First Home Buyer Grants in Australia: Your Complete State-by-State Guide for 2026

What is the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)?

The First Home Owner Grant is a one-off payment from your state or territory government. It was introduced back in 2000 to help Australians get into the property market. Every state runs its own version, so the amount you get depends on where you buy.

The grant is usually paid at settlement or shortly after. In most states, your solicitor or conveyancer handles the application for you as part of the purchase process.

Here is the thing most people miss. The grant is just one piece of the puzzle. When you combine it with stamp duty concessions and federal schemes, the total savings can be significant. We are talking tens of thousands of dollars in some states.

Grant Amounts by State and Territory

Each state sets its own grant amount and conditions. Here is a snapshot of where things stand in 2026.

Queensland stands out with the most generous grant at $30,000. If you are buying in QLD, this is a serious head start. South Australia also offers a strong $15,000. The other states sit at $10,000, which still makes a real difference when you are trying to pull your deposit together.

One thing to keep in mind. Most states limit the FHOG to new homes. That means a newly built house, townhouse, or apartment. If you are looking at an established property (one that has been lived in before), you usually will not qualify for the grant itself. But you may still qualify for stamp duty concessions, which we will cover next.

Stamp Duty Concessions for First Home Buyers

Stamp duty (also called transfer duty) is the tax you pay to your state government when you buy property. For a $600,000 home, that can be anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 depending on the state. It is a big number.

The good news is that most states offer reduced or zero stamp duty for first home buyers. This is often worth more than the FHOG itself.

The stamp duty savings can be huge. In NSW, buying a $700,000 property as a first home buyer means you pay zero stamp duty. That is a saving of around $27,000. In Victoria, the same story applies up to $600,000.

Want to see exactly how much stamp duty you would pay in your state? Use our Stamp Duty Calculator to get a personalised number in seconds.

Federal Government Schemes

On top of state grants and concessions, the federal government runs several schemes that can save you even more. These are separate from the FHOG and you can often use them together.

First Home Guarantee (FHBG)

This is one of the most powerful schemes available. With the First Home Guarantee, you can buy a home with just a 5% deposit and the government guarantees the remaining 15%. That means you skip Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) entirely.

LMI can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $30,000 depending on your loan size, so this is a major saving. There are 35,000 places available each financial year, allocated through participating lenders.

To qualify, you need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old, and meet the income cap. Singles can earn up to $125,000 per year. Couples can earn up to $200,000 combined.

Family Home Guarantee

This one is specifically for single parents with dependent children. You can buy a home with as little as a 2% deposit and the government guarantees up to 18% of the property value. No LMI required.

You do not have to be a first home buyer to use this scheme. If you are a single parent who previously owned a home, you can still apply. There are 5,000 places per financial year.

Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee

If you have been living in a regional area for at least 12 months, you may qualify for this scheme. Same deal as the First Home Guarantee (5% deposit, no LMI), but specifically for regional buyers. There are 10,000 places per financial year.

Help to Buy (Shared Equity Scheme)

This scheme allows the government to contribute up to 40% of the purchase price of a new home (or 30% for existing homes) through a shared equity arrangement. You still own the home and live in it, but the government holds an equity share that you repay over time.

This reduces the size of the mortgage you need, which means lower repayments. Check the latest status with Housing Australia, as the program details may have been updated since this article was written.

Wondering what your borrowing capacity looks like after factoring in these schemes? Try our Borrowing Capacity Calculator to see where you stand.

Eligibility Requirements

The rules vary by state, but there are some common requirements across Australia.

• You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You (or your partner) must not have previously owned property in Australia. This includes investment properties, even if you never lived in them.
• You must move into the property and live in it as your primary residence. Most states require you to move in within 12 months of settlement and stay for at least 6 to 12 months continuously.
• The property must be below the price cap for your state (see the tables above).
• For the FHOG specifically, most states require it to be a new home. For stamp duty concessions, both new and established homes may qualify depending on the state.

If you are buying with a partner or spouse, at least one of you must meet the first home buyer criteria. In most states, if one person has owned property before, you may still qualify for a partial concession. Check with your state revenue office for the specific rules.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Over the years, we have seen first home buyers lose out on thousands of dollars because of avoidable mistakes. Here are the most common ones.

Not understanding "new home" definitions

Each state defines "new home" differently. In some states, a substantially renovated home counts as new. In others, it does not. Off-the-plan apartments usually qualify, but always confirm before you sign anything.

Forgetting to claim the concession

Stamp duty concessions are not always automatic. In some states, your solicitor or conveyancer needs to apply on your behalf. Make sure you tell them you are a first home buyer at the start of the process. Do not assume they already know.

Buying above the threshold

If the property price is even one dollar above the cap, you could lose the entire grant or concession. In some states, going slightly above the threshold means you get a reduced concession instead of nothing. But in others, the cutoff is absolute. Know your state limits before you make an offer.

Not including all costs in your budget

The purchase price is just the starting point. You also need to budget for conveyancing fees, building and pest inspections, loan fees, and moving costs. These extras can add up to $15,000 to $30,000 on top of your deposit.

Our Purchasing Power Calculator helps you work out exactly how much property you can afford once all costs are factored in.

Worked Example: How Much Could You Save?

Let us say you are a first home buyer in Queensland, purchasing a new home for $650,000.

That is roughly $58,000 you did not have to save or borrow. For someone on a $80,000 salary, that is nearly a full year of income before tax.

The numbers will look different in each state and at different price points. The point is that when you stack these benefits together, they make a real difference to how quickly you can get into your first home.

Your First Home Buyer Checklist

Here is a simple checklist to make sure you do not leave money on the table.

1. Check your state grant amount and eligibility on your state revenue office website.
2. Check your stamp duty concession threshold for your state. Use our Stamp Duty Calculator to see exact numbers.
3. Apply for the First Home Guarantee through a participating lender (check Housing Australia for the list).
4. Use our Borrowing Capacity Calculator to see how much you can borrow.
5. Get pre-approved before you start looking at properties.
6. Tell your solicitor or conveyancer that you are a first home buyer so they apply for your concessions.
7. Budget for extra costs beyond the purchase price (conveyancing, inspections, loan fees, moving costs).
8. Compare loan products from different lenders on our Compare page to find the best rate for your situation.