The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a one-off payment from state and territory governments to eligible first home buyers. Introduced nationally in 2000, it has evolved significantly — with each state and territory now running its own version with different amounts, eligibility thresholds, and property type requirements.
In 2026, the FHOG remains one of the most valuable financial benefits available to Australian first home buyers. Combined with stamp duty exemptions and the federal First Home Guarantee, it can significantly reduce the total cost of your first property purchase.
FHOG Quick Reference: Every State and Territory
| State/Territory | Grant Amount | Property Type | Price Cap | |-----------------|-------------|--------------|-----------| | NSW | $10,000 | New homes only | $600,000 | | VIC | $10,000 | New homes, regional only | $750,000 | | QLD | $30,000 | New homes | $750,000 | | WA | $10,000 | New homes | $750,000 | | SA | $15,000 | New homes | $650,000 | | TAS | $10,000 | New homes | No cap | | ACT | $7,000 (limited availability) | New homes | No cap | | NT | $10,000 | New homes | No cap |
NSW First Home Owner Grant 2026
Amount: $10,000
Eligible properties: Newly built homes, off-the-plan apartments, and substantially renovated homes. Established (existing) homes do not qualify for the FHOG in NSW.
Price cap: $600,000 (including land for house and land packages)
Stamp duty: NSW offers full stamp duty exemption for first home buyers on properties up to $800,000 (new or existing) and partial concession up to $1,000,000.
Who pays it: Revenue NSW, administered through the lender at settlement or first drawdown.
Tip for NSW buyers: The stamp duty exemption (potentially $30,000+ for a $750,000 property) is often more valuable than the FHOG itself. Make sure you claim both.
VIC First Home Owner Grant 2026
Amount: $10,000 for regional Victoria; $0 for metropolitan Melbourne
Eligible properties: New homes only. Metropolitan Melbourne FHOG was removed in 2023.
Price cap: $750,000
Stamp duty: Full exemption for properties up to $600,000; partial concession $600,001–$750,000. This is available for metropolitan Melbourne buyers even without the FHOG.
Regional definition: Properties outside the Melbourne metropolitan statistical area, Geelong statistical area, and Ballarat statistical area. Includes Bendigo, Wangaratta, Shepparton, and many regional towns.
Tip for VIC buyers: If you're open to regional living, the regional FHOG + regional stamp duty concession + lower property prices = exceptional first buyer value in Victoria.
QLD First Home Owner Grant 2026
Amount: $30,000 — the most generous in Australia
Eligible properties: New homes (newly built, off-the-plan, or purchased from a developer) under $750,000
Stamp duty: Full exemption on homes up to $500,000; partial concession $500,001–$550,000.
Tip for QLD buyers: Queensland's combination of a $30,000 FHOG (only on new homes) plus stamp duty exemption is among the best first buyer support packages in Australia. House and land packages in growth corridors are the typical application.
WA First Home Owner Grant 2026
Amount: $10,000
Eligible properties: New homes only under $750,000
Stamp duty: Duty exemption for first home buyers for homes under $430,000. Concessions for homes up to $530,000.
Additional WA support: The Keystart program (WA Government's low-deposit home loan) provides first home buyers with loans at competitive rates with deposits as low as 2%.
Tip for WA buyers: Perth's property market has been one of Australia's strongest performers. Combine the FHOG with Keystart (if eligible) for maximum support.
SA First Home Owner Grant 2026
Amount: $15,000
Eligible properties: New homes under $650,000
Stamp duty: SA abolished stamp duty on new homes for all buyers in 2018 — not just first home buyers. This is a significant benefit unique to South Australia.
Tip for SA buyers: Zero stamp duty on new homes (regardless of first buyer status) plus $15,000 FHOG makes Adelaide an exceptional market for value-focused property buyers.
TAS First Home Owner Grant 2026
Amount: $10,000
Eligible properties: New homes (no price cap)
Stamp duty: Concessions available for first home buyers.
Market note: Hobart's property market has moderated from its 2021 peak. Regional Tasmania offers strong affordability with access to the FHOG.
ACT First Home Owner Grant 2026
Amount: $7,000 (check availability — the ACT government periodically reviews this)
Stamp duty: The ACT replaced stamp duty with a broad-based land tax over recent years. Duty concessions for first buyers may apply depending on circumstances.
Tip for ACT buyers: The ACT market is influenced heavily by government employment. Confirm current grant status directly with the ACT Revenue Office.
NT First Home Owner Grant 2026
Amount: $10,000
Eligible properties: New homes (no price cap)
Market note: Darwin's property market has been volatile. Strong rental yields are a feature of the NT market.
The Federal Schemes That Stack on Top of the FHOG
The FHOG is a state payment. Two federal schemes sit alongside it, and both are routinely overlooked by first buyers focused on the grant alone.
First Home Guarantee (FHG)
Now officially the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme. It lets you buy with a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance, because the government guarantees part of the loan to the lender.
The scheme was expanded on 1 October 2025. Two rules that previously excluded a lot of buyers were removed:
- Income caps are gone. They were $125,000 single and $200,000 for couples. Your income no longer restricts access.
- Place limits are gone. Places are unlimited, with no waiting list and no quota to beat.
Eligibility:
- Australian citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old
- A first home buyer, or you haven't owned a home or land in Australia in the last 10 years
- Buying as an owner-occupier on a principal and interest loan (no investment properties)
- Single parents and legal guardians can use the same scheme with a 2% deposit
Property price caps still apply and were increased. They are $1,500,000 for Sydney, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Illawarra; $1,000,000 for Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast; $1,000,000 for the ACT; $950,000 for Melbourne and Geelong; $900,000 for Adelaide; $850,000 for Perth; $750,000 for Darwin; and $700,000 for Hobart. Rest-of-state caps are lower. Check the exact cap for the address before you make an offer.
What it saves: LMI on a 5% deposit loan typically costs $10,000–$30,000. The guarantee eliminates it entirely.
How to apply: Through a participating lender when you apply for your home loan. Your broker lodges it with the application. You cannot apply to the government directly.
Full current caps and eligibility: First Home Guarantee.
First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS)
Lets you save your deposit inside superannuation, taxed at 15% rather than your marginal rate, then withdraw up to $50,000 plus deemed earnings.
How it works:
- Make voluntary super contributions (salary sacrifice or personal)
- Maximum $15,000 per year, up to $50,000 total
- Apply to the ATO to release the funds when you're ready to buy
- Released amounts are taxed at your marginal rate less a 30% offset
What it saves: On the 32.5% bracket, contributing via super rather than saving in cash saves roughly 17.5% in tax — around $8,750 on a $50,000 deposit.
Timing tip: Start 2–3 years before you plan to buy. The annual contribution cap means you can't fast-track it.
Combining Every Scheme You Qualify For
The schemes stack. A worked example for a first home buyer in Queensland:
- Property: $500,000 new home
- First Home Owner Grant: $30,000
- Stamp duty exemption: ~$18,000
- First Home Guarantee (LMI avoided): ~$15,000
- Total benefit: approximately $63,000
That's the difference between a deposit you have and a deposit you don't. It's also why it pays to check every scheme before you sign a contract, not after.
Five Mistakes That Cost First Buyers the Grant
1. Buying an established home when the grant requires a new one. Nearly every state FHOG is restricted to new homes. Check before you sign.
2. Exceeding the property price cap. Buy at $660,000 in a state with a $650,000 cap and you can forfeit $25,000+ in concessions over a $10,000 price difference. Negotiate to sit under the cap where you can.
3. Not living in the property. Every grant requires you to occupy the home as your principal residence for a minimum period, usually 6–12 months. Rent it out or sell too early and you repay the grant plus penalties.
4. Applying after settlement. Most state grants must be lodged before or during settlement. Applying afterwards often disqualifies you outright.
5. Ignoring the federal schemes. The First Home Guarantee and FHSSS are worth tens of thousands and sit entirely separate from your state grant.
What Counts as a "New Home" for FHOG Purposes?
The FHOG is almost universally restricted to new homes — a point that confuses many first buyers. A "new home" typically means:
- A newly built home (never lived in)
- An off-the-plan purchase (purchased from a developer before construction is complete)
- A substantially renovated home (where the previous structure has been substantially replaced)
It does NOT include established homes (second-hand properties), even if renovated by a previous owner.
How to Claim the FHOG
The FHOG is typically claimed through your lender as part of the settlement process. When applying for a home loan through NIK Finance, we include the FHOG application as part of your loan documentation. The grant is then applied:
- For completed new homes or established homes: At settlement, the grant reduces the amount you need to bring
- For construction: At the first progress drawdown
You don't receive a cheque from the government — the funds flow through the conveyancing process.
What If You've Previously Owned Property?
If you or your co-buyer have previously owned residential property in Australia, you do not qualify for the FHOG. However, you may still access:
- First Home Guarantee scheme (different eligibility — previous owners may qualify after 10+ year gap)
- Stamp duty concessions (state-specific — some states still offer concessions for non-first buyers)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim the FHOG if I've previously received it in another state? No. The FHOG can only be claimed once per person in a lifetime across all states.
Can both partners claim the FHOG separately? No. A maximum of one grant per property is available, regardless of the number of eligible applicants.
How long do I have to live in the property after receiving the FHOG? You must occupy the home as your principal place of residence for a continuous period of at least 6 months, commencing within 12 months of settlement or construction completion.
Is the FHOG taxable income? No. The First Home Owner Grant is not taxable income and does not need to be declared.
Can I get the FHOG if I'm buying with a partner who has owned before? No. Both applicants must be eligible first home buyers for the grant to apply.
Can I combine the FHOG with federal first home buyer schemes? Yes. The state FHOG, your state stamp duty concession, the federal First Home Guarantee (5% deposit with no LMI) and the First Home Super Saver Scheme all stack. A Queensland buyer on a $500,000 new home can access roughly $63,000 in combined benefit.
What is the First Home Guarantee and how much does it save? It's a federal scheme, now called the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, letting eligible first home buyers purchase with a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance, because the government guarantees part of the loan to the lender. Since 1 October 2025 there is no income cap and no limit on places. LMI on a 5% deposit loan typically costs $10,000–$30,000, so that's the saving.
When do I have to lodge my FHOG application? Before or during settlement, in almost every state. Applying after settlement often disqualifies you. Your solicitor or conveyancer normally lodges it as part of the settlement process — confirm they have it in hand early.
Maximise Every Dollar Available to You
Claiming every grant and scheme you're entitled to can save you $20,000–$50,000+ on your first home purchase. Fill out our 2-minute form at nik.finance and we'll check your eligibility for every available benefit before helping you find the right home loan.
NIK Finance holds an Australian Credit Licence. Grant information accurate as at June 2026. Confirm current eligibility and amounts with the relevant state revenue office.