How do First Home Owner Grants work?

Buying property is expensive, and getting your initial foothold in the market can seem like an impossible task. 

Fortunately, many state and territory governments have recognised this and provide eligible first home buyers with a leg up in the form of grants, as well as stamp duty concessions. 

More than 20 years on from their first introduction, the grants, often abbreviated to FHOGs (first home owner grants), remain popular initiatives to help home buyers break into the housing market.

What are first home owner grants? 

First home owner grants are administered by various state and territory governments, so the details can fluctuate across the nation.

They range in value from $10,000 to $30,000 and are commonly only available to first home buyers building their own home or purchasing a dwelling that hasn’t been lived in before.

They can also sometimes be used to bolster a buyer’s deposit, making them particularly attractive to many wishful homeowners. 

But not all starry-eyed first time purchasers buying new properties can make use of the grants. 

For starters, the ACT doesn’t offer a first home buyer grant. If you’re planning to buy in the nation’s capital with help from a cash boost, you’re out of luck.

Additionally, there are various spending limits to adhere to.  

As each state government has its own set of rules concerning the eligibility criteria and the amount of the grant, it can be a confusing topic to research. 

Luckily, Your Mortgage has broken down the basics of each FHOG offered by state and territory governments in the below table.

If you’re after more specific details on the grants, as well as information on oft-valuable stamp duty waivers and concessions, you also can find them on this page - just keep scrolling!

State/Territory	Value of grant	Eligible property	Property value limit
Queensland (QLD)	$30,000	New homes	$750,000
South Australia (SA)	$15,000	New homes	No limit
New South Wales (NSW)	$10,000	New or substantially renovated homes	$600,000 ($750,000 for land and home builds)
Victoria (VIC)	$10,000	New homes	$750,000
Western Australia (WA)	Up to $10,000	New or substantially renovated homes	Varies by location
Northern Territory (NT)*	$10,000 or $50,000	$50,000 for new homes or $10,000 for existing homes	No limit
Tasmania (TAS)	$10,000	New homes	No limit
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)	N/A	N/A	N/A

*Listed NT first home owners grants are anticipated to be available from November 2024, with applications to open in October 2024. Previously, a $10,000 grant was available to those building or buying a new home.

It's also important to note that there can be very specific exceptions to criteria that otherwise acts as a ‘blanket' rule. If you’re unsure whether your purchasing plans exist within a grey area, its advised you turn to official state or territory government sources or reach out to an independent expert for advice.

Using the above table, we can see that a first home buyer building a house in Victoria on land they’ve acquired for $300,000 might be able to receive a $10,000 grant. 

It's perhaps understandable, then, that these schemes have proven popular topics. 

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First home owner grant eligibility requirements

Eligibility criteria for individuals signing up for first home owner grants vary between each state and territory.

As discussed above, many require a buyer to be purchasing or building a new property within set expenditure limits. 

On top of that, they will typically need to meet the following eligibility criteria:

• At least 18 years old
• Haven’t owned a property previously or within the last few decades
• Must apply for the grant within 12 months of settlement
• Must intend to live in the property after purchasing

How do you apply for the first home owner grant?

There are generally two ways to apply for the grant: either by lodging the application yourself through your state or territory revenue office, or through an approved bank or lending institution.

The grant is usually paid to your lender at the time of settlement and applied directly to your home loan. If you are building a house, the grant will be approved when your first loan repayment is due.

If you are doing things by yourself, it is highly suggested that you apply for the grant as soon as you can after your settlement date. 

You must remember that in order for your purchase to qualify for the grant, an application must be made within one year of the completion of the transaction.

Detailing first home owner grants: State by state breakdown

At the time of writing, every state and territory in Australia except the ACT offers some form of a FHOG. 

The amount up for grabs varies between states and territories.

Some states may also waive or charge concessional rates of stamp duty for particular first home buyers. 

Here’s how much you could get from the grant and any eligibility criteria that may apply, depending on your state or territory.

NSW First Home Owner Grant

The NSW First Home Owner Grant is worth $10,000 and is available on new home purchases worth up to $600,000 and new home buildings worth up to $750,000. 

The NSW Government also doesn’t charge first home buyers stamp duty on properties valued at up to $800,000, or vacant land valued at up to $350,000. 

It offers discounted stamp duty for first time buyers purchasing properties worth between $800,000 and $1 million and land worth between $350,000 and $450,000.

To learn more, visit Revenue NSW.

Victoria First Home Owner Grant

In Victoria, first home buyers who are buying or building a new home may be eligible to receive a $10,000 grant.

The grants are only available on new properties valued at $750,000 or less.

The Victorian Government also waives stamp duty for first home buyers purchasing properties valued up to $600,000. It promises discounted rates for properties worth between $600,000 and $750,000.

Visit the State Revenue Office of Victoria for more information. 

Queensland First Home Owner Grant 

Queensland recently doubled its first home owner grant, bolstering it from $15,000 to $30,000.

Buyers who entered contracts to buy new properties after 20 November 2023, or those building their own home whose foundations were poured after that date, could take advantage of the newly increased grant.

The home being built or purchased must not be valued at more than $750,000 in order for a buyer to be eligible.

The Queensland Government also waives stamp duty for first home buyers purchasing property for less than $700,000 or vacant land for less than $350,000.

Concessional stamp duty rates apply for properties purchased for up to $800,000 and land purchased for up to $500,000.

For more information, visit the Queensland Revenue Office.

South Australia (SA) First Home Owner Grant 

Eligible first home buyers in South Australia can qualify for a $15,000 grant if they are buying or building a new home, no matter its market value.

The state also doesn’t charge stamp duty on property purchases made by first time buyers, as long as they are building or buying a new dwelling.

Visit Revenue SA for more information. 

Tasmania First Home Owner Grant 

Eligible first home buyers in Tasmania could receive a $10,000 grant if they are purchasing or building a new home. 

Unlike other states, there is no limit on the purchase price of the property.

The Apple Isle also waives stamp duty for first time buyers purchasing any property for less than $750,000. 

Visit the State Revenue Office of Tasmania for more information.

Western Australia (WA) First Home Owner Grant 

Eligible first home buyers can receive a $10,000 grant towards buying or building a new home.

How much an eligible buyer can spend on their property and still receive the grant depends on the property’s location. 

The combined cost of land and building of a home in the Perth metropolitan area (south of the 26th parallel) must not be valued at more than $750,000.

Meanwhile, houses north of the 26th parallel can be valued at up to $1 million.

The WA Government doesn’t charge first time buyers stamp duty if they’re buying homes valued up to $450,000 or land valued up to $300,000. 

Those purchasing dwellings worth $450,000 to $600,000 and land worth $300,000 to $400,000 might be eligible for discounted stamp duty rates.

Visit the WA Government site for more information.

Northern Territory (NT) First Home Owner Grant

Soon eligible first home buyers will be able to receive a $50,000 grant towards buying or building a new home or $10,000 towards buying a new home. Applications for the grants open in October 2024. 

Like Tasmania and South Australia, there will be no specified limit on the purchase price of the property. 

The territory also doesn’t offer any specific first home buyer stamp duty discounts.

Visit NT Government for more information.

ACT First Home Owner Grant

The ACT doesn’t offer any FHOGs at the time of writing. 

Instead, it has the Home Buyer Concession Scheme, which provides stamp duty concessions based on income and family size, with a maximum concession cap of $34,270 for financial year 2024-25.

Visit ACT Revenue Office to learn more.

Australian first home buyer grants: FAQs

Buying your first property can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, and it can seem like there’s no end to the information that needs to be considered.

With that in mind, here are some of the most common questions about FHOGs in Australia.

When will the grant be paid?

When a grant will be paid is be dependent on many factors, including the state and territory a buyer resides.

In some cases, the grant might be paid at the time of settlement or when the first drawdown of the loan occurs, particularly for new home constructions.

In other cases, it might be paid upon the issuance of a final inspection certificate or completion of an eligible transaction.

For the most accurate and detailed information regarding the payment timing of the FHOG in each state or territory, it's best to turn to the relevant state or territory revenue office or their official website, which can be found above.

Am I allowed to use the grant as a deposit?

If you are applying for a FHOG through an accredited agent and while in the process of purchasing a home, you could use the grant as a deposit.

However, you would still need to shell out, since the grant is generally not enough to be considered an entire deposit. It is highly advisable that you talk to your mortgage broker to know more about using the grant as your deposit. 

When you apply on your own, however, you may not be able to use the grant as a deposit as you would have already applied for a loan and settled on the property.

If you're concerned about the size of your deposit, it could be worth considering turning to the Home Guarantee Scheme.

Will my income affect the amount of the grant?

No state or territory subjects those applying for a FHOG to means testing.

That means that your income will not impact your ability to receive the grant.

As long as you fit the eligibility requirements and your property is within the value cap, you can apply for the grant.

Can I apply for the grant if I inherit the property?

The purpose of the grant is to help first-home buyers finance their home purchase.

If you inherit a property and you plan to apply for the grant, do not expect to get approved.

If I have a property outside Australia, will I still be eligible for the grant?

Generally, states and territories specify that a person turning to the grant must not have owned Australian property either ever before or within the last 20-odd years.

If you own a property outside of Australia, this mightn’t automatically disqualify you, but the specific rules of each state or territory should be checked.

It's recommended to consult the relevant state revenue office for detailed information and clarification.

Would buying an existing home qualify me for the grant?

Each state has its specific rules surrounding the type of home that qualifies for the grant.

At the time of writing, all states and territories only offer the grant to first home buyers purchasing new homes, substantially renovated homes, or vacant land on which they are building upon.

However, those buying established homes might be able to have their stamp duty discounted or waived.

Image by Clément Falize via Unsplash