First Home Buyer Grants 2026: Every Australian State Compared

Every Australian state and territory offers a First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) for eligible buyers of new homes. The amount and eligibility criteria vary significantly. Here is the 2026 comparison: Queensland leads with a $30,000 grant for new homes up to $750,000.

Western Australia offers $10,000 statewide. New South Wales and Victoria both offer $10,000 for new homes valued up to $600,000 (NSW) or $750,000 (VIC).

South Australia offers $15,000 for new homes up to $650,000. Tasmania offers $30,000 for new homes (no price cap as of 2025-26).

The ACT offers a one-off Home Buyer Concession Scheme (duty concession, not a cash grant) for properties up to $1,000,000.

The Northern Territory offers $10,000 for new homes with no price cap.

All FHOG grants apply to new homes only — you can't receive the FHOG for purchasing an existing (established) property.

Beyond the FHOG, most states offer stamp duty exemptions or concessions that can save first home buyers tens of thousands of dollars. NSW: full exemption on homes up to $800,000, concession $800K–$1M. Victoria: full exemption up to $600,000, concession $600K–$750K.

Queensland: full concession on new homes up to $700,000 (sliding to $800K), home concession rate for existing homes. Western Australia: full exemption up to $430,000, concession $430K–$530K.

Quick version: South Australia: no stamp duty exemption for FHBs on existing homes (only eligible for FHOG on new builds). Tasmania: 50% duty discount for FHBs on established homes up to $600,000.

ACT: full duty concession for FHBs earning under $160,000 (single) or $170,000 (combined).

Northern Territory: stamp duty concessions for FHBs on homes up to $650,000.

These exemptions often stack with the FHOG for new homes, creating combined savings of $30,000–$60,000.

About the Australian Government runs several guarantee schemes that help first home buyers purchase with smaller deposits. The First Home Guarantee (formerly FHLDS) allows eligible FHBs to purchase with a deposit as low as 5% without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). The government guarantees the difference between your deposit and 20%.

Eligibility is income-tested: $125,000 for singles and $200,000 for couples. Property price caps apply by region.

The Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee offers the same benefit but is limited to regional areas. The Family Home Guarantee supports eligible single parents to buy with just 2% deposit. These schemes do not involve a cash grant — they guarantee your loan to avoid LMI, which can save $10,000–$30,000 depending on the property value and deposit size.

About the First Home Super Saver Scheme allows you to salary sacrifice up to $15,000 per year (and up to $50,000 in total) into your super fund, then withdraw it to use as a home deposit. The key benefit is tax savings — contributions are taxed at 15% inside super instead of your marginal tax rate (which may be 32.5% or 37%). When you withdraw, contributions are taxed at your marginal rate minus 30 percentage points.

For someone on $85,000 earning the 32.5% marginal rate, contributing $15,000 per year for three years could save approximately $6,000–$8,000 in tax compared to saving the same amount outside super. You must apply to the ATO to release FHSSS funds before signing a contract.

The scheme is available to both first home buyers and people who have previously owned a home but don't currently own one.

About the general eligibility criteria for first home buyer benefits in Australia are consistent across most states: you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident (some states accept NZ citizens), be at least 18 years old, and have never owned or co-owned residential property in Australia. You must intend to live in the property as your principal place of residence for at least 6–12 continuous months (varies by state). For couples, at least one person must meet the citizenship requirement, and neither person can have previously received the FHOG.

Some states have income tests — the ACT requires income below $160,000 (single) or $170,000 (combined). Most states require you to apply for the FHOG through your lender at settlement, or directly through the state revenue office within 12 months of settlement.

To get the most benefit as a first home buyer in Australia: 1) Choose a new build if possible — this unlocks the FHOG ($10K–$30K depending on state) in addition to stamp duty concessions. 2) Use the FHSSS to save your deposit tax-effectively inside super before purchasing. 3) Apply for the First Home Guarantee to avoid LMI if your deposit is less than 20%.

4) Purchase below your state's stamp duty exemption threshold if feasible — the difference between a $799K and $801K property in NSW could save you $30,000+ in stamp duty. 5) Check for local council grants or incentives, especially in regional areas.

6) Consider off-the-plan purchases which may attract additional duty concessions. Use our stamp duty calculator and take home pay calculator to model the full financial picture before making an offer.

You can also use the Savings Mate First Home Buyer Calculator to estimate your total upfront costs including grants, stamp duty, and LMI across all states.