First home owners grants
Every state and territory government (apart from the ACT) offers a first home owners grant. If you're buying or building a new home, you may qualify for a $10,000 grant.
Key takeaways
- Every state in Australia (and the Northern Territory) offers first home owners grants to help new home buyers purchasing or building a new home.
- Most states offer $10,000 to people who have never owned property before. Some offer even more.
- You typically have to live in the house for 12 months to be eligible, and you can't have owned property before.
First home owners grant in NSW
The First Home Owner Grant (New Homes) scheme offers a $10,000 grant for the purchase or construction of new homes. The value of the property of a newly constructed property must be no more than $600,000. If buying land to build a property the combined land and dwelling valued must be no more than $750,000.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible you need to be:
- 18 or older
- Buying your first home
- An Australian citizen or permanent resident (if buying with a partner, one must be a citizen or resident)
You also need to live in the home for at least 12 months.
Under First Home Buyers Assistance scheme there are also exemptions from transfer duty (stamp duty) on new and existing homes for first home buyers.
First home owners grant in VIC
A $10,000 First Home Owner Grant is available to eligible applicants buying or building a new home valued at up to $750,000.
Who is eligible?
To qualify for the grant you need to be 18 or older, and a first home buyer who has never received the grant before. You must not have owned property in Australia prior to 1 July 2000.
These apply to your spouse or partner too. Even if they're not claiming the grant.
At least one applicant needs to live in the house for 12 months after settlement.
Stamp duty concessions in Victoria are also available.
First home owners grant in QLD
The Queensland First Home Owners' Grant offers between $15,000 and $30,000 for first-time owners buying or building a new home. The grant is currently $30,000 until 30 June 2026.
The grant is available for properties and land valued at less than $750,000.
If you are renovating an established home you may also qualify for the grant.
There are also stamp duty concessions for Queensland first home buyers.
First home owner grant in the ACT
The ACT government no longer offers a first home owner grant to buyers.
But there are stamp duty concessions available through the Home Buyer Concession Scheme.
First home owner grant in WA
A $10,000 first home owners grant is available if you are buying or building a new home in WA. The home must be your principal place of residence for a continuous period of at least 6 months within the first year of settlement or date of building completion.
Eligible properties located south of the 26th parallel south latitude must be less than $750,000, while properties north of the 26th parallel south latitude are limited at $1 million.
There are stamp duty concessions for first home buyers in WA.
Who is eligible?
You must be:
- 18 or older
- Buying your first home
- An Australian citizen or permanent resident (if buying with a partner, one must be a citizen or resident)
First home owner grant in SA
A $15,000 first home owner grant is available for first home buyers in South Australia for the purchase and construction of new homes. There is no value cap on eligible properties.
You cannot get a grant for buying vacant land.
Who is eligible?
You must be:
- 18 or older
- Buying your first home
- An Australian citizen or permanent resident (if buying with a partner, one must be a citizen or resident)
You will not be eligible if you have previously owned property in Australia.
There are also stamp duty concessions available.
First home owner grant in TAS
Yes, the $10,000 First Home Owner Grant is available for first home buyers who are buying or building a new home.
Who is eligible?
You must be:
- 18 or older
- Buying your first home
- An Australian citizen or permanent resident (if buying with a partner, one must be a citizen or resident)
You must live in the property for at least 12 months after settlement. You will not be eligible for a grant if you have previously owned property in Australia.
Are property transfer duty concessions available?
First home buyers purchasing established homes can receive a 100% discount on stamp duty if their property's value is $750,000 or less.
First home owner grants in the NT
The Northern Territory offers three different grants, two for first home buyers and one for existing home owners.
- $50,000 for buying or building a new home.
- $10,000 for buying an established home.
- $30,000 for non-first home buyers building new homes.
There is also a stamp duty exemption for buyers of house and land packages.
Finder survey: What do Australians think is the biggest hurdle to getting a home loan?
| Response | |
|---|---|
| The deposit | 38.93% |
| Getting approved for a loan with a good interest rate | 26.85% |
| Finding the right property | 18.12% |
| Getting a loan without typical employment | 8.72% |
| There were no hurdles | 4.03% |
| Other | 2.01% |
| Previous debts | 1.34% |
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1112 Australians, December 2023
Federal first home buyer support
At the federal level there are several policies aimed at helping first home buyers. None of these policies give you a cash grant. But they can make it easier to buy your first home in other ways.
Being federal policies it doesn't matter which state or territory you live in, but there are specific eligibility criteria for each policy.
You can use federal schemes in conjunction with a state or territory policy.
First Home Guarantee Scheme
The First Home Guarantee Scheme allows eligible first home buyers to get a home loan with just a 5% deposit and avoid the extra cost of lenders mortgage insurance (LMI). Lenders usually charge LMI to borrowers with deposits below 20% of their property's value.
Family Home Guarantee
The Family Home Guarantee allows eligible single parents to buy homes with 2% deposits and avoid LMI costs while borrowing the remaining 98%. This doesn't just apply to single parents who are first home buyers. Single parents who have previously owned a home can qualify too.
First Home Super Saver Scheme
Another helpful option for some first home buyers is the First Home Super Saver Scheme. This policy allows eligible buyers to make extra contributions to their super funds and then withdraw them, pay less tax and then use the money to form part of their deposit.
All your questions about the first home owners grant answered
More support for first home buyers
Check out our complete first home buyer guide for more support.
If you're researching about the home buying process and need help, here's a list of helpful guides:
- How to save a deposit for a house
- HomeBuilder grant for home builders and renovators
- The complete home buying guide
- Get home loan help from a mortgage broker
- All your first home buyer questions answered
- What is lenders mortgage insurance?
- Download the Finder app to get more control over your finances
Sources
More resources on Finder
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The First Home Super Saver Scheme explained.
I have purchased a property off the plan which we assumed would settle last April (2015) therefore the bank applied for the FHOG in April 2015 and I was sent a letter advising I was approved for the FHOG.
Unfortunately, settlement did not occur on the anticipated dates. In the last three days we have now been advised that settlement will be occurring in 2 weeks’ time – however FHOG has not been reapplied for as yet.
My question is: can I still settle without the FHOG and wait for it to come through after settlement. Will I still be eligible for stamp duty concessions at settlement without the FHOG?
Hi Samma,
Thanks for getting in touch.
As the FHOG is governed by each state and territory in Australia, the rules will depend on the state in which the property is located. Generally, the payment of the grant for an off-the-plan purchase takes place either at or after settlement.
Given that you meet all other eligibility criteria for the FHOG, you may also entitled to duty concessions even if your circumstances prevent you from actually receiving the FHOG. As you were previously approved for the FHOG in your state, I believe you should also receive the duty concessions before settlement.
However, please get in touch with your relevant state government department to confirm your eligibility for the stamp duty concessions.
Thanks,
Belinda
I have a 50 percent share and a mortage in a property that i inherited. Do i still qualify for first home buyers grant or even a stamp duty discount as i have never actully gone out and bought a house it was left to me.
Hi there,
Thank you for your inquiry.
The eligibility for any of the first homeowner’s grants or concessions differs from state to state. In general, you are ineligible if you have ever held ownership, full or partial, of any residential property in Australia, there are no exemptions for inherited property. It would be best to confirm this with the relevant state agency in your local area or with a mortgage broker who would be more versed in the rules of these grants and concessions in your state.
Before applying for a home loan, please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria and read through the details of the needed requirements as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you.
I hope this helps.
Regards
Jodie
Hi,
So just double checking I have perceived this correctly.
Am I correct in thinking that if I wish to purchase a moderate but nice home for myself and my future but want to make sure I am only lending within my means.
Which means that realistically If I only borrow what I should I can only afford to purchase an established home not a new home but in saying that I can afford something that is not old and something reasonably new and definitely modern though.
Yet from what I have read it seems as I live and wish to purchase in the state of NSW, just because I want to do the right thing by not over extend myself which means an established but modern home is my only real option.
That I will in fact not be entitled to the First Home Buyers Grant nor the stamp duty concessions because the home I purchase will be established and not a brand new home or land.
Am I correct in thinking this?? I hope not and that I have misunderstood.
It doesn’t seem quite fair to me.
Thank you for your time.
Hi there,
Thanks for the question.
The NSW First Home Owner’s Grant and stamp duty concessions unfortunately only applies to new homes. A new home is defined on the Office of State Revenue NSW website as one which has not been previously occupied, nor previously sold as a residence. It can also be a home that has been substantially renovated and a home built to replace demolished premises.
I hope this helps,
Marc.
Hi , I want to purchase a property in Sydney . I am wondering if the first home buyer grant will be avalible to me. I had previously applied and got the grant years ago but due to a horrible divorce my ex ended up with the property and I had no shares from the house . It would help a lot if I could get the grant again. Could let me know if I am eligible for grant ? Thanks
Hi Minni,
thanks for the question.
The eligibility requirements for the grant vary slightly in wording from state to state, but generally exclude applicants who have received the grant in the past, owned a home prior to 1 July 2000, or occupied a home for a continuous period of at least 6 months on or after 1 July 2000.
I would recommend contacting the office of state revenue for your state for more information about how this may apply to you.
Regards,
Marc.
We are currently looking at building our first home but the land that we are considering is unregistered. If we sign contracts for both the purchase of the land and the purchase of the house before the end of the year will we still be entitled to the $15000 First Home Owners Grant even if the land is unregistered until the New Year or will it reduce to $10000?
Hi Newby,
Thanks for your enquiry.
As you can see above on this page, the grants and concessions available for first home buyers vary depending on which state you reside in.
Your best course of action would be to contact your local state office of revenue to see whether you’ll still be eligible to receive the concession if the land is unregistered.
Thanks,
Belinda