- The WA First Home Owner Grant offers up to $10,000 for eligible first home buyers purchasing or building new residential property.
- Applicants must meet age, residency, and ownership requirements, and occupy the home as their principal residence for at least six months within 12 months of settlement or completion.
Australia’s property market is showing sharp contrasts in early 2026. While the nation’s largest cities are cooling, more affordable capitals are surging ahead. Nowhere is this shift more evident than in Perth, where entry-level buyers are driving momentum at the lower end of the market.
In February alone, median home values in the city leapt by more than $22,500 according to data from Cotality, highlighting why Western Australia is becoming a focal point for first home buyers.
If you're looking for a helping hand to get a foot in the door of Western Australia's booming property market, there are various government schemes that may assist.
How the WA First Home Owner Grant works
The WA First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a one-off grant of up to $10,000 for first home buyers buying or building new residential property to live in as their principal place of residence.
Launched in October 2008 as the First Home Owner Boost, the WA FHOG is only available to first home buyers purchasing or building a new residential home. As such, it's not available for established homes although if a property has been substantially renovated, it may be eligible for the grant.
It's worth noting only one grant is payable per transaction, so two people buying together will get one payment. The grant is not means-tested so your income won't affect your eligibility. However, property value caps apply.
What are the price limits for the grant?
The total value of the transaction can't exceed the price caps to be eligible for the FHOG.
For eligible transactions, commencing on or after 7 May 2026, the cap FHOG amounts are:
- $800,000 if located south of the 26th parallel (Applies to Perth metropolitan areas.)
- $1 million if located north of the 26th parallel
For eligible transactions commencing on or before 6 May 2026, the cap amounts are:
- $750,000 if located south of the 28th parallel
- $1 million if located north of the 26th parallel
The 26th parallel cuts through the WA coastal town of Shark Bay. Here's a rough guide to give you some idea:
Source: Distribution by state
How are transaction values assessed?
Here is how the WA government assesses total transaction values:
For off-the-plan purchases or new homes, it is the higher of:
the consideration paid for the home, or
the value of the home at the date the contract was made.
For comprehensive home building contracts, the amount is calculated by adding:
- the value of the building contract, including any contract variations, and
- the value of the land.
For an owner-builder, the amount is calculated by adding:
- the unencumbered value of the home at the date the home is completed and ready for occupation as a place of residence, and
- the value of the land.
WA First Home Owner Grant eligibility
To qualify for the WA FHOG you must:
be 18 years or older. (If you're under 18, you may be able to apply for an age exemption)
have at least one applicant who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- you must hold a relevant interest (ownership) in the land where the home is situated and must own the home in your own capacity
You're not entitled to a FHOG if you or your spouse/de facto partner have:
- previously received the grant or first home owner rate of duty (stamp duty) from any jurisdiction in Australia
- owned residential property anywhere in Australia before 1 July 2000
owned residential property anywhere in Australia on or after 1 July 2000 and occupied that property as a place of residence before 1 July 2004
- owned residential property anywhere in Australia on or after 1 July 2000 and occupied that property as a place of residence for a continuous period of at least six months that began or after 1 July 2004
Residence requirement
You must occupy the home:
as your principal place of residence
and for a continuous period of at least six months, within 12 months of settlement or date of building completion.
Competitive home loan rates
If you're a first home buyer looking to get into the market, the table below features some of the most competitive 90% LVR (10% deposit) owner occupier home loans on the market
| 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 | ||||||||||
6.39% p.a. | 6.42% p.a. | $3,124 | Principal & Interest | Variable | $0 | $845 | 90% | |||||||||||||
6.79% p.a. | 7.16% p.a. | $3,256 | Principal & Interest | Variable | $0 | $450 | 90% | Disclosure | ||||||||||||
7.09% p.a. | 7.09% p.a. | $3,357 | Principal & Interest | Variable | $0 | $160 | 90% | Disclosure |
How do you apply for the WA First Home Owner Grant?
You can apply for the grant once the contract has been signed and dated by all parties to buy or build a new home, or when the foundations have been laid if you're an owner-builder. Applications must be made within 12 months of the completion of the eligible transaction.
There are a few different avenues to apply for the grant through:
Apply online
A FHOG application can be completed online through the FHOG Application Portal. This can only be done by the applicant, not by a third party.
Use an approved agent
Western Australians can also apply for the FHOG through an approved agent. Approved agents are institutions authorised to process applications, which includes most home loan lenders. Typically, you would lodge your application through the lender you're borrowing from. Contact your lender to find out whether they are an approved agent.
Through RevenueWA
If your lender is not an approved agent, then you can lodge an application directly with RevenueWA. To apply for the WA FHOG you will need to fill out an FHOG Application Form found on the RevenueWA website.
The WA Government suggests first home buyers who are not financing the purchase lodge their FHOG application through RevenueWA.
WA First Home Owner Grant application checklist
When filling out the application, you'll be required to provide a number of documents, including:
Evidence of citizenship or permanent residency (birth certificate, passport, citizenship certificate).
100 points of identification (drivers license, passport, proof of age card).
Evidence you reside in Australia (Medicare card, debit/credit card, vehicle registration).
Copy of the contract for the purchase of the home (if buying a new home or off the plan).
Contract to build a home (if building).
Certificate of title and evidence of building costs if you are building.
When will the grant be paid?
When the grant will be paid comes down to the type of transaction and how you applied. You can find the details in the table below:
Type of transaction | Applying through: | Payment of grant |
|---|---|---|
Purchase of a new or off the plan home | Approved agent | At date of settlement by approved agent. |
Purchase of a new or off the plan home | RevenueWA | After you have provided evidence to RevenueWA that your name has been registered on the certificate of title of the property (approximately three to six weeks after settlement). |
Contract to build | Approved agent or RevenueWA | After you or the approved agent has provided evidence of the date of first construction progress payment and the applicant's name is registered on the Certificate of Title of the property. |
Owner builder | Approved agent or RevenueWA | After you or the approved agent has provided evidence that the home is ready for occupation as a place of residence and your name is registered on the Certificate of title of the Property. |
Source: RevenueWA
Can you use the grant as a deposit?
You can use the WA FHOG for a deposit but at $10,000, it's unlikely to be enough on its own. While the $10,000 from FHOG could be a helpful shot in the arm, you'll likely still need substantial savings of your own.
See Home Loan Deposit Calculator
Can first home buyers get stamp duty discounts in WA?
The First Home Owner Rate (FHOR) is a lower concessional rate of stamp duty for first home buyers. To be eligible for the FHOR, home buyers must qualify for the FHBG - or would have qualified except for the fact they were buying an existing home.
As such, the same price caps apply as for the FHOG - $800,000 for south of the 26th parallel of South latitude and $1 million for north of that latitude.
There are also some thresholds that apply to home and land, or vacant land transactions. These dutiable value apply to the whole value of the home or vacant land, not the value of the person's interest in the property.
The rates apply to the date an agreement was entered into, not the settlement date.
Home and land
For transactions on or after 7 Ma7 2026:
- Unencumbered value must not exceed $800,000 in the Metropolitan and Peel regions, or $750,000 outside these regions
- No duty is payable if the dutiable value doesn't exceed $500,000
- If the dutiable value is between $500,000 and $700,000 and the property is located in the Metropolitan or Peel regions, duty is payable at a rate of $13.63 for every $100, or part of $100, on amounts over $500,000
- If the dutiable value is between $500,000 and $750,000 and the property is located outside the Metropolitan and Peel regions, duty is payable at a rate of $11.89 for every $100, or part of $100, on amounts over $500,000
Vacant land
For transactions on or after 21 March 2025:
- Unencumbered value of the vacant land must not exceed $450,000
- No duty is payable if the dutiable value doesn't exceed $350,000
- If the dutiable value is between $350,000 and $450,000, duty is payable at a rate of $15.39 for every $100, or part of $100, for amounts over $350,000.
Different rates apply for both home and land, and vacant land transactions before 21 March 2025 which you can see on the First Home Owner Rate Duties Fact Sheet.
How to apply
First home buyers can take advantage of both the WA FHOG and FHOD and can apply for both of them at the same time.
These can be lodged via an approved agent or direct to RevenueWA if your transaction doesn't involve an approved agent.
If you've already paid your duty at a higher rate, fear not, you can lodge for assessment with RevenueWA within set time limits.
What other schemes and grants can first home buyers access?
In addition to the WA FHOG, there are federal government incentives that can assist eligible first home buyers.
Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme
The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, formerly the Home Guarantee Scheme, provides the opportunity for first home buyers to secure a home loan with as little as 5% deposit without the need for lenders mortgage insurance (LMI).
Essentially, the government acts as a guarantor for up to 15% of the property's value on a loan taken out through a participating lender.
The guarantee is not a cash payment, nor does it go towards your home loan deposit. Rather it is a legal arrangement that would see the government step in to pay up to a certain amount should you ever default on your home loan.
The scheme, administered by Housing Australia, is potentially available for Australian citizens or permanent residents who haven't previously owned property.
From 1 October 2025, places in the Scheme are unlimited and there are no income caps. There are, however, property price caps that differ according to location.
The 5% Deposit Scheme takes in the former First Home Guarantee, Regional First Home Guarantee, and Family Home Guarantee. The latter allows eligible single parents the opportunity to purchase their own homes with deposits as low as 2%.
The First Home Super Saver Scheme
The First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSS) helps first home buyers save a home deposit by taking advantage of tax discounts that superannuation can offer. Essentially, it allows first home savers to salary sacrifice up to $15,000 per year towards the scheme at a discounted tax rate of only 15% (instead of their usual marginal tax rate).
When participants are ready to buy a house, up to $50,000 can be released from the scheme, plus any earnings.
Read more about state First Home Owner/Buyer Grants in other Australian states:
- NSW first home buyer grants
- Victoria first home buyer grants
- Queensland first home buyer grants
- SA 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.