First Home Buyer Guide QLD: $15K Grant, Stamp Duty & Schemes (2026)

Key takeaways

Queensland's FHOG is $15,000 on new homes only, capped at $750,000 contract price. The boosted $30,000 grant ended: it applied to contracts signed 20 November 2023 to 30 June 2026.
QLD doesn't offer a full stamp duty exemption, but the First Home Concession reduces transfer duty significantly on homes up to $550,000.
On a $500,000 home an eligible first home buyer pays roughly $8,750 in transfer duty, versus about $17,325 for a standard buyer.
Federal schemes (FHBG, Family Home Guarantee, Help to Buy) all work in QLD; price caps are $700K Brisbane and $550K regional.
QLD uses the REIQ standard contract with conditions built in (building, pest, finance) rather than relying on a cooling-off period.
Cooling-off in QLD is 5 business days from the buyer receiving the contract; no cooling-off at auction.

The grant stepped down on 1 July 2026

Queensland’s boosted $30,000 First Home Owner Grant ended on 30 June 2026. For eligible contracts signed from 1 July 2026, the grant is $15,000. The $30,000 amount only applies to contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2026 (for owner-builders, foundations laid in that window). This guide reflects the current $15,000 grant; verify your contract date with the Queensland Revenue Office or a licensed conveyancer before signing.

$15,000 First Home Owner Grant QLD

Queensland pays a $15,000 First Home Owner Grant to eligible first home buyers purchasing or building a new home. The temporarily boosted $30,000 grant ended for contracts signed after 30 June 2026.

$15,000

The QLD First Home Owner Grant on new homes up to $750,000, for contracts signed from 1 July 2026.

Established homes do not qualify

Eligibility requirements

At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
All applicants must be 18 years or older
No applicant can have previously owned residential property in Australia
At least one applicant must occupy the home as their principal place of residence for at least 12 months within 12 months of completion or settlement

Eligible properties

New homes (not previously occupied or sold as residential property) with a contract price of $750,000 or less
Owner-built new homes must have a building contract value of $750,000 or less
Established properties do not qualify for the FHOG in QLD

When is the grant paid?

For purchases (e.g. off-the-plan), the grant is paid at settlement. For construction contracts, it's paid when the first progress payment is requested by the builder. Apply through the Queensland Revenue Office or via your lender; most lenders process the FHOG alongside your loan.

Stamp duty (transfer duty) concession in QLD

Queensland doesn't offer a full stamp duty exemption for first home buyers the way NSW or VIC do. Instead, it offers a concessional duty rate for owner-occupiers, with a deeper concession for first home buyers.

First Home Concession

Available for properties priced at $550,000 or less (established or new)
For vacant land: no duty on land valued at $400,000 or less, with a concession from $400,001 to $500,000
The property must be your first home in Australia and you must intend to occupy it within 12 months

On a $500,000 home, a first home buyer in QLD pays roughly $8,750 in transfer duty, versus about $17,325 for a standard buyer at the owner-occupier rate. Use our Stamp Duty Calculator for precise figures.

Home Concession (not exclusive to first home buyers)

Queensland also applies a standard Home Concession for all owner-occupiers, not just first home buyers. The First Home Concession sits on top of this.

Federal schemes available in QLD

First Home Guarantee (FHBG): 5% deposit, no LMI. Income limits $125K single / $200K couple. Property price cap $700,000 Brisbane and $550,000 regional QLD.
Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee: For buyers purchasing in regional QLD. Moreton Bay, Gold Coast hinterland, and Sunshine Coast hinterland are popular zones.
Family Home Guarantee: 2% deposit for single parents, income limit $125K.
Help to Buy (shared equity): Up to 40% government equity on new homes / 30% on existing. Income limits $90K single / $120K couple.

See our national First Home Buyer Guide for full federal scheme detail. The FHBG cap of $700K in Brisbane is lower than Sydney/Melbourne, reflecting QLD's historically lower medians, though SEQ prices have risen significantly since 2020.

QLD-specific schemes and resources

Queensland Housing Finance Loan: For low-to-moderate income earners who can't access a loan from a traditional lender. Administered by Homes and Housing QLD. Check eligibility at qld.gov.au/housing.
Deposit assist (shared equity): Some QLD credit unions and building societies offer shared-equity arrangements for first home buyers. Check with your broker or lender.
First Home Vacant Land Concession: For buyers purchasing vacant land to build their first home. Reduced transfer duty applies on land valued at $400,000 or less.

Median property prices for first home buyers

South East Queensland has had significant price growth since 2020. First home buyers typically target:

Brisbane outer suburbs: Ipswich, Logan, and Moreton Bay regions, house medians $600K to $800K
Moreton Bay region: North Lakes, Caboolture, Redcliffe, popular FHB suburbs with medians $620K to $750K
Gold Coast hinterland: Ormeau, Coomera, Pimpama, house medians $680K to $800K
Regional Queensland: Toowoomba, Rockhampton, Mackay, house medians $400K to $600K with high rental yields

Browse QLD suburb profiles for current data.

The QLD buying process

QLD has some distinct features versus other states:

REIQ contract: QLD uses the Real Estate Institute of Queensland standard contract of sale, with standard conditions for building and pest inspection, finance, and sometimes FIRB.
Conditions are built in: Unlike NSW, building inspections and finance conditions are typically negotiated into the contract before it's signed, rather than relying on a cooling-off window.
Cooling-off period: 5 business days from the buyer's receipt of the contract (residential, not auction).
Auctions: Less common than Sydney/Melbourne. Private treaty (conditional contract) dominates in QLD.
Settlement: Typically 30 to 60 days; via PEXA.

For the full step-by-step process, see Buying Property in Australia.

Key QLD contacts

Queensland Revenue Office, FHOG, transfer duty, concessions: qro.qld.gov.au
Homes and Housing QLD, Queensland Housing Finance Loan and housing assistance: qld.gov.au/housing
Housing Australia, First Home Guarantee and federal schemes: housingaustralia.gov.au

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Common questions

Is QLD's FHOG still $30,000?

No. The boosted $30,000 grant applied to eligible contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2026. For contracts signed from 1 July 2026, the grant is $15,000. That still beats the $10,000 paid in NSW, VIC metro, and WA, and combined with the federal First Home Guarantee and QLD's transfer duty relief, Queensland remains one of the more generous states for buying a new home.

Can I get the QLD FHOG on an established home?

No. The grant only applies to new homes, off-the-plan, or owner-builder new builds. Established properties don't qualify. However, the First Home Concession on stamp duty is available for both new and established homes up to $550,000.

Does QLD have a full stamp duty exemption like NSW or VIC?

No. QLD reduces transfer duty rather than eliminating it. The First Home Concession applies to homes up to $550,000 and gives a flat reduction. There's also a separate Home Concession (the standard owner-occupier rate) that applies even if you're not a first home buyer.

When is the FHOG paid?

For purchases (e.g. off-the-plan), it's paid at settlement through your lender. For construction contracts, it's paid when the first progress payment is requested by the builder. Apply through the Queensland Revenue Office or via your lender; most lenders process the FHOG application alongside your loan.

What does the REIQ contract include that other states' contracts don't?

Queensland's standard REIQ contract typically has conditions for building and pest inspection, finance, and sometimes FIRB built in upfront. You negotiate these conditions before signing, rather than relying on a cooling-off period to back out. This means due diligence often happens before contract signing in QLD.

What's the cooling-off period in Queensland?

5 business days from the buyer's receipt of the contract (residential, not auction). If you back out during cooling-off, you forfeit 0.25% of the price. Auctions have no cooling-off period.