New First Home Owners Grant: what first-time home buyers need to know

Each state and territory offers first-time buyers cash incentives to help with the cost of purchasing a home. The First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) remains one of the most popular government-sponsored benefits you can take advantage of. 

FHOG provides a one-off payment if you’re building a new house or buying property that has never been occupied. The grant amount and eligibility requirements vary in each state.

If you’re a first-time home buyer wondering how much grant you can receive and how you can qualify, this guide is for you. Read on and find out how the new First Home Owners Grant works in your state. 

How does the First Home Owners Grant work?

The First Home Owners Grant is a national scheme funded by states and territories to offset the impact of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on homeownership. It was introduced in July 2000.

FHOG pays a one-off lump sum to first-time home buyers who qualify. You can use the cash grant when buying an existing property or vacant land or constructing a new house. You can also add the amount to your deposit.

You don’t need to pay back any amount you receive. The cash grant also isn’t taxable. State and territory governments, however, have their own set of rules concerning the benefit amount and eligibility criteria.

Who is eligible for the new First Home Owners Grant?

FHOG’s eligibility requirements differ slightly in each state and territory. There are some state-specific criteria but generally, you must meet the following to qualify:

• be a first-time home buyer as an individual, and not as a trust or company
• be at least 18 years old
• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or applying with someone who is
• you or your spouse or partner must not have lived in a property you owned from 1 July 2000
• you or your spouse, partner or co-purchaser must not have owned a home before 1 July 2000
• you or your spouse, partner, or co-purchaser must not have owned an interest in land in Australia, which had a home on it before 1 July 2000
• you must not have claimed FHOG in other states or applying with someone who have
• you must occupy the home as your principal place of residence (PPOR) within 12 months of the construction or purchase, with the minimum occupancy period of 12 continuous months

FHOG also isn't means-tested. This means that your income doesn't impact your eligibility. If you meet the criteria above and the home you chose is within your state's price cap, you can apply for the grant.

You can use the First Home Owners Grant on top of other government-sponsored benefits. If you want to know what other grants are available to you, you can check this guide on home loans for first time buyers in Australia.

How much is the First Home Owners Grant in each state?

The new First Home Owners Grant is funded and administered by states and territory governments. That’s why exactly how much you can receive depends on where you’re buying a home. You may also be entitled to stamp duty exemptions. Here’s a state-by-state breakdown:

First Home Owners Grant NSW

Cash grant: You can get a $10,000 cash grant if you’re buying a new home worth up to $600,000. You’re also eligible for a $10,000 FHOG if you’re buying land where your home will be built if the combined value doesn’t exceed $750,000.

Stamp duty concessions: NSW first-time home buyers are exempted from paying stamp or transfer duty on homes worth up to $800,000 or a block of land valued up to $350,000.

Check out the Office of State Revenue NSW website for more information.

First Home Owners Grant VIC

Cash grant: You can receive a $10,000 FHOG for homes worth $750,000 or less.

Stamp duty concessions: You’re exempt from paying stamp duty if you’re buying a home priced below $600,000. Concessions are available for buyers of homes valued between $600,001 and $750,000.

More details are on Victoria’s State Revenue Office (SRO) website.

First Home Owners Grant QLD

Cash grant: Queensland provides a $30,000 cash grant for contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2025 and $15,000 for those signed before 23 November 2023. This is if the property’s value doesn’t exceed $750,000.

Stamp duty concessions: You can get a stamp duty exemption if you’re buying a home worth $550,000 or less. The amount depends on the purchase price.

Learn more about the new First Home Owners Grant QLD on the Queensland Revenue Office’s website.

First Home Owners Grant SA

Cash grant: If you’re buying or constructing a new home, you’re eligible for up to $15,000 FHOG if the property is worth up to $650,000 and the contract was signed on or after 15 June 2023. If the contract was entered before this date, you can qualify for the cash grant if the purchase price doesn’t exceed $575,000.

Stamp duty concessions: South Australia doesn’t provide transfer duty exemptions for first-time home buyers.

More details on RevenueSA website.

First Home Owners Grant WA

Cash grant: Western Australia provides a $10,000 FHOG for homes worth up to $750,000 if they are located south of the 26th parallel. The price cap is $1 million for properties north of the 26th parallel.

Stamp duty concessions: You can access transfer duty exemptions for homes valued at $430,000 to $530,000 and vacant land between $300,000 and $400,000. Properties and land below these price ranges are exempt from stamp duty.

Find out more on the WA government website.

First Home Owners Grant TAS

Cash grant: You can get a $30,000 cash incentive if you buy a home or build a new one if the contract is signed between 1 April 2021 and 30 June 2024. There are no price caps.

Stamp duty concessions: There are no concessions or exemptions for first-time buyers who build or buy a new property.

Learn more about Tasmania FHOG on the Department of Treasury and Finance’s website. 

First Home Owners Grant NT

Cash grant: You can qualify for a $10,000 grant when purchasing or constructing a new home, regardless of how much the property is worth.

Stamp duty concessions: Northern Territory provides up to $18,601 Territory Home Owner Discount (THOD) on stamp duty costs for first-time buyers.

Check out NT.gov.au for more details.

First Home Owners Grant ACT

ACT has replaced FHOG with the Home Buyer Concession Scheme. The program provides full stamp duty concessions for eligible applicants.

How can I apply for the First Home Owners Grant?

You can apply for the First Home Owners Grant either through the revenue office in your state or an approved bank or lender.

FHOG is usually paid to your lender at the time of settlement and applied directly to your home loan. If you’re constructing a home, the grant will be approved when the first mortgage repayment is due.

If you’re applying for the grant yourself, it’s best that you submit the application as soon as you can after the settlement date. Remember that you must apply for the grant within a year after the contract is signed to qualify.

If you’re not too confident about doing things by yourself, you can enlist the help of an experienced mortgage professional. Our Best in Mortgage Special Reports page is the place to go if you want to find one. Here, we recognise the industry’s finest who can help you achieve your homeownership dreams faster.

Have you tried applying for the new First Home Owners Grant? How did it go? Let us know in the comments.