there yet, but the upward spiral of property taxes and insurance costs and the downward trend of house prices have left banks with toxic assets they’re in a rush to get rid of—offering investors the chance to pick some low-hanging real estate fruit.
Short Sales Are a “Growing Corner of the Market”
Foreclosures are currently outnumbering short sales 2-to-1, according to a new Realtor.com report. While short sales remain at historically low numbers, they are creeping up, hinting at worse to come should real estate holding costs continue to do likewise.
According to the report, nearly 30,000 short sales took place in the U.S. in 2025, accounting for 28% of distressed home sales and just 0.6% of all home sales—a far cry from 2012, when they made up 9% of all sales.
Explained Realtor.com economist intern Glen Morgenstern in the Realtor.com article: “Then the market recovered. Homeowners rebuilt equity, short sales faded along with foreclosures, and the crisis-era programs wound down. Today, short sales are a small corner of the market but a growing one.”
The Heaviest Short Sale Concentrations Are Where Taxes and Insurance Have Spiked
The pace of short sales has been increasing—up 4% from 2023-2024, nearly 10% from 2025-2026, and now a 16% increase so far in 2026. This is partly due, Morgenstern says, to pandemic-era protections being phased out. The heaviest concentrations are located in areas where expenses such as taxes, insurance, and HOA dues have skyrocketed, causing foreclosures and thus short sales to spike.
“They’re having payment shocks from taxes and insurance…along with potential job distress,” Marina Walsh, an economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association, told theWall Street Journal, adding that this “layering effect” is creating distress, especially for recent buyers.
Where Short Sales Are Clustering
Realtor.com’s July 2026 analysis identifies Lakeland, Florida—which has 3.5 short sales for every foreclosure—as the leading short sale market in the country, with 6.7% of local listings categorized as short sales in May. Next came:
Colorado Springs, Colorado (5.8% of listings)
Putnam, Connecticut (5.6%)
Pueblo, Colorado (5.2%)
Vallejo, California (4.5%)
Many of these areas have certain things in common. Homeowners bought at the top of the market just after the pandemic. Inventory has since increased along with taxes and insurance costs, while sales prices have flattened or dropped. It has left buyers underwater, owing more than their house is worth.
A Financial Chokehold
Local real estate agents blame the frenzied low-rate bidding war buying climate that followed the pandemic. Many of those buyers have sub-3% interest rates that they are reluctant to give up, but the additional holding costs have put them in a financial chokehold.
In contrast, interest rates at 6.5% mean new buyers are thin on the ground as inventory increases. This has been particularly acute in Florida, where home insurance costs jumped by 75% between 2021 and 2025—almost double the national increase following several high-profile storms—putting homeowners in Lakeland under severe pressure, despite their mortgage payments remaining fixed.
Carolyn Kousky, executive director of the Coalition for an Insurable Future and a contributing economist at the Environmental Defense Fund, told the Miami Herald:
“Coming out of COVID, we had that period of high inflation, we had labor market and supply chain disruptions. All of that made it more expensive to build, and when construction is more expensive, insurers have to pay more claims, and then that means they need higher premiums to compensate for that.”
Buyer Fatigue Exacerbates Homeowners’ Problems
On the buy side, the uptick in holding costs and interest rates has caused a drop-off in sales, further exacerbating underwater property owners. Redfin reports that pending home sales fell 2.2% week over week in the four weeks ending July 12.
“First-time buyers are having a tough time breaking into the market,” said Christine Kooiker, a Redfin Premier agent in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “High mortgage rates mean that even homes in the most affordable price point—under $350,000 in the Grand Rapids area—are a stretch for a lot of buyers, and they’re hard to find and competitive.”
The Short-Sale Strategy for Mom-and-Pop Landlords
For real estate investors, the combination of high costs for owners, elevated rates, and buyer hesitancy has created an environment where all-cash buyers may be able to approach banks and make lowball offers on their distressed inventory.
Although short sales are paperwork-heavy, for a seller, they remain less damaging to their credit than a foreclosure. Investors who can identify homeowners in trouble—either through mailings, skip tracing, PropStream, BatchLeads and text services, bandit signs or REI clubs—might be able to work out a deal to allow them to stay in their home. At the same time, they can negotiate with the bank’s loss mitigation department, giving the owners valuable time to find another home.
For small investors, the short sale playbook has changed little over the last two decades: Offer the bank’s loss mitigation department a win-win scenario. It’s the opportunity for a bank not to have to deal with repairs and the cost of taxes, insurance, and overseeing a vacant property when the current occupants leave. The longer a vacant house sits on the market, the greater the risk of damage and squatters.
Recapping the Process
Specialized agents often handle REO sales, but a robust marketing campaign can identify homeowners in jeopardy before they even get to the pre-foreclosure stage. An investor usually identifies a short sale through one of the following:
Public records & pre-foreclosure (notice of default, or NOD, or a lis pendens) in public records
The MLS and RE agents
Driving for dollars
Direct-to-seller marketing
Once a potential short sale has been identified, a lien check should be undertaken before submitting an offer to a lender, which customarily includes a seller hardship letter along with the reasons why a short sale would be in the lender’s best interests (outlining expenses and repairs needed).
Final Thoughts: Beware of Scammers
Securing a short sale can be a process, taking several months and a lot of paperwork. This is why many investors choose to outsource negotiations.
If you are considering this, be very wary. If a third-party negotiator charges an upfront fee or an “off-the-settlement-statement agreement” or is not licensed, do your research, get testimonials, confirm business addresses and phone numbers, and be prepared to walk away at the merest hint of a red flag.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Key Takeaways
The same instincts that helped you build the company begin to limit it — and if every decision still depends on you, the business cannot move faster than your personal capacity.
Letting go does not mean becoming disconnected — it means building the conditions for other leaders to make strong decisions without needing your approval, and protecting your calendar for the work only the CEO can do.
Founders are often celebrated for their ability to do everything. In the early stages of a company, that closeness can feel necessary. You are close to the product, the brand, the customers, the operations and the decisions that keep the business moving.
That involvement can be powerful. It helps you understand the details, respond quickly and protect the vision while the company is still taking shape. But there is a point in every growing business when the same instincts that helped you build the company begin to limit it.
If every decision still depends on you, the company cannot move faster than your personal capacity. If every department relies on your direct involvement, growth becomes exhausting instead of expansive. The business may be getting bigger, but your leadership model is still built for the earliest stage.
The pattern is well-documented. When Harvard Business School professor Noam Wasserman analyzed more than 200 U.S. startups, he found that by the time the ventures were three years old, 50% of founders were no longer the CEO. Most did not step down willingly. The founders who lasted were the ones who evolved before the board decided the company had outgrown them.
I have experienced this shift across multiple companies and ventures. As my responsibilities expanded, I had to recognize that my role could not remain the same. The business needed more than my ideas, urgency and energy. It needed strategic leadership, stronger systems and trusted people who could carry the mission with consistency.
The goal is not to stop thinking like a founder. It is to become the kind of CEO your growing company now requires.
Shift from doing to directing
In the beginning, founders are involved in everything because they have to be. You may be making decisions about product one hour and customer experience the next, reviewing finances, refining messaging and solving operational problems all in the same day.
That level of involvement gives you valuable insight. It also creates a habit of being the person who answers every question and fixes every problem.
As the company grows, that habit becomes risky. The organization starts waiting for you instead of moving through clear systems. Team members hesitate to take ownership because they are used to you stepping in. What once created speed eventually creates a bottleneck.
One of the hardest parts of my own transition was learning to release direct control without releasing accountability. Those are not the same thing. Letting go does not mean becoming disconnected from the business. It means building the conditions for other leaders to make strong decisions without needing constant approval.
A practical way to begin: Identify which decisions truly require the CEO and which should live elsewhere in the organization. If everything is treated as mission-critical, nothing is. Founders have to learn to separate high-impact strategic decisions from daily operational choices capable leaders can own.
Build leaders before you need them
A company cannot scale on the founder’s passion alone. Growth requires people who understand the vision, take ownership and make decisions that strengthen the whole organization.
When I think about leadership, I look beyond technical ability. Expertise matters, but so do integrity, accountability, adaptability and communication. A leader who is highly skilled but disconnected from the mission can create progress that looks efficient in the short term but becomes misaligned over time.
This is especially vital in mission-driven work. As my own ventures have grown across wellness, science, sustainability and consumer products, alignment has been just as important as execution. Different brands may have different audiences, but the larger purpose still has to be clear.
Founders should not wait until they are overwhelmed to build leadership capacity. By then, delegation feels rushed and reactive. Start developing leaders while the company is still small enough for people to learn the business deeply.
Give emerging leaders clear expectations. Define what they own. Explain what success looks like. Create enough structure that people can act confidently, and enough accountability that quality does not depend on the founder watching every detail.
Trust is not built through vague encouragement. It is built through clarity.
Protect time for the work only you can do
The founder-to-CEO transition often shows up first on the calendar.
In the early stage, a founder’s schedule is full of immediate needs. That works for a while because the company is still forming and speed is necessary. But as the organization grows, a reactive calendar becomes a reactive leadership style.
The CEO’s time has to reflect the company’s highest priorities — strategic planning, partnerships, innovation, leadership development, long-term decision-making. It also means recognizing that being busy is not the same as being effective.
This is difficult for founders used to being accessible to everyone. I often felt guilty stepping away from daily tasks or declining meetings that once felt important. But if your calendar does not create space for strategic thought, your business will keep moving without enough direction.
One exercise that has helped me: regularly reviewing where my time is going and asking whether it matches the role the company needs me to play now — not the role I played three years ago, and not the role I played when the company was smaller.
A CEO’s most impactful work is not always the most visible work. Sometimes it is the quiet planning, the difficult prioritization and the disciplined decision-making that keep the company moving in the right direction.
Communicate with more structure
In a small company, communication happens naturally. People hear conversations, understand priorities and absorb decisions because everyone is close to the founder. That changes as the team expands.
As more people join the organization, communication has to become more structured. Founders cannot assume that everyone understands the vision simply because it feels obvious to them. Priorities need to be repeated. Decisions need context. Expectations need to be clear enough that people can act without guessing.
This is one of the most underestimated parts of becoming a CEO. The message that feels repetitive to you is the message your team needs to hear again. Consistency creates alignment. Alignment creates better execution.
Strong communication also reduces confusion during growth. When teams do not understand what matters most, they work hard in different directions — which creates frustration, slows decision-making and weakens the culture.
A CEO’s communication should help people understand where the company is going, why and how their work contributes. It does not require long speeches or constant meetings. It requires clarity, consistency and the discipline to reinforce what matters most.
Stay close to the mission
One risk of growth is distance. As the company becomes more complex, founders can become removed from the original purpose that inspired the work. More systems, meetings and layers of leadership create space between the CEO and the people the company serves.
That distance is dangerous, because your mission is not just a brand statement — it is a decision-making filter. For me, staying grounded means regularly reconnecting with the people impacted by the work, the problems we are trying to solve and the purpose behind the companies we are building. Growth introduces complexity, but a mission helps simplify the most important choices.
When a company is small, the mission lives inside the founder. As the company grows, the mission has to live inside the organization. It has to shape hiring, product decisions, partnerships, communication and culture. That only happens when the CEO protects it intentionally.
Grow with your business
The transition from founder to CEO is not a single milestone. It is an ongoing process of self-awareness, adaptation and leadership development. At some point, every founder has to ask a hard question: am I leading the company that exists today, or am I still leading the company I started years ago?
That question can be uncomfortable, but it is necessary. Long-term success depends on your willingness to evolve alongside the business. The founder’s vision may start the company, but the CEO’s discipline helps it scale.
The strongest leaders do not abandon their founder instincts. They refine them. They keep the vision and purpose that built the company while developing the systems, team and strategic focus required to sustain it. That is the transition no one fully prepares you for. It may also be the one that determines whether your company can truly grow beyond you.
Key Takeaways
The same instincts that helped you build the company begin to limit it — and if every decision still depends on you, the business cannot move faster than your personal capacity.
Letting go does not mean becoming disconnected — it means building the conditions for other leaders to make strong decisions without needing your approval, and protecting your calendar for the work only the CEO can do.
Founders are often celebrated for their ability to do everything. In the early stages of a company, that closeness can feel necessary. You are close to the product, the brand, the customers, the operations and the decisions that keep the business moving.
That involvement can be powerful. It helps you understand the details, respond quickly and protect the vision while the company is still taking shape. But there is a point in every growing business when the same instincts that helped you build the company begin to limit it.
If every decision still depends on you, the company cannot move faster than your personal capacity. If every department relies on your direct involvement, growth becomes exhausting instead of expansive. The business may be getting bigger, but your leadership model is still built for the earliest stage.
Stamp duty, otherwise known as transfer or conveyance duty, is a tax imposed by state and territory governments whenever a person purchases a property.
It can apply to owner-occupiers and investors, as well as first home buyers. Though, many jurisdictions waive or discount stamp duty for first home buyers.
In some places, it can even be enforced even when a new owner doesn’t pay a cent for a property, such as when a property is gifted.
While it’s easy to forget about stamp duty when you’re hunting to buy a property, the tax shouldn’t be overlooked. It can add tens of thousands of dollars to a sale transaction and considerably minimise a buyer’s borrowing power.
Property buyers are required to pay stamp duty directly to their state or territory’s revenue office, and the process is generally best handled with the assistance of a solicitor or conveyancer.
Now, let’s get down to tin tacks.
How much is stamp duty?
The amount of stamp duty a buyer must pay will depend on the state or territory in which they’re buying in, as well as the type of property being purchased and its value.
Generally, the more a buyer pays for their home or investment property, the more stamp duty they’ll face.
Every state and territory has a different way of calculating stamp duty, and some jurisdictions offer more generous exemptions and discounts than others.
Stamp duty often runs into the tens of thousands of dollars (though, there are a few ways of getting out of paying it), so you’ll need to factor it into your home buying calculations.
Your Mortgage’s stamp duty calculator can guide you on how much you might be liable to pay when buying a home in your state or territory.
Can you avoid stamp duty?
Some stamp duty exemptions and concessions are available, with many dependent on where you’re purchasing, whether you’re buying your first home, and if you’re planning to occupy the property.
In most places, if property is being transferred between family members as a result of a death or divorce, the new owner will not need to pay stamp duty. Some states also waive or discount stamp duty for first home buyers, and others offer concessional rates for pensioners, downsizers, carers, and farmers.
If you don’t qualify a stamp duty exemption or concession where you live, you might consider purchasing in another state that charges less stamp duty or provides more generous concessions. Otherwise, buying a cheaper property is really the only way to reduce your stamp duty bill.
Why do we pay stamp duty?
State and territory governments say the collected funds are put towards upscaling and improving services like healthcare, law enforcement, planning and infrastructure, to name a few. That said, back in the year 2000, the introduction of the GST was meant to cover the cost of such services. Go figure.
If you’re looking to buy property, it could pay to discuss your stamp duty options with a solicitor or conveyancer prior to purchasing. This could help you be financially prepared and give you the opportunity to forward plan, especially if you need to accumulate extra funds to pay for the tax.
To help you prepare and understand when stamp duty needs to be paid, here is a snapshot of how your state or territory calculates and applies stamp duty.
How stamp duty works in New South Wales (NSW)
Standard stamp duty rates for most NSW properties are as follows:
If you spend $103,001 to $387,000: $1,662 plus $3.50 for every $100 over $103,000
If you spend $387,001 to $1,290,000: $11,602 plus $4.50 for every $100 over $387,000
If you spend over $1,290,000: $52,237 plus $5.50 for every $100 over $1,290,000
If you spend over $3,870,000 (Premium rate): $194,137 plus $7.00 for every $100 over $3,870,000
If you’re an eligible first home buyer, you may be able to receive a full exemption if the property you purchase is valued at less than $800,000 or reduced transfer duty if you buy a home for less than $1 million.
Vacant land valued up to $350,000 is also exempt from stamp duty for first home buyers, and they might be able to pay a concessional rate when buying a block valued between $350,000 and $450,000. There is no exemption or concession for land valued over $450,000.
NSW stamp duty needs to be paid to the state’s revenue office no later than three months after settlement day on a property purchase. When it comes to off-the-plan purchases, as long as you plan to reside in the property, there’s a chance you may be eligible to postpone paying tax for up to 15 months, or on the handover of the property if that’s sooner.
How stamp duty works in Victoria
Stamp duty rates for property investors and owner-occupiers purchasing for more than $550,000 in Victoria are:
If you spend $130,000 to $960,000: $2,870 plus 6% of the dutiable value over $130,000
If you spend $960,000 to $2,000,000: 5.5% of the dutiable value
If you spend over $2,000,000: $110,000 plus 6.5% of the dutiable value over $2 million
Owner-occupiers spending less than $550,000 on their property purchase may be eligible for principal place of residence concessional rates:
If you spend $130,000 to $440,000: $2,870 plus 5% of the dutiable value over $130,000
If you spend $440,000 to $550,000: $18,370 plus 6% of the dutiable value over $440,000
If you’re an eligible first home owner in Victoria, you won’t be required to pay stamp duty as long as your property’s value is $600,000 or less. If it’s priced between $600,001 and $750,000, you’ll be eligible for a concessional rate. Such rates may also be available for pensioners, farmers, and those purchasing a property off-the-plan.
Stamp duty in Victoria needs to be paid by the purchaser 30 days after the property is transferred.
From October 2024 until October 2026, all buyers of off-the-plan strata residential properties will be eligible for a temporary concession that could see them reducing the dutiable value of their property by the value of construction to be completed.
Owner-occupiers and first home buyers may also be eligible for such a discount when purchasing a land and building package or a refurbished low.
How stamp duty works in Queensland
Standard rates for Queensland properties purchased for $75,000 or more are as follows:
If you spend $75,000 to $540,000: $1,050 plus $3.50 for every $100, or part thereof, over $75,000
If you spend $540,000 to $1,000,000: $17,325 plus $4.50 for every $100, or part thereof, over $540,000
If you spend more than $1,000,000: $38,025 plus $5.75 for every $100, or part thereof, over $1 million
Lower stamp duty rates apply to properties you plan to reside in, rather than rent out.
From 1 May 2025, first home buyers who enter into a contract to purchase a new-build home to live in (or vacant land to build a home to live in) will pay no stamp duty regardless of the value of the property.
For established homes, a first home buyer exemption applies if the property you’re purchasing is valued at less than $700,000 and there’s a partial concession for homes valued up to $800,000. Seniors or pensioners are not extended general concessions in Queensland.
In Queensland, stamp duty is payable to the state’s revenue office no later than 30 days after settlement of the property.
How stamp duty works in South Australia (SA)
Standard fees for properties purchased in SA, valued at $250,000 and up, are as follows:
If you spend $250,000 to $300,000: $8,955 plus $4.75 for every $100, or part thereof, over $250,000
If you spend $300,000 to $500,000: $11,330 plus $5 for every $100, or part thereof, over $300,000
If you spend more than $500,000: $21,330 plus $5.50 for every $100, or part thereof, over $500,000
South Australia only provides stamp duty relief for eligible first home buyers purchasing new homes or blocks of land, not those buying already established properties. However, first home buyers claiming stamp duty exemptions aren’t restricted by property value caps.
Stamp duty in SA is usually required to be paid on or before settlement day.
How stamp duty works in Tasmania
Stamp duty on property purchases worth $200,000 and over are as follows:
If you spend $200,000 to $375,000: $5,935 plus $4 for every $100, or part thereof, over $200,000
If you spend $375,000 to $725,000: $12,935 plus $4.25 for every $100, or part thereof, over $375,000
If you spend over $725,000: $27,810 plus $4.50 for every $100, or part thereof, over $725,000
Stamp duty exemptions and concession rates for both first home buyers and pensioners downsizing their homes were scrapped in Tasmania from 1 July 2026.
They were available up to 30 June 2026.
Stamp duty in Tasmania needs to be paid by the purchaser in the three months after a property is transferred, which is usually included in the paperwork signed on settlement day.
How stamp duty works in Western Australia (WA)
General stamp duty rates for WA property, starting with properties valued at over $150,000 are as follows.
If you spend $150,000 to $360,000: $3,135 plus $3.80 for every $100, or part thereof, above $150,000
If you spend $360,001 to $725,000: $11,115 plus $4.75 for every $100, or part thereof, above $360,000
If you spend $725,001 or over: $28,453 plus $5.15 for every $100, or part thereof, above $725,000
A concessional stamp duty rate is available for those buying an entire WA property worth less than $200,000.
For first home buyers, there is no stamp duty on homes valued up to $600,000 and vacant land up to $450,000 and concessions are available for homes valued up to $750,000 and vacant land valued between $450,001 to $550,000.
Exemptions also apply for first home buyers purchasing strata units and townhouses up to $800,000 with scaled concessions for purchases up to $900,000.
In WA, a buyer has two months after settlement day to apply for a Duties Assessment Notice through the state’s revenue office. Once the office issues the notice, which states the stamp duty rate applicable, a buyer has one month to lodge the payment.
A complete run-down of fees is provided by the state’s revenue office.
How stamp duty works in the Northern Territory (NT)
Out of all the states and territories, Northern Territory has made calculating stamp duty most complicated. It has a complex formula for properties valued up to $525,000. Are you ready for it? It’s:
stamp duty payable = (0.06571441 x V²) + 15V
Where ‘V’ refers to one one-thousandth (1/1000) of the property’s value.
On a $500,000 property, this essentially means you’d be on the hook for $23,928.60 in stamp duty.
If you’re not into algebra, it might be best to input the property value into the stamp duty calculator provided by the NT Government.
Rates for property purchases of more than $525,000 are much simpler to work out and are as follows:
If you spend $525,001 to $3,000,000: 4.95% of the property value
If you spend $3,000,000 to $5,000,000: 5.75% of the property value
If you spend more than $5,000,000: 5.95% of the property value
If you buy a house and land package in the Northern Territory in a single transaction, you may be eligible for a stamp duty exemption regardless of the property value under the House and Land Package Exemption (HLPE). Conditions apply.
The NT Government does not currently offer first home owner exemptions or concessions for stamp duty (although it did for a short period between February 2019 to June 2021).
If purchasing in the NT, stamp duty is payable 60 days after the transfer of the property is legally finalised, which would occur on settlement day.
How stamp duty works in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
The ACT is the only Australian state or territory committed to phasing out stamp duty. It aims to replace the revenue raised by transfer tax with ongoing land tax over the 20 years from 2012.
The ACT calls stamp duty ‘conveyance duty’. Some of the current standard rates for eligible owner occupier property transactions are as follows:
If you spend $300,001 to $500,000: $1,608 plus $3.40 per $100 over $300,000
If you spend $500,001 to $750,000: $8,408 plus $4.32 per $100 over $500,000
If you spend $750,001 to $1,000,000: $19,208 plus $5.90 per $100 over $750,000
If you spend $1,000,001 to $1,454,999: $33,958 plus $6.40 per $100 over $1 million
If you spend $1,455,000 and over: A flat rate of $4.54 per $100 applied to the total value
ACT has introduced new stamp duty arrangements, including:
First home buyers pay no stamp duty from 1 July 2026, regardless of home value or income level
Pensioners, eligible NDIS participants, and those who haven’t owned a home for five years will also be eligible for stamp duty exemptions from 1 July 2026
No stamp duty payable on unit-titled properties valued at $1.02 million or less purchased by owner occupiers
Conveyance duty forms need to be submitted to Canberra Access no later than 14 days after property settlement. Once the buyer receives a Notice of Assessment back, they then have 14 days to pay the set stamp duty costs.
Stamp duty discounts & grants for first home buyers
It’s important to note that the eligibility requirements for first home owner stamp duty exemptions or concessions may differ from those for first home owner grants in some states and territories.
Don’t assume that being ineligible for one means you’re ineligible for the other. Carefully review the eligibility requirements for both.
In some jurisdictions, you can only be eligible for either a stamp duty discount or a grant, but in others, you may be able to claim both.
Make sure to do your homework on this or seek professional advice.
How do I calculate my stamp duty?
A quick way to estimate how much stamp duty could cost you is to use a stamp duty calculator. Just enter your expected purchase price, your state or territory, and whether you’re a first home buyer, owner-occupier, or investor to get a projection of stamp duty costs.
Where is the cheapest stamp duty in Australia?
The cost of stamp duty varies depending on which state or territory you buy in. Each government sets its own rates and thresholds, which means properties of the same value can attract very different stamp duty costs across the country.
As a rule of thumb, Queensland often has some of the lowest stamp duty bills for buyers, while Victoria generally ranks among the most expensive. However, concessions and exemptions – particularly for first home buyers – can change the picture considerably.
If you’re comparing stamp duty across states and territories, it’s worth using a calculator that factors in local rules, property value, and buyer type, so you can see exactly how much you’d pay in each location.
Finding a competitive home loan
The costs associated with buying a home can seem insurmountable. That’s why it’s important to seek out a competitive home loan at a time when every cent counts. The table below features owner occupier loans with some of the lowest interest rates on the market.
Lender
Home Loan
Interest Rate
Comparison Rate*
Monthly Repayment
Repayment type
Rate Type
Offset
Redraw
Ongoing Fees
Upfront Fees
Max LVR
Lump Sum Repayment
Extra Repayments
Split Loan Option
Tags
Features
Link
Compare
Promoted Product
Disclosure
5.94% p.a.
5.98% p.a.
$2,978
Principal & Interest
Variable
$0
$530
90%
Available for purchase or refinance, min 10% deposit needed to qualify.
No application, ongoing monthly or annual fees.
Dedicated loan specialist throughout the loan application.
Promoted
Disclosure
5.89% p.a.
5.80% p.a.
$2,962
Principal & Interest
Variable
$0
$0
80%
A low-rate variable home loan from a 100% online lender.
Backed by the Commonwealth Bank.
Promoted
Disclosure
6.04% p.a.
6.08% p.a.
$3,011
Principal & Interest
Variable
$0
$530
90%
Available for purchase or refinance, min 10% deposit needed to qualify.
No application, ongoing monthly or annual fees.
Dedicated loan specialist throughout the loan application.
Promoted
Disclosure
Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning
Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning
Details correct as of June 2026.
Image by Ylanite Koppen via Pexels.
Article first published by Nina Cuturic. Last updated by Denise Raward.
