The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a one-off state or territory payment for eligible people buying or building a new home. The amount depends on where you buy, with different property limits and residence conditions in each jurisdiction.
For transactions starting in the 2026 to 2027 financial year, grants range from $10,000 in several states to the Northern Territory's $50,000 replacement scheme. The ACT no longer offers the grant.
How the First Home Owner Grant Works
The FHOG pays assistance towards an eligible home purchase or build under the rules of the state or territory where the property sits. The national First Home Owner Grant directory explains that the scheme began with the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Grants generally apply to new homes. An established home can qualify for separate stamp duty support even when it cannot attract the grant.
The grant does not replace your deposit or guarantee loan approval. Your lender decides how much you can borrow and whether the grant can contribute to the funds needed at settlement.
First Home Owner Grant Amounts by State and Territory
The table shows grant amounts and property rules for eligible transactions commencing in the 2026 to 2027 financial year. Earlier transactions can fall under different amounts or caps. Each linked revenue office sets the detailed definitions.
| State or Territory | Grant | Eligible Property | Property Value Cap | Administering Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | $10,000 | New or off-the-plan home, eligible construction or substantially renovated home | Up to $600,000 for a home purchase. Up to $750,000 for land and construction combined. | Revenue NSW |
| Victoria | $10,000 | New or off-the-plan home, eligible construction or substantially renovated home | Up to $750,000 | State Revenue Office Victoria |
| Queensland | $30,000 | New or off-the-plan home, eligible construction or substantially renovated home | Less than $750,000, including land and contract variations | Queensland Revenue Office |
| South Australia | Up to $15,000 | New or off-the-plan home, eligible construction or substantially renovated home | No value cap for new transactions. Earlier contracts can have a cap. | RevenueSA |
| Western Australia | Up to $10,000 | New home, eligible construction or qualifying substantial renovation | Up to $800,000 south of the 26th parallel, including Perth. Up to $1 million north of it. | RevenueWA |
| Tasmania | $20,000 | New or off-the-plan home, including eligible kit homes and owner-builds | The SRO eligibility rules list no property value cap. | State Revenue Office Tasmania |
| Northern Territory | $50,000 HomeGrown Territory Grant, replacing the former $10,000 FHOG | New home, off-the-plan purchase or owner-build, including eligible fixed transportable homes | No build or purchase price cap | Territory Revenue Office |
| Australian Capital Territory | Closed to new transactions | No FHOG for new purchases or builds | Not applicable | ACT Revenue Office |
A cap can include the land as well as the building. For example, a hypothetical Queensland project worth $750,000 falls outside the grant because the limit is strictly below that amount.
The Northern Territory's HomeGrown grant has contract and application deadlines. Its linked guidance explains the eligible transaction window and construction requirements.
Who is Eligible for the Grant
FHOG eligibility depends on the applicants, their ownership history and the property. Include every owner on the application and disclose a spouse or partner's history where the local rules require it.
Applicants generally must be individuals aged at least 18, with at least one Australian citizen or permanent resident. The Northern Territory requires at least one applicant over 18. Exemptions and the treatment of New Zealand citizens depend on the jurisdiction.
Prior ownership is not tested identically everywhere. Revenue NSW distinguishes earlier ownership from later ownership and occupation. RevenueSA excludes prior Australian residential ownership for new contracts, even if you never lived in that property.
Use the applicable revenue-office rules for each applicant's history. The guide to first home buyer qualifications explains why a buyer can qualify under one scheme and fail another.
A new home usually must be previously unsold and unoccupied as a residence. Buying off the plan can qualify, while a renovated property must meet the local definition of substantially renovated. Cosmetic work alone does not establish eligibility.
You must also live in the property as your principal home. For new NSW contracts, move in within 12 months and stay for 12 continuous months. Victoria requires at least one applicant to do the same.
Queensland requires six continuous months of occupation starting within one year of title registration or the final inspection, depending on the transaction. South Australia, WA and Tasmania generally require six continuous months starting within 12 months of completion.
The NT HomeGrown grant requires at least 12 months of residence after taking possession or completing construction. Residence exemptions require the authority's approval where available.
How to Apply and When the Grant is Paid
Apply through an approved lender or directly with the administering revenue office. The channel affects when the money becomes available, so choose it before relying on the grant at settlement.
- Identify the transaction type: buying a completed home, buying off the plan, signing a building contract or building as an owner-builder.
- Complete the local application with every applicant's details and the required spouse or partner declarations.
- Attach identity and citizenship or residency evidence. For a purchase, supply the signed contract and evidence that the home is new. Building applications need the building contract, land details and variations. Owner-builders need construction and completion evidence specified by the office.
- Lodge through the selected channel within its deadline. NSW, Victoria, Queensland, SA, WA and Tasmania generally use a 12-month application period after settlement or transaction completion.
- Obtain the approval and payment arrangements, then record the move-in deadline and required residence period.
For NSW and SA, a grant needed at settlement or the first construction progress payment must go through an approved lender. Direct applications generally suit buyers who can fund those stages themselves.
The NT office pays a direct purchase application after settlement and a building application after foundations are laid. Owner-builders receive payment after the occupancy certificate. Payment rules in other jurisdictions depend on the transaction and application channel.
Grant Conditions and Repayment Risk
Only one grant is available per eligible transaction, even when two or more buyers apply. A couple buying together does not receive a grant each.
A co-buyer's previous ownership or grant can make the whole application ineligible. In some jurisdictions, a spouse's history matters even when that spouse will not be on the title.
If you fail an eligibility or residence condition, the revenue office can require repayment. False declarations can also attract penalties or prosecution.
Tell the administering office promptly if you cannot move in on time or must leave before completing the residence period. Explain the circumstances and request any available concession. Keep the written decision with your grant records.
Other Support for First Home Buyers
Stamp duty concessions and the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme can reduce different parts of your upfront costs. Each has its own eligibility rules.
State and territory duty concessions reduce or remove transfer duty for qualifying transactions. They can apply to established homes that receive no FHOG. Use the stamp duty guide to separate the tax cost from the grant payment.
The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme has unlimited places and no income caps. Eligible first home buyers can buy with a minimum 5% deposit without lenders mortgage insurance (LMI).
The government guarantee supports the lender. It does not pay your deposit or remove the lender's assessment. Property price caps depend on location, and you must meet the scheme's other conditions. Eligible buyers can combine the scheme with a state or territory grant.
Budgeting With the Grant
Build a purchase budget without the grant first, then show how an approved payment changes the amount you need. Include duty, legal fees and moving costs alongside the deposit. Allow for insurance and an emergency reserve.
For a hypothetical buyer needing $70,000 in total funds, a $10,000 grant leaves $60,000 to cover from other sources. If the grant arrives after settlement, the buyer still needs the full $70,000 when settlement occurs.
Test whether you can meet the purchase commitments if payment is delayed or eligibility fails. Keep building variations inside both your cash budget and any grant value cap.
Your broker explains how the lender treats the grant and assesses your borrowing. A conveyancer advises on the contract, while the revenue office decides grant eligibility. The guide to working with a broker on your first home explains how to prepare that conversation.
Before you commit, put the grant amount, expected payment stage and residence obligations beside your settlement funding plan.
