First Home Owner Grant Australia 2026: Amounts, Eligibility and How to Apply

FHOG amounts by state in 2026

Queensland currently offers the most generous grant at $30,000 for eligible new homes, part of the state's push to stimulate construction. South Australia pays $15,000, while New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia each pay $10,000. The Northern Territory, ACT and Tasmania operate their own schemes with different amounts and caps — always check the state revenue office for the current figure before you budget around a number.

In every state the grant is restricted to new homes: a house and land package you build, a newly built home nobody has lived in, or a substantially renovated property. That is the single biggest strategic implication — the FHOG effectively discounts the new-build option relative to established property, which is one reason packages dominate first-home-buyer activity in growth corridors.

Eligibility: the rules that actually trip people up

The consistent national rules are simple on paper: you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident (at least one applicant for couples), at least 18, never have owned residential property in Australia, and you must live in the home as your principal place of residence for a continuous period (typically six to twelve months, varying by state). The traps are in the details: the 'never owned' test includes investment property you once held, property owned through a company or trust, and in some states property received through a family transfer.

Price caps differ and bind harder. NSW requires the new home to be valued at $600,000 or less (or land+build totals within the cap), Victoria caps metro Melbourne at $750,000, and other states apply their own thresholds. Because caps interact with land values, two neighbouring suburbs in the same corridor can sit on opposite sides of the line — one more reason to check suburb-level prices before committing.

How to apply (and when the money arrives)

There are two routes. If you apply through an approved agent (your lender or builder), the grant is paid at settlement or first drawdown — effectively reducing what you need on the day. If you apply directly to the state revenue office after settlement, you receive it after the fact. For cash-constrained buyers the through-the-lender route is usually worth the paperwork, because $10,000–$30,000 at settlement changes your deposit position and can even remove LMI in borderline cases.

Timing matters most for off-the-plan and house-and-land purchases: the grant generally keys off the total contract price and the home being 'new'. Keep every contract, tender and variation — revenue offices routinely query total price when inclusions push a base package over a cap. Our state pages below list each scheme with current amounts and where to apply.

Frequently asked questions

Is the First Home Owner Grant still available in 2026?

Yes — all states continue to operate a first home owner grant, though amounts and caps change. Queensland's $30,000 grant is the largest; most other states pay $10,000–$15,000. Confirm the current figure with your state revenue office before signing.

Can I get the FHOG on a house and land package?

Yes, provided the combined price sits under your state's cap and you meet the owner-builder/occupancy tests. House and land packages are one of the most common ways first home buyers qualify.

Does the FHOG count toward my deposit?

Yes — most lenders treat the grant as genuine savings and will count it in your deposit when you apply through an approved agent, meaning it arrives at settlement rather than after.

What if I buy with a partner who has owned before?

Generally the grant is unavailable if any applicant has previously owned residential property in Australia. Some states allow it where only one party is eligible, at a reduced or nil amount — check your state revenue office's joint-application rules.

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