First home buyers grant eligibility

FHOG, or the First Home Owner Grant, is a state government initiative developed to assist people in purchasing their first residential property.

Do I qualify for the FHOG?

Looking to buy your first home?

Want to know what benefits are available to help you get on the property ladder even quicker?

Then you're in the right place.  Here’s what you need to know.

What is the First Home Owner Grant?

First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a government initiative designed to help first time buyers purchase their first residential property.

The amount of the grant, and the eligibility criteria, is different for each state and territory. We’ve collated all the information you need, below.

But before we get into all that, you should also know that in addition to the FHOG, there are also a number of First Home Buyers Assistance schemes and the Home Buyer Concession Scheme (HBCS). Best to check these out next as they can help further reduce costs for First Home Buyers.

How to apply for the First Home Owner grant?

To apply for the FHOG, you can go through your lender, or through your local state government office (links contained in each of the sections below).  You will need to provide a few bits of information and supporting documents such as proof of identity and proof of purchase.

However, if you’re finding the process confusing or just want to ensure it goes off without a hitch, you can also apply through an approved agent, such as a solicitor or conveyancer. This approach is generally recommended if you’re also applying for a loan.

How much is the First Home Owner Grant?

The value of the grant varies from state to state. In most states, the key eligibility requirements are largely the same: each applicant must be 18 years of age, at least one applicant (where there is more than one) must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and the applicant/s must not have previously owned property in Australia or previously have received the FHOG – in any state. Even if you received the grant with a partner and you’ve since broken up, you can’t get it again.

Many of the state websites have eligibility quizzes which you can complete to see if you qualify.

We’ve broken the grant amount and requirements down for you in more detail here:

First Home Owner Grant NSW


Amount: $10,000

Who and what is eligible

  • A $10,000 First Home Owner Grant for builders of new homes valued under $750,000, and for purchases of new homes less than $600,000 in value
  • No stamp duty for all homes valued under $650,000, or vacant land under $400,000
  • Stamp duty reductions on homes up to $800,000, or up to $1 million for new homes and $500,000 for vacant land
  • No insurance duty on lender’s mortgage insurance
  • You must live in the home you buy for at least six months in the first year of owning it in order to qualify as a first home buyer and receive the FHOG and other first home buyer assistance in NSW (unless you work in the Australian Defence Force).

First Home Owner Grant ACT

The ACT currently does not offer any first home owner grants to first home buyers, but it does offer a means-tested full stamp duty concession to all first home buyers on all properties.

First Home Owner Grant South Australia


Amount : $15,000

Who and what is eligible

  • In SA, first home buyers are eligible for a $15,000 grant for new residential dwellings valued at up to $575,000.
  • You must live in the property for at least six months in the first year of owning it to be eligible for the grant.

First Home Owner Grant Victoria


Amount: Up to $20,000

Who and what is eligible

  • Victorian first home buyers are eligible for a First Home Owner Grant of up to $20,000 for first home buyers building or buying a new home in regional Victoria, or up to $10,000 for these types of homes in cities.
  • In either case, the maximum purchase price of eligible new homes is $750,000, and the home must be less than five years old.
  • In addition, first home buyers may be eligible for various exemptions or concessions on their stamp duty. For example, at the time of writing:
  • Both new homes and established homes are eligible for a first home buyer duty exemption if the home is valued at $600,000 or less, or a concession for a principal place of residence (PPR) with a dutiable value between $600,001 and $750,000.
  • New and established homes valued up to $550,000 are eligible for a PPR concession if you intend to live there as your primary home.
  • From 25 November 2020 to 1 July 2021, residential homes in Victoria valued at up to $1 million are also eligible for a 50% duty concession, even if you don’t live there as your primary home.
  • First home buyers with a family (at least one dependent child under 18) may be eligible for a duty concession or exemption on a property valued at up to $200,000.
  • First home buyers purchasing an off-the-plan property or refurbished lot may be eligible for an off-the-plan duty concession.
  • Young farmers buying their first farmland property may be eligible for a young farmer’s duty exemption or concession on properties worth less than $750,000.

First Home Owners Grant Tasmania


Amount: Up to $20,000

Who and what is eligible

  • In Tassie, the First Home Owner Grant is up to $20,000 for buying or building a new home, including a “kit” home, off-the-plan home, or owner-builder home.
  • To be eligible, you must live in the house you buy as your main home for at least six months of the first year you own it.
  • First home buyers may also be eligible for a 50% stamp duty discount if the property has a dutiable value of $400,000 or less.

First Home Owner Grant Queensland


Amount: Up to $20,000

Who and what is eligible

  • First home buyers in Queensland may be eligible for the Queensland First Home Owners’ Grant.
  • This grant offers $15,000 for eligible first home buyers who are buying or building a new or substantially renovated home up to the value of $750,000 – including off-the-plan homes. To be eligible, you must move into the home you buy within the first 12 months of owning it and live there continuously for at least six months.
  • Queenslanders who buy in a regional part of the state by 31 March, 2021 may also be eligible for a regional home building grant of $5,000 if the new home they build or buy is valued at less than $750,000.

First Home Owner Grant Northern Territory

Amount: $10,000

Who and what is eligible

  • In the top end, the Northern Territory Government offers a First Home Owner Grant of $10,000 for first home buyers buying or building a new home or an established home.
  • First home buyers in the Territory may also be eligible for the BuildBonus grant (for buying or building new homes) and/or the Territory home owner discount, which is a stamp duty discount of up to $18,601.

First Home Owner Grant Western Australia

Amount: Up to $10,000

Who and what is eligible

  • Eligible first home buyers can receive a First Home Owner Grant of up to $10,000 for buying or building a new home. Homes south of the 26th parallel (including all of the Perth metropolitan area) can have a total value of up to $750,000, whereas homes located north of the 26th parallel can be valued at up to $1 million.
  • A stamp duty exemption is also available to eligible first home buyers whose property is valued at up to $430,000, and a concession if it is valued at up to $530,000.
  • Eligible first home buyers can also apply for the Home Buyers Assistance Account, which is a grant of up to $2,000 to cover the incidental expenses of purchasing an established or partially built home through a licensed real estate agent in WA. It is available for properties with a purchase price of up to $400,000.

Can I use the First Home Owner Grant as a deposit?

No and yes. The first homeowners grant isn’t made available to you at the start of your search process, so in that sense you can’t really use it as a deposit. It will be considered part of your overall contribution to your home purchase however, so in that sense, yes it can be used towards your home payment once it’s made available.

It should be noted that the FHOG is not actually paid to you – i.e. you don’t collect the mail one day and find a fat cheque from the government (unfortunately!). Rather, when you get to settlement, the money is made available to your solicitor to direct as required.

Furthermore, if you’re buying a house and land package, the money is, in some cases, ready to go once a concrete slab has been laid for the property, so the funds can be made available to draw in the construction process.

What can you use the First Home Owner Grant for?

The particulars vary from state to state but, in most states, you can use the first home owner’s grant to buy a new house valued up to a certain amount.

Find a deal

How much money do you need for a house deposit?

In an ideal world, you will have 20% saved for a home deposit. You can generally access a home loan with a 10% deposit – if you choose to pay lender’s mortgage insurance. With some lenders, you may be able to borrow up to 95% of the value of a property if you meet eligibility criteria. The only way first home buyers can avoid paying a deposit is by using a guarantor who puts up their own property as security on your loan. In most situations, guarantors tend to be parents of the borrower.

Can I get the First Home Owner Grant if I’m buying an investment property?

You can use The First Home Owners Grant for an investment property but you will have to live in it initially. The rules vary from state to state but you generally have to move into the property within 12 months of purchase and you need to live there for between six and 12 months. After that period, however, you are free to move out of the property and get renters in.

If I’ve owned or own an investment property and didn’t receive the grant, am I eligible to get the grant for my first live-in home?

If you have previously owned – or currently own – an investment property but have not occupied it for more than six months, you could be eligible for the First Home Owners Grant when purchasing your first home to live in. This varies from from state to state, and also depends on your individual situation, so it’s best to check the state government websites for updates.

Do 1st timers still have to pay stamp duty?

You do have to pay stamp duty as a first home buyer but there are a number of concessions that exist which reduce the amount of stamp duty first home buyers have to pay.

Read Stamp Duty for First Home Buyers to find out more.

‍


Book Call Now

UNO home loans

Try Plans, by UNO
Mortgage calculators completely reimagined
Get Started
Considering a purchase or refinance?

Try Plans by UNO

Mortgage calculators completely reimagined
Get Started
☎ đŸš« No cold call promise

Related Articles

TESTIMONIALS

What our customers are saying

Kyle Richards
October 10, 2024
Absolute legend, helped me through the first home buyers scheme, explained everything in a way that made sense, was very knowledgeable and a joy to work with.
Read more
Chloe S
October 8, 2024
Mike Parsons made it possible for us and the in laws to get 2 pretty complicated home loans. He helped us through everything and we'd be happy to use Mike and the team again for anything we needed. Thanks again!
Read more
Sam Rezai
October 2, 2024
I have gone through 6 different mortgage brokers prior to meeting Andrew Wyers. He is the most patient mortgage broker I’ve encountered and also the most knowledgable about the bank’s lending process and products available. It took me 1 year to find a house I was happy with and Andrew was always there to assist with any issues or questions I had; he always return my phone call, even on the weekends or when his away on holidays. The loan process was smooth and I had no complications. The process with Andrew was again nice and easy, he took the time to find and put together the right package that was suited to my situation. I have recommended Andrew to my family & friends and everyone have been grateful and completely satisfied with his service.
Read more
S Wilko
September 23, 2024
I had not dealt with Scott or UNO before finding them on the internet. Even as an Australian citizen living and working overseas, I knew obtaining a loan would be difficult. However, Scott went above and beyond what I expected from a mortgage broker. I genuinely don’t think you could find another company that works as hard as they did to get my home loan approved. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Everyone I dealt with at UNO were extremely professional and helpful. If you are looking for a broker, you would be mad not to give them a go. Thanks to Scott Wilkinson, Dalby Bajwa, Jena Lasquite and Andrew Pacini. Shaun.
Read more
Shan Liao
September 3, 2024
I had an outstanding experience with Tian Liu. He was incredibly professional and attentive, going above and beyond to meet my needs. His expertise and dedication made the entire process smooth and stress-free. Tian's deep knowledge of the market and commitment to finding the best solutions for his clients truly sets him apart. He was always available to answer my questions and provided invaluable guidance throughout. I highly recommend Tian Liu to anyone in need of a reliable and skilled broker!"
Read more
Nathanael Chin
September 3, 2024
Tian Liu provided exceptional service throughout the entire process. His professionalism and keen attention to detail were evident from the start. Tian consistently kept us informed and offered insightful advice that made us feel confident in our decisions. He truly cares about his clients and works tirelessly to ensure the best possible outcome. We couldn't be happier with his assistance and highly recommend Tian to anyone looking for a trustworthy and knowledgeable broker.
Read more
Patrick Winters
August 14, 2024
For the past three years, it has been an absolute pleasure to work with Mike Parsons. He has consistently helped us navigate commercial property loans with skill and efficiency. Mike’s timely and professional responses to our inquiries have been invaluable. We have built a strong, reliable relationship with him and eagerly anticipate continuing our collaboration in the future. We highly recommend his services.
Read more
Lee Robibaro
August 6, 2024
I am so thankful and grateful to have Scott Wilkinson as my broker. He not only looked after me every step from start to finish he gave me confidence and I was able to trust him and his expertise. My children and I are now happy in our new home and very appreciative of Scott's help. I will definitely be only having Scott as my broker from here onward as there is no mucking around and straightforward answers. Thanks again
Read more
Steve Mav
August 6, 2024
Scott and the whole team at uno have been amazing. Super responsive and helped us achieve a result that we couldn’t have possibly achieved on our own.
Read more
Thien Pham
August 5, 2024
Scott, Dalby and Jena were awesome to work with for my recent Home Loan, they are responsive and knowledgeable - which helped ensure a smooth purchase from pre-approvals to settlement. This is the second property I've purchased with UNO as my mortgage broker and would definitely recommend their services. Thanks again to the UNO Team for the awesome support.
Read more
Scott Hutchinson
August 5, 2024
I am writing this summary in support of recommending Mike Parsons as a Mortgage Broker. At the time of writing this, I have known Mike for 4 years and he has executed 4 mortgages deals for me (including 2 refinances) over that time. Mike has provided me incredible service as a mortgage broker as follows : - Works painstakingly on getting the scenarios together to provide you options that optimize your position. - Works inordinate hours on the detail necessary to support the scenarios. - Mike keeps you updated on the status and progress of the applications and also helps you work through answering questions and any complexities that may arise. -In my cases, given the complexities and timings of my situations , these application processes would take many weeks to finalize . Mike never gave anything other than utter commitment and focus to getting the job done. Mike acts as a true business partner throughout this whole broker /mortgage journey. I simply would only go to Mike for any future dealings on getting a loan from a bank (and as will my kids in the future !) . There is no way a bank (I have seen anyway) would provide this kind of time nor service to a customer. You can rest assured that once Mike has done the deal, you have ended up with the most optimized position taking into account all the variables/scenarios in play. Scott Hutchinson
Read more
Jason Seam
August 5, 2024
I've worked with Scott Wilkinson for my last 2 properties and he's been excellent. He sourced multiple options and didn't push a specific bank, tailoring his recommendations to me based on my requirements. I was specifically requesting a "medico loan" and Scott could navigate that extra requirement with expertise. When I was initially working with Scott, I was also trialling 2 other brokers and neither of those 2 had the same breadth of lenders, or could provide the same deals. I've referred multiple buyers to Scott and his team; one of them said to me after working with him, "how'd you find this guy, he's so good compared to all the other broker's I've worked with!" I'm going into my next purchase with Scott as my broker partner again. I recommend him to everyone
Read more