- Queensland’s First Home Owner Grant offers up to $30,000 for new homes valued under $750,000, with eligibility tied to contract or construction dates.
- First home buyers can also access stamp duty concessions on homes under $800,000 or vacant land under $500,000, provided they meet residency and ownership conditions.
- These state benefits can be combined with federal schemes like the 5% Deposit Scheme and the First Home Super Saver Scheme to reduce upfront costs and help buyers enter the market sooner.
Queensland offers comparatively lower property prices, making it a more accessible market for first‑home buyers. This stands in contrast to Sydney and Melbourne, where even small apartments often sell for millions, leaving many priced out of homeownership.
Saving up for a home doesn't come without its challenges, but there is help at hand. Thanks to government grants and schemes, Queensland buyers looking to enter the market for the first time can receive a cash boost.
How the First Home Owner Grant works in Queensland
The Queensland First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is valued at either $30,000 or $15,000, depending on timing, for properties valued up to $750,000 (including land and any contract variations).
If you're buying or building a new home, the grant amount is:
- $30,000 for contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2026 (both dates inclusive)
- $15,000 for contracts signed before 20 November 2023
For owner-builders, the grant amount is:
- $30,000 where foundations are laid between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2026 (both dates inclusive)
- $15,000 where foundations were laid before 20 November 2023
This money can go a long way towards your first home, but there are conditions.
To be eligible, Queensland first home buyers must be buying or building a new house, unit, or townhouse to live in - this includes the value of the land. This means existing dwellings don't qualify for the grant.
However, you may be eligible for the first home owner grant if you buy an established home that's been substantially renovated. In other words, most (if not all) of the building must be removed or replaced. For example, altering the foundation of the property would count as a substantial renovation while cosmetic renovations would not.
If you're applying with a partner, it's also not possible for both of you to get the grant as it is only available per household.
Can you use the grant for a deposit?
The first home owner's grant can be used as a deposit for a home loan, but chances are the one-off $30,000 (or $15,000) may not be enough to avoid the additional cost of taking out Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). This is generally needed for home loans where you have less than 20% deposit. As well, lenders will still want to see that you've genuinely saved up for most of the deposit yourself.
That said, you don't need a deposit to apply for the grant. Bear in mind though, the Queensland government advises it's best not to count on using the grant as your deposit as it can be paid at different times depending on how and when you apply for it.
Calculate your costs with our First Home Buyers & Owners Grant Calculator
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If you're not sure how you can find the right property to take best advantage of all these schemes, it's a good idea to consult a mortgage broker or buyer's agent, or get in touch with a home loan specialist at your lender of choice. These experts can help you determine your eligibility for the various programs and guide you through the application processes.
First Home Owner Grant eligibility
Besides the $750,000 property price cap, there are a number of eligibility conditions first home buyers in Queensland have to meet before they can get the grant:
Each applicant must be at least 18
You must be a person, not a company or trust
At least one applicant must be a permanent resident or Australian citizen
You must not have previously received a First Home Owner Grant in Australia
Neither applicant can have owned a property on or after 1 July 2000 that you lived in, or before that date whether you lived in it on not
- The grant is not available for for investment properties
You must move into the new home as your primary place of residence within 12 months of the completed transaction and live there continuously for six months
The home must be 'new'
According to the Queensland government's eligibility tester, a new home is one that has not previously been occupied or sold as a place of residence, or one that has been 'substantially renovated'.
Applying for the First Home Owner Grant
To receive the grant, you must apply within one year of your title on the home being registered or within one year of the home's completion, with extensions available upon request. To submit an application for the Queensland First Home Owners Grant, you can do so through either an approved bank or lender or to the Queensland Revenue Office (by post or email).
Typically, the fastest way to receive the FHOG is applying through an approved agent (for example, you home lender) as they will manage your application for you.
Either way, you'll need to fill out the Queensland Treasury's First Home Owners' Grant application form PDF and attach the usual supporting documents:
100 points of identification (driver's license, birth certificate, domestic or foreign passport etc.)
Other ID categories, such as your Medicare card and proof of your current address, like a utility bill
A copy of your building contract if you're buying vacant land
A list of renovations if you've bought an existing property and substantially renovated it
For more information on the QFHOG, check the all the details on the Queensland government's website.
Competitive home loan rates
If you're a first-time home buyer looking for a home loan, the table below features some of the lowest interest rates on the market for owner occupiers.
| Lender | Home Loan | Interest Rate | Comparison Rate* | Monthly Repayment | Repayment type | Rate Type | Offset | Redraw | Ongoing Fees | Upfront Fees | Max LVR | Lump Sum Repayment | Extra Repayments | Split Loan Option | Tags | Features | Link | Compare | Promoted Product | Disclosure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5.94% p.a. | 5.98% p.a. | $2,978 | Principal & Interest | Variable | $0 | $530 | 90% |
| Promoted | Disclosure | ||||||||||
5.89% p.a. | 5.80% p.a. | $2,962 | Principal & Interest | Variable | $0 | $0 | 80% |
| Promoted | Disclosure | ||||||||||
5.99% p.a. | 6.02% p.a. | $2,995 | Principal & Interest | Fixed | $0 | $0 | 60% |
| Promoted | Disclosure | ||||||||||
5.93% p.a. | 5.93% p.a. | $2,975 | Principal & Interest | Variable | $0 | $395 | 70% | Disclosure |
Can first home buyers get stamp duty discounts in Queensland?
Stamp duty, called transfer duty in Queensland, is a major upfront cost when buying a property in Australia. In Queensland, first home buyers can claim a transfer duty concession for their first home if they meet certain requirements.
See Also: What is stamp duty and the state-by-state costs?
Eligibility for first home concession in Queensland
Queensland first home buyers are eligible for a first home concession when they buy or acquire a home under $800,000 or vacant land under $500,000. (Note: value caps were lifted on 9 June 2024 and the old caps of $750,000 for new homes and $400,000 for vacant land will apply to purchases before this date.)
To be eligible for a first home concession, you must:
- be legally acquiring the property as an individual
- be at least 18 years of age
- have never claimed the first home vacant land concession
- have never held an interest in another residence anywhere in Australia or overseas
- move into the home with your personal belongings and live there on a daily basis within a year of settlement (no extensions)
- be paying market value for the home if the residence is valued between $700,000 and $799,999
If you are acquiring the property with another person, you can still claim the first home buyers transfer duty concession on your share in the property regardless of the other acquirer/s eligibility for the concession.
The Queensland government provides a transfer duty calculator to give a better idea of the concessions available. The form for claiming the first home transfer duty concession is also available on the government website.
See also: Stamp duty calculator
Can you use both of these schemes?
First home buyers in Queensland can use both the first home owner grant and the transfer duty concessions together. However, each scheme has its own eligibility requirements and there are some anomalies.
For a start, the price caps are different so even if you are eligible for a stamp duty concession on a new home in Queensland, you may not be eligible for the First Home Owner Grant which has lower price caps.
As well, there are slightly different rules around renting out your home and/or rooms in your home. Some of these rules changed on 10 September 2024, so it pays to make sure you're across the requirements of both programs that apply to your circumstances. The Queensland government has no doubt realised there may be some confusion so has provided a different requirements guide for each and some exceptions to the rules.
What other schemes and grants can first home buyers access?
Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme
The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, formerly the Home Guarantee Scheme, is a federal program for first home buyers looking to purchase their first home.
The scheme offers first home buyers the ability to purchase a home with a deposit as low as 5%, without the need to pay Lenders' Mortgage Insurance (LMI). This means you can borrow up to 95% of the property value, with the federal government providing the lender with a guarantee of up to 15%.
The 5% Deposit Scheme is administered by Housing Australia on behalf of the federal government. It also takes in the former Regional First Home Guarantee and Family Home Guarantee, which can give single parents access to home loans with deposits as low as 2%.
The scheme can also be used in conjunction with Queensland government grants and concessions.
The First Home Super Saver Scheme
The First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) is a federal government initiative that allows you to save money for your first home in your superannuation fund. The scheme allows you to make voluntary contributions (both before-tax concessional and after-tax non-concessional). In practical terms, it can help you save for a deposit faster by allowing you to benefit from the tax discounts that superannuation can offer.
Under the scheme, you can salary sacrifice up to $15,000 of your wages per year towards the FHSSS, taking advantage of a discounted tax rate of 15% for super contributions. You are limited to contributing a total of $50,000 across all years and can have these contributions released, along with their associated earnings, to fund a first home purchase. The earnings are at a deemed rate of return, not the actual earnings made by your super fund.
(Note: if you'd previously requested a release before July 2022 when the limit was $30,000, you can't make any further requests to take you to the current $50,000 limit.)
Read more about state First Home Owner/Buyer Grants in other Australian states:
- NSW first home buyer grants
- Victoria first home buyer grants
- SA first home buyer grants
- WA first home buyer grants
- Tasmania first home buyer grants
- Northern Territory first home owner grants
Frequently Asked Questions
You generally can’t use the FHOG on established properties as it’s designed to support purchases of new builds, off‑the‑plan homes, or major renovations.
The FHOG can reduce how much you need to save upfront, but it doesn’t replace the requirement for a genuine deposit. Lenders are still expecting that you'll contribute most of it yourself, and you’ll need a minimum of 20% to avoid paying LMI.
Yes, if you fail to meet the residency or eligibility conditions after settlement, the FHOG can be revoked, and you may be required to repay the grant. Revenue offices regularly conduct audits to check if conditions are being met.