First Home Buyer Guide South Australia: Grants, Stamp Duty & Schemes (2026)

Verify with RevenueSA before relying on these figures

Grant amounts and eligibility criteria change. Always verify current details with RevenueSA or a licensed mortgage broker before signing a contract.

First Home Owner Grant, South Australia

South Australia offers a $15,000 First Home Owner Grant for eligible first home buyers purchasing or building a new home. The grant is administered by RevenueSA and funded by the South Australian Government.

$15,000

The SA First Home Owner Grant on new homes up to $650,000.

Established homes do not qualify

The FHOG applies to new homes only. A "new home" includes:

A newly built home that has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence
A home built by you (owner-builder) for the first time
Substantially renovated homes may qualify in some circumstances (check with RevenueSA)

The contract price (or total value of construction plus land) must not exceed $650,000. If you're buying land separately and building, the combined value of land + build contract must fall within the cap.

The grant is generally paid at settlement for off-the-plan or completed new homes, or at the first progress payment for construction loans. Your lender can often apply on your behalf as an approved agent.

Stamp duty in South Australia

Unlike NSW and VIC, South Australia does not offer a stamp duty exemption or concession specifically for first home buyers on established properties. The FHOG (new homes only) is SA's primary first-home-buyer concession.

Stamp duty (called "conveyance duty" in SA) is calculated on a sliding scale based on the property value:

Property value	Duty rate
$0 to $12,000	$1.00 per $100
$12,001 to $30,000	$120 + $2.00 per $100 over $12,000
$30,001 to $50,000	$480 + $3.00 per $100 over $30,000
$50,001 to $100,000	$1,080 + $3.50 per $100 over $50,000
$100,001 to $200,000	$2,830 + $4.00 per $100 over $100,000
$200,001 to $250,000	$6,830 + $4.25 per $100 over $200,000
$250,001 to $300,000	$8,955 + $4.75 per $100 over $250,000
$300,001 to $500,000	$11,330 + $5.00 per $100 over $300,000
Over $500,000	$21,330 + $5.50 per $100 over $500,000

On a $600,000 home, SA conveyance duty is roughly $26,830, a significant upfront cost to factor in alongside your deposit. Use our Stamp Duty Calculator for your exact figure.

Federal government schemes

First home buyers in SA can also access federal schemes through Housing Australia.

First Home Guarantee (formerly FHLDS)

The First Home Guarantee allows eligible first home buyers to purchase with as little as a 5% deposit, with the government guaranteeing up to 15% of the loan, no LMI required. SA price caps:

Adelaide (metro): $600,000
Regional SA: $450,000

Income caps: $125,000 single / $200,000 couple. Places are limited each financial year and allocated first-come, first-served. Apply through a participating lender.

First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS)

The FHSSS lets you make voluntary super contributions of up to $15,000 per year (up to $50,000 total) and then withdraw these (plus associated earnings) as a home deposit. The tax advantage comes from contributions being taxed at 15% rather than your marginal rate.

Help to Buy (shared equity)

The federal Help to Buy scheme (government takes up to 40% equity in a new home / 30% in existing) has been legislated. Check the current rollout and SA-specific details on the Housing Australia site.

HomeSeeker SA, state shared equity

South Australia has run HomeSeeker SA, a shared equity scheme aimed at helping lower-to-moderate income earners buy. The state co-invests in your property, reducing the size of your mortgage and the deposit you need.

Availability and eligibility have changed over time, with rounds being fully subscribed. Check the current status with the SA Housing Authority (housing.sa.gov.au) before planning around this scheme.

Typical features of shared equity programs:

Government takes a share of the property proportional to its equity contribution
You pay no rent on the government's share (unlike some other schemes)
You can buy out the government's share over time
Income and property value thresholds apply

Off-the-plan stamp duty concession

SA offers a stamp duty concession for off-the-plan apartment purchases, primarily targeting CBD and inner-city developments. This concession reduces the duty payable on eligible off-the-plan apartment contracts, making high-density new developments more accessible.

Applies to apartments purchased off-the-plan (before construction is complete)
Duty is assessed on the value at contract, not at completion
Significant savings if values rise between contract and settlement
Not exclusive to first home buyers, applies more broadly

Verify the current scope with RevenueSA, as these concessions are periodically reviewed.

Who is eligible for the SA FHOG?

To be eligible, all applicants must:

Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
Be 18 years or older
Have never previously owned residential property in Australia used as a place of residence
Occupy the property as a principal place of residence for at least 6 continuous months, starting within 12 months of settlement or construction completion
Purchase or build a new home with a contract price not exceeding $650,000

All parties must satisfy the criteria, unless they are a spouse or de facto partner of an eligible applicant.

Step-by-step, buying your first home in SA

Calculate your budget. Use a borrowing power calculator. Account for stamp duty, legal fees ($1,500 to $2,500), building inspections, and moving costs on top of the deposit.
Check eligibility for grants and schemes. Confirm eligibility for the FHOG ($15,000 on new homes under $650,000), First Home Guarantee (5% deposit, no LMI), and FHSSS. A broker can assess the right combination.
Get pre-approval. Conditional pre-approval gives you a clear budget and shows sellers you're serious.
Search for properties. For the FHOG, focus on new builds and house-and-land packages under $650,000. For established homes you can still use the federal FHBG.
Arrange conveyancing. Engage an SA-licensed conveyancer or solicitor to review the contract, do title searches, and manage settlement.
Apply for the FHOG. Apply through your lender (approved agent) or directly with RevenueSA before settlement.
Settlement. Your conveyancer manages settlement; the FHOG is typically received at settlement and applied to purchase costs.

Resources and contacts

RevenueSA, FHOG and stamp duty: revenuesa.sa.gov.au
Consumer and Business Services SA, property and conveyancing info: cbs.sa.gov.au
SA Housing Authority, HomeSeeker SA and shared equity: housing.sa.gov.au
Housing Australia, First Home Guarantee and federal schemes: housingaustralia.gov.au
PlanSA, planning and development: plan.sa.gov.au

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Common questions

Does SA have a stamp duty exemption for first home buyers?

No. Unlike NSW and VIC, South Australia doesn't offer a stamp duty exemption or concession specifically for first home buyers on established homes. The $15,000 FHOG (new homes only) is SA's primary first-home-buyer concession. The off-the-plan apartment concession is available but it's not exclusive to first home buyers.

What's the price cap for the SA FHOG?

$650,000 contract price (or combined land + build value). One dollar over the cap and you lose the entire grant. With Adelaide's recent price growth, plenty of new builds sit above this cap, so plan around it carefully.

Is the SA FHOG available on established homes?

No. The grant only applies to new homes (never previously occupied or sold as a residence), owner-builder new homes, and some substantially renovated dwellings. If you buy an established home in SA, no grant applies and you pay full stamp duty.

How does HomeSeeker SA shared equity work?

The state government co-invests in your home in exchange for a proportional equity share. You don't pay rent on the government's share. You can buy out the government's share over time. Income and property value thresholds apply, and rounds open and close periodically — confirm current availability with the SA Housing Authority before relying on it.

What's the cooling-off period in SA?

2 clear business days from the date you receive a copy of the contract. There's no cooling-off period at auction. The cooling-off period in SA is shorter than NSW (5 days) or QLD (5 days), so move fast on contract review.

Can I combine the FHOG with the federal First Home Guarantee?

Yes, on a new home under both caps ($650K FHOG cap and $600K Adelaide / $450K regional FHBG cap). Adding the First Home Super Saver Scheme on top can let eligible buyers stack the federal scheme + state grant + tax-advantaged super deposit, materially reducing your savings target.