First home buyers grants (also known as first home owners grants) are offered by almost every state and territory government. These are cash grants available to buyers who have never purchased a home before. The eligibility criteria and grant amounts vary a lot depending on where you live.
If you don't qualify for any grants but you are a first home buyer you may qualify for a stamp duty discount or exemption, which can also save you a lot of money.
The eligibility criteria for first home buyers differs slightly between the states and territories. But generally you need to meet the following criteria are:
There are other state-specific conditions as well, which will depend on the state you're buying in. Be sure to visit your state’s office of revenue website and find out if you’re eligible.
| 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% |
Yes, 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.
Yes, the First Home Buyers Assistance scheme provides first home buyers with exemptions from transfer duty (stamp duty) on new and existing homes:
Learn more about NSW stamp duty and concessions
Yes, the $10,000 First Home Owner Grant is available to eligible applicants buying or building a new home valued at up to $750,000.
First home buyers purchasing a new or established home valued below $600,000 will be exempt from stamp duty. Buyers purchasing a new or established home valued between $600,001 and $750,000 will be eligible for a stamp duty concession, applied on a sliding scale.
First home buyers can get stamp duty concessions even if they don't qualify for a first home owners grant. It's also possible to qualify for both the grant and a stamp duty exemption or concession.
Learn more about VIC stamp duty and concessions
Yes, the Queensland First Home Owners' Grant offers $15,000 to first-time owners buying or building a new home. 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.
Yes, there is a first home stamp duty concession available if you buy a home valued at up to $550,000 and meet the eligibility criteria.
Learn more about QLD stamp duty and concessions
The ACT government no longer offers a first home owner grant to buyers. It has been replaced by the Home Buyer Concession Scheme.
The Home Buyer Concession Scheme provides stamp duty concessions. The amount you can save depends on your income and how many dependents you have.
Buyers in the ACT can avoid paying stamp duty if all buyers are over 18 and earning a combined income below the threshold (listed below). Buyers must live in the home continuously for 12 months and all buyers must not have owned a property in the past two years.
The income threshold also varies depending on how many dependent children you have. If your combined income is below the following limits then you can avoid paying stamp duty.
The amount of first home buyer concession you can receive is capped. For 2023-24, it's capped at $34,504.
| Total income (including partner) | Number of dependent children |
|---|---|
| $170,000 | 0 |
| $173,330 | 1 |
| $176,660 | 2 |
| $179,990 | 3 |
| $183,320 | 4 |
| $186,650 | 5+ |
Yes, a FHOG of $10,000 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.
Yes, the First Home Owner Rate of Duty provides exemptions and concessions when purchasing homes valued at less than $530,000 and vacant land less than $400,000.
| Purchase Price | Grant/Concession |
|---|---|
| Less than $430,000 | Exempt from stamp duty |
| $430,000 to $530,000 | Duty payable at a rate of $19.19 for every $100, or part of $100, by which the value exceeds $430,000 |
| $530,001 or more | No concession or exemption |
| Vacant land less than $300,000 | Exempt from stamp duty |
| Vacant land $300,000 to $400,000 | Duty payable at a rate of $13.01 for every $100, or part of $100, by which the value exceeds $300,000 |
| Vacant land $400,001 or more | No concession or exemption |
Learn more about WA stamp duty and concessions
Yes, the FHOG of up to $15,000 is available for the purchase and construction of new homes valued up to $650,000 for contracts entered into on or after 15 June 2023. For contracts entered into before this date, the maximum property value is $575,000.
You may be eligible for stamp duty relief if you are buying a new home and/or land in South Australia where that home will be your main place of residence.
If you are an eligible first home buyer you can be exempt from stamp duty if your home is valued below $650,000 ($400,000 for vacant land).
You can get a stamp duty discount if the value of your home is below $700,000 ($450,000 for vacant land).
You can be eligible for stamp duty relief without being eligible for the first home owner grant.
Learn more about SA stamp duty and concessions
Yes, the $30,000 First Home Owner Grant is available for first home buyers who are buying a new home, buying a new home off the plan or building a new home.
First home buyers purchasing established homes can receive a 50% discount on stamp duty if their property's value is $600,000 or less.
Learn more about Tasmanian stamp duty and concessions
Yes, the $10,000 FHOG is available to eligible applicants who purchase or construct a new home. No limit applies to the value of the property you buy or build and there are no income restrictions.
Not specifically for first home buyers. There is a stamp duty exemption for buyers of house and land packages. To be eligible you must buy a house and land package from a building contractor and sign the contract before 30 June 2027.
The contractor must agree to sell the land to the purchaser and either:
Stamp duty must have been paid by the contractor when bought from the developer.
The exemption is not means tested and there's no gap on the value of the property.
Learn more about NT stamp duty and concessions
At the federal level there are several policies and grants aimed at helping first home buyers. Being federal policies it doesn't matter which state or territory you live in, but there are specific eligibility criteria for each policy.
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.
The HomeBuilder grant provided support of up to $25,000 for Australian citizens building or renovating homes. There were various eligibility criteria and you didn't have to be a first home buyer to qualify for this one, however, this program closed for applications on March 31, 2021.
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.
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.
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:
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Hello
Can i still go on holiday interstate or oversea within the first year of the FHOG?
Hi QLD,
Thanks for your question.
It’s possible to still go on holidays but not for an extended amount of time. Please note that the Office of State Revenue conducts investigations and compliance checks to ensure that the FHOG is only given to those applicants who are entitled to receive it, and to ensure that applicants satisfy the residency conditions of the FHOG.
It’s best to speak to your local Office of State Revenue regarding the conditions of taking a holiday.
Cheers,
Shirley
Hi there
Just found this page & have a question I have always been curious about.
Our family currently live in WA, but lived in NSW in the 70’s. During that time my parents put both mine & my brother’s name down on a house which was purchased, even though it was only our parents who paid for the house, as they thought at the time that was what they had to do.
Since then I have always wondered if either my brother or I would have been entitled to the FOHG (I currently live in same house as mother as a carer, & not owned my own home), as we had not paid for the house at the time, though we were old enough to be earning a wage (both being about 19 or 20 at that time)?
Hi William,
Thanks for your question.
The First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) was introduced in July 2000, so it’s likely that you or your brother would have been entitled to the FHOG at the time as the property was purchased in the 70’s.
Hope that helps,
Shirley
Does that mean that if I was to purchase a new home I would still be eligible for the FHOG?
Also, I have read elsewhere that if you purchase an existing house in WA, you are entitled to $3,000. Is it possible to purchase a house someone is living in & receive the Grant if they do not own the place?
Hi William,
Thanks for your question.
Unfortunately you won’t be eligible if you’ve held interest in another property, including having your name on a title of a property.
In the situation you’ve described above, if it is your first property, you’ll still be eligible for the $3,000 grant for an established property.
Cheers,
Shirley
I’d like to add my mum into the tittle but i own a property in australia. She is australian permanent resident that previously hasn’t purchased or owed a property in australia. so we should be still eligible for the $15k – first home grant.
Hi Anubha,
Thanks for your question.
Please note that the FHOG in NSW is only applicable to new properties, that is, vacant land or off the plan properties.
Cheers,
Shirley
If my friend and I have purchase land together we are both on the title. He now he wants to build a home on the land in his name. Is he still able to get the FHOG as I have owned property prior to 2000.I will not be connected with the house purchase
Hi Lee,
Thanks for your question.
Please note that rules and regulations regarding the FHOG are different according to the state or territory that you live in. You’ll need to confirm these details with your local Office of State Revenue.
As you won’t be connected with the construction of the property, your name may not have to be included in the application. Typically if the applicant’s spouse has previously owned a home they have lived in, they will not be eligible for the grant.
Cheers,
Shirley
Am I eligible for the FHOG in qld if I put a removal house which requires substantial renovation on a block of land?
Hi Kate,
Thanks for your question.
On the QLD Office of State revenue website, these are the conditions for the property:
– “a contract made on or after 12 September 2012 for the purchase of a new home in Queensland (including purchases of substantially renovated and off-the-plan homes)
– a comprehensive home building contract made on or after 12 September 2012 by the owner of the land in Queensland or a person who will, on completion of the contract, be the owner of land in Queensland on which the new home will be built
– the building of a new home in Queensland by the owner–builder where the foundations are laid on or after 12 September 2012.”
The grant is not available for established properties.
All the best,
Shirley