Home / First home buyers / Government schemes / First Home Owner Grant
The First Home Owner Grant is administered by each state and territory, so both the amount and the eligibility rules depend on where you're buying.
The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a one-off payment to eligible first home buyers. Unlike the national deposit schemes, it's run separately by each state and territory – which means there is no single national answer to "how much do I get."
In most jurisdictions the grant is aimed at:
Established homes are usually excluded. This surprises a lot of first home buyers, and it's the most common misunderstanding I encounter – people budget for a grant they won't receive because they're buying an existing house.
Each state sets its own grant amount, its own property value cap, and its own definition of what qualifies as a new home. Some states have discontinued their grant entirely in favour of stamp duty relief. Others have raised caps recently.
Because these are set at state budgets, they change regularly. Rather than publish figures here that may be out of date by the time you read them, we check the current position with the relevant state revenue office for your purchase.
A practical point worth knowing: in most cases the grant is paid at or after settlement, not before. It generally can't be used as your deposit for the contract, though it may reduce the funds you need at settlement. Plan your cash flow accordingly.
In most states, no. The grant is generally limited to new homes, house-and-land packages and owner-builder situations. This varies by jurisdiction, so it's worth checking for your state specifically.
Often yes – they're separate measures with separate eligibility rules. Some states have linked them historically and then separated them, so it depends on where and when you buy.
Typically at or shortly after settlement, and often through your lender. It's generally not available as your contract deposit.
