First Home Owner Grant QLD

What Is the First Home Owner Grant in Queensland?

The Queensland First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a $30,000 payment from the Queensland Government to help first home buyers purchase or build a new home. Administered by the Queensland Revenue Office (formerly the Office of State Revenue), the grant is $30,000 for contracts signed on or after 20 November 2023, when it doubled from $15,000.

The $30,000 grant amount represents a significant boost to first home buyers' purchasing power. To put it in perspective, on a $600,000 new home in Queensland, the grant alone covers 5% of the purchase price, effectively providing your entire minimum deposit if you are using the First Home Guarantee scheme. This makes Queensland one of the most affordable states to enter the property market as a first home buyer.

The grant was increased to $30,000 from $15,000 in November 2023 and is still $30,000 for new contracts in 2026. The Queensland Government has indicated that this enhanced amount is designed to offset rising construction costs and help more Queenslanders achieve home ownership, particularly with the state's strong population growth driven by interstate migration.

QLD FHOG Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the $30,000 Queensland First Home Owner Grant, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident (at least one applicant if applying jointly)
• You must be aged 18 years or older at the date of the transaction
• You (or your spouse/partner) must not have previously owned residential property in Australia
• You (or your spouse/partner) must not have previously received a first home owner grant in any Australian state or territory
• The home must be a new home, newly built, purchased off the plan, or substantially renovated
• The value of the home, including land, must be less than $750,000
• You must move into the property within 12 months of completion and live there for at least six continuous months
• The property must be in Queensland

There is no income test for the Queensland FHOG. Whether you earn $60,000 or $300,000 per year, you are eligible provided you meet all other criteria. This is one of the more accessible FHOGs in Australia in terms of eligibility requirements.

Property Value Cap: $750,000

The Queensland FHOG applies to new homes valued at less than $750,000. The value includes the land and the building combined, plus any contract variations. For house and land packages, this means the sum of the land purchase price and the building contract price must be under $750,000.

For owner-builders, the cap includes the value of the land plus the reasonable cost of construction, including materials and labour. The Queensland Revenue Office may request documentation such as quantity surveyor reports to verify the total cost if it is close to the threshold.

The $750,000 cap is generous by national standards and covers a wide range of new homes across Queensland. In South-East Queensland, including Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast, many house and land packages in growth corridors fall within this limit. In regional Queensland, the cap is well above typical new home prices, making the FHOG accessible to almost all first home buyers in those areas.

New Homes vs Existing Homes in Queensland

The Queensland FHOG is available only for new homes. The Queensland Revenue Office defines a new home as:

• A home that has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence
• A newly constructed home purchased off the plan
• A substantially renovated home where the renovation is so extensive that the result is essentially a new dwelling
• A home constructed by an owner-builder on their own land

Established (existing) homes that have been previously lived in do not qualify for the FHOG. However, buyers of existing homes may still benefit from the transfer duty concessions, which apply to both new and established properties: an established first home valued at $700,000 or less pays no transfer duty.

QLD Transfer Duty Concessions for First Home Buyers

In addition to the FHOG, Queensland offers transfer duty (stamp duty) concessions for first home buyers. These concessions are separate from the grant, and the home must be your principal place of residence.

New homes: no transfer duty at any price

For contracts dated 1 May 2025 or later, the first home (new home) concession reduces transfer duty to nil on a new or substantially renovated first home, with no value cap on the home and the residential land.

Established homes: no duty to $700,000

For agreements from 9 June 2024, an established first home valued at $700,000 or less pays no transfer duty. Above that the concession reduces, and from $800,000 only the standard home concession applies. The Queensland Revenue Office works three examples for agreements from 1 August 2026: $0 on a $650,000 home, $6,555 on a $730,000 home and $24,100 on an $850,000 home.

How the FHOG and Transfer Duty Concessions Work Together

A new first home valued under $750,000 gets both: the $30,000 FHOG and no transfer duty. A new home at $750,000 or more still pays no duty but misses the grant, and an established home gets no grant but pays no duty up to $700,000.

How to Apply for the Queensland FHOG

There are two ways to apply for the Queensland First Home Owner Grant:

Option 1: Through Your Lender (Most Common)

When you apply for your home loan, your lender or mortgage broker includes the FHOG application as part of the loan documentation. The $30,000 grant is then credited at settlement, reducing the amount you need to fund on the day. This is the simplest and most common approach, as it aligns the grant payment with your property purchase.

Option 2: Directly with the Queensland Revenue Office

You can apply directly to the Queensland Revenue Office within 12 months of settlement or completion of construction. This option is typically used by cash buyers or those who did not apply through their lender. Applications can be submitted online through the Queensland Revenue Office website. You will need to provide proof of identity, your contract of sale or building contract, and a statutory declaration confirming you meet the eligibility requirements.

Whichever method you choose, ensure you have all documentation ready before settlement. Delays in submitting your application do not affect eligibility, provided you apply within the 12-month window, but applying early through your lender ensures the funds are available when you need them most.

Other First Home Buyer Benefits Available in Queensland

First Home Guarantee (Federal Scheme)

The federal First Home Guarantee allows eligible buyers to purchase with just 5% deposit and no Lenders Mortgage Insurance. In Queensland, property price caps are $1,000,000 for Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast and $700,000 elsewhere in the state. There is no income test; the previous income limits were removed in October 2025. Combined with the $30,000 QLD FHOG, first home buyers can enter the market with minimal upfront costs.

First Home Super Saver Scheme

The FHSS scheme allows you to withdraw up to $50,000 in voluntary super contributions for your first home deposit. Concessional contributions are taxed at 15% instead of your marginal rate, helping you save faster. You can contribute up to $15,000 per financial year. When combined with the $30,000 FHOG, you could have up to $80,000 in combined grants and tax-advantaged savings to put towards your home.

Queensland Housing Finance Loan

The Queensland Government offers the Housing Finance Loan through the Department of Housing for eligible Queenslanders who may not qualify for standard lending. While not specifically a first home buyer scheme, it can assist low to moderate income earners in purchasing their first home, particularly in regional and remote areas of Queensland.

Tips for Maximising Your First Home Buyer Benefits in Queensland

• Target new builds under $750,000: A new first home pays no transfer duty at any price, and under $750,000 it also attracts the $30,000 FHOG.
• Explore growth corridors in South-East Queensland: Areas like Springfield, Yarrabilba, Ripley, Caboolture, and Pimpama offer house and land packages within the price caps.
• Consider regional Queensland: Lower property prices in Townsville, Cairns, Mackay, and Toowoomba mean your $30,000 grant goes even further, potentially covering your entire deposit.
• Use the FHOG as your deposit: On a $500,000 home, the $30,000 FHOG represents 6% of the purchase price, more than the 5% minimum required under the First Home Guarantee.
• Engage a mortgage broker early: A broker can map out exactly which benefits you qualify for and structure your purchase for maximum savings. The service is free to you.