First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) by State: 2026 Amounts & Eligibility

What the First Home Owner Grant is

The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a one-off cash grant paid by a state or territory government to eligible first home buyers. It is not a federal scheme, so the amount, the price cap and the rules are set by each state and differ across the country.

The grant exists to encourage new housing supply, which is why it generally applies to new homes only: a newly built property, an off-the-plan purchase, or a home that has been substantially renovated and not lived in since. Established homes usually miss out, even though they can still qualify for stamp duty relief and federal schemes.

First Home Owner Grant amounts by state

Here is the picture across all eight states and territories. Treat every figure as a starting point and confirm the current amount and price cap with the relevant revenue office, because several of these are subject to review or are time-limited boosts.

Each grant pairs with a separate first home buyer stamp duty concession in that state, which is often the larger saving. Our state guides cover both the grant and the duty rules together, and you can model the duty side with our stamp duty calculator. For the full duty detail by state, see NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, NT and ACT.

New homes vs established homes

The single rule that catches the most buyers out is the new-home condition. In most states the FHOG only pays out on:

• Newly built homes that have never been occupied or sold as a place of residence
• Off-the-plan purchases and homes bought as a house and land package
• Substantially renovated homes that have not been lived in since the renovation
• Owner-builder new homes in states that allow it, paid once an occupancy certificate is issued

An established home that someone has already lived in does not qualify for the grant in most states. The Northern Territory is the main exception, where a substantially renovated home can be eligible. If you have your heart set on an established home, focus on the stamp duty concession and federal schemes instead, both of which apply to established properties.

Combining the FHOG with other help

The grant is rarely the only support available. Where you qualify for more than one, they generally stack:

• FHOG plus stamp duty concession. The grant is cash; the duty concession reduces or removes the tax you pay at settlement. These are separate and can usually be claimed together.
• FHOG plus the First Home Guarantee. The First Home Guarantee is a federal scheme that lets eligible buyers purchase with as little as a 5% deposit and no Lenders Mortgage Insurance. It covers new and established homes and can sit alongside a state grant.
• FHOG plus the First Home Super Saver Scheme. The FHSS lets you save a deposit inside super at a lower tax rate, then withdraw it. It runs separately from the grant.

Stacking a federal scheme, a state grant and a stamp duty concession on an eligible new home is where first home buyers find the biggest combined saving. The full national picture, including federal schemes and how they interact, is in our national first home buyer guide.

How to apply for the First Home Owner Grant

The process is similar across states, with the revenue office as the final authority:

1. Confirm eligibility before you make an offer. Check that you have never owned residential property in Australia, that the home meets the new-home rule, and that the contract price sits under the cap.
2. Apply through your lender or conveyancer. For most financed purchases, your participating lender lodges the grant application so it can be applied at settlement. Owner-builders and some new-build buyers apply directly with the revenue office.
3. Provide your documents. Expect to supply proof of identity, the signed contract, and evidence the home is new or substantially renovated.
4. Receive the grant. Timing varies. Some states pay at settlement through your lender; owner-builder grants are usually paid once an occupancy certificate is issued.

State and territory guides

Pick your state for the exact grant amount, the price cap, the stamp duty rules and the local buying process:

• First Home Buyer Guide, New South Wales
• First Home Buyer Guide, Victoria
• First Home Buyer Guide, Queensland
• First Home Buyer Guide, Western Australia
• First Home Buyer Guide, South Australia
• First Home Buyer Guide, Tasmania
• First Home Buyer Guide, Northern Territory
• First Home Buyer Guide, Australian Capital Territory

For the federal schemes that work alongside the grant, read the national first home buyer guide and the First Home Guarantee guide.