First home buyer grants compared, every state (2026)
All First Home Owner Grants apply to new or substantially renovated homes only. The stamp duty column is the separate first home buyer duty concession, which in most states also covers established homes.
| State | Grant | Price cap | First home buyer stamp duty | Full guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales NSW | $10,000 | $600k, or $750k if building | $0 up to $800,000, reduced to $1,000,000 | Full guide |
| Victoria VIC | $10,000 | $750,000 | $0 up to $600,000, reduced to $750,000 | Full guide |
| Queensland QLD | $30,000 | under $750,000 | $0 on new builds at any price; established to $700,000 | Full guide |
| Western Australia WA | $10,000 | $800k south, $1m north | $0 up to $600,000, reduced to $800,000 | Full guide |
| South Australia SA | $15,000 | No price cap | $0 on new homes, no cap; established pay standard | Full guide |
| Australian Capital Territory ACT | None | No grant | $0 at any price for eligible first home buyers | Full guide |
| Tasmania TAS | $20,000 | No price cap | No first home buyer relief since 30 June 2026 | Full guide |
| Northern Territory NT | $50,000 | No price cap | No concession; new house-and-land exemption only | Full guide |
The Northern Territory pays the largest cash grant at $50,000, but only on a new house-and-land package. Queensland’s $30,000 is the biggest of the eastern states. If you are buying an established home the value is in the duty relief, where the ACT charges eligible first home buyers $0 at any price. Work out your own figure with the stamp duty calculator.
Open your state for the full breakdown
How the First Home Owner Grant works
The First Home Owner Grant, or FHOG, is a one-off cash payment from your state or territory government toward buying or building your first home. It is national in name only. Each state sets its own amount, price cap and rules, which is why a buyer in Brisbane can claim $30,000 while a buyer in Sydney claims $10,000 on the same kind of purchase.
Two things are true in every state. First, the grant is for new homes only, meaning a newly built house, an off-the-plan apartment or a substantially renovated property. Established homes never qualify for the grant, though they usually still qualify for the stamp duty concession. Second, the grant is separate from stamp duty relief: the grant is cash paid to you, while the duty exemption is a discount your conveyancer claims at settlement. Most first home buyers of a new home qualify for both, plus the federal schemes below.
What changed for 2026-27
- Western Australia lifted its First Home Owner Grant cap to $800,000 south of the 26th parallel, up from $750,000, for contracts from 7 May 2026. Its first home buyer duty exemption now runs to $600,000 statewide, with a reduced rate to $800,000.
- The ACT abolished first home buyer stamp duty entirely from 1 July 2026. Eligible buyers pay $0 at any price, with no income test and no price cap.
- Queensland keeps the largest eastern-state grant at $30,000 and charges eligible first home buyers no transfer duty on a new build at any price.
- Tasmania’s duty exemption on established homes ended on 30 June 2026 and was not extended. The $20,000 grant on new homes continues.
- The federal First Home Guarantee became the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, dropping all income caps, waitlists and place limits from 1 October 2025.
- Help to Buy, the shared-equity scheme, is now open with income tests of $103,000 for individuals and $165,000 for couples and single parents.
Nationwide schemes that stack on top
These three federal schemes apply in every state and can be combined with your state grant.
Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme
Buy with a 5% deposit and skip LMI entirely
Formerly the First Home Guarantee. The government guarantees part of your loan so you avoid Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which often costs $15,000 to $35,000. Since 1 October 2025 there are no income caps, no waitlists and no place limits. Single parents and guardians can buy with a 2% deposit. Property price caps still apply by location.
Help to Buy
The government co-buys up to 40% of your home
A shared equity scheme where you need just a 2% deposit and the government takes up to a 40% stake in a new home or 30% in an established one. It is income tested at $103,000 for individuals and $165,000 for couples and single parents, and there are 10,000 places a year.
First Home Super Saver
Build your deposit inside super, taxed at 15%
Salary sacrifice up to $15,000 a year into super and release up to $50,000 per person, or $100,000 for a couple, when you buy. The tax saving can add thousands to your deposit compared with a regular savings account.
Am I eligible?
The detail differs by state, but the common criteria across the grants are:
- You are buying your first home in Australia. You and any co-buyer have not owned residential property here before, though some states allow it if a prior interest was held long enough ago.
- You are at least 18 years old.
- You are an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Rules vary by scheme, so check your state.
- The grant is for a new or substantially renovated home. Established homes do not qualify for the grant.
- You move in within 12 months of settlement and live there for at least 12 continuous months.
- Income and price caps vary by scheme and state. Your state page has the exact thresholds.
How to actually claim the money
The grant goes through your lender
The First Home Owner Grant and the 5% Deposit Scheme are both lodged by your lender with your loan application. A mortgage broker who does this every week lodges them for you at no cost.
The duty relief happens at transfer
Your conveyancer claims the stamp duty exemption or concession when the property transfers. Tell them you are a first home buyer early so nothing is missed.
First home buyer grants: common questions
What is the First Home Owner Grant?
A one-off cash payment from your state or territory government to help you buy or build your first home. It applies to new or substantially renovated homes only, not established ones, and the amount and price cap vary by state, from $10,000 in NSW, Victoria and WA up to $50,000 in the Northern Territory.
Are there any grants for first home buyers in Australia?
Yes. Every state and territory except the ACT pays a First Home Owner Grant on a new home, and three federal schemes stack on top in every state: the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, Help to Buy and the First Home Super Saver Scheme.
How much is the First Home Owner Grant in each state?
NSW, Victoria and WA pay $10,000, South Australia pays $15,000, Tasmania $20,000, Queensland $30,000, and the Northern Territory $50,000. The ACT pays no grant but charges eligible first home buyers no stamp duty at any price.
Which state has the highest first home owner grant?
The Northern Territory, at $50,000 through the HomeGrown Territory Grant for a new home with no price cap. Queensland’s $30,000 is the highest among the eastern states.
How much is the first home owner grant in NSW?
$10,000 for a new home valued up to $600,000, or up to $750,000 if you are building on land you own. NSW first home buyers also pay no stamp duty up to $800,000, with a reduced rate to $1,000,000.
How much is the first home owner grant in QLD?
$30,000 for a new home valued under $750,000, for contracts signed on or after 20 November 2023. Eligible Queensland first home buyers also pay no transfer duty on a new build at any price.
How much is the first home owner grant in Victoria?
$10,000 for a new home valued up to $750,000. Victorian first home buyers pay no stamp duty up to $600,000, with a reduced rate to $750,000, on new and established homes alike.
How much is the first home owner grant in WA?
$10,000 for a new home. From 7 May 2026 the price cap is $800,000 south of the 26th parallel, which includes Perth, and $1,000,000 north of it. WA first home buyers also pay no duty up to $600,000.
Can I get the grant on an established home, or does it have to be new?
The First Home Owner Grant only covers new or substantially renovated homes in every state. Established homes do not qualify for the grant, though in most states they still qualify for the stamp duty concession.
What is the difference between the First Home Owner Grant and the 5% Deposit Scheme?
The grant is cash from your state government toward a new home. The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme is a federal guarantee that lets you buy with a 5% deposit and skip Lenders Mortgage Insurance. You can use both on the same purchase.
Does the First Home Owner Grant also waive stamp duty?
No, they are separate. The grant is a cash payment, while the stamp duty exemption is a separate concession your conveyancer claims at settlement. Most first home buyers qualify for both.
Who is eligible for the First Home Owner Grant?
You must be buying your first home in Australia, be at least 18, be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, buy a new or substantially renovated home under the state price cap, and move in within 12 months and live there for at least 12 continuous months.
How much deposit do I need to buy my first home?
As little as 5% under the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, or 2% for single parents, and 2% under Help to Buy. Both let you avoid Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which can cost $15,000 to $35,000.
When and how do I apply for the First Home Owner Grant?
Through your lender when you take out your loan, usually at settlement. A mortgage broker lodges the grant and the 5% Deposit Scheme with your loan application at no cost to you.
Figures reflect each scheme as published by the state revenue office, Housing Australia or the ATO and were last verified on 18 August 2026. Rules change at state budgets and new financial years, so always confirm against the official source before you sign a contract. Each state page links directly to its official sources.