Australia First Home Buyers Grant Calculator 2026

What Is the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) in Australia?

The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a one-off, tax-free payment for eligible first home buyers, funded and administered by each state and territory government. It was introduced on 1 July 2000 to offset the GST impact on home ownership and is still one of the largest single pieces of first home buyer assistance available. Because every state runs its own version, the grant amount, property price caps, and eligible property types vary considerably depending on where you buy.

In 2025 and 2026 the grant ranges from $10,000 in NSW, VIC and WA, to $15,000 in SA, $30,000 in QLD and Tasmania, and up to $50,000 in the Northern Territory for eligible new homes. The ACT does not pay a cash grant; instead it gives eligible buyers a stamp duty concession worth up to $35,238 through the Home Buyer Concession Scheme.

The FHOG is separate from the federal schemes: the First Home Guarantee (renamed the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme in October 2025), which lets you buy with a 5% deposit and no Lenders Mortgage Insurance, and the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSS), which lets you withdraw up to $50,000 of voluntary super toward your deposit. In most cases eligible buyers can combine several of these to cut their upfront costs significantly.^[gov]

First Home Owner Grant Amount by State and Territory (2025–26)

The table below summarises the current grant, price cap, and stamp duty concession in each state and territory. Use the calculator above to check your specific eligibility and estimate your total government assistance, including the stamp duty saving.

*QLD's $30,000 grant applies to contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2026, on new homes under $750,000; it reverts to $15,000 after that date.^[qld.gov.au] **TAS's $30,000 grant applies to transactions from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026; the standard $10,000 rate applies outside these dates. NT's $10,000 grant for established homes closed on 30 September 2025 — only the $50,000 new-home grant is open now, for contracts up to 30 September 2027.^[nt.gov.au]

Who Should Use This First Home Buyers Grant Calculator?

This calculator is for anyone weighing up buying or building their first home who wants to know what government help they may qualify for. It's most useful if you are:

• A first-time buyer comparing grant amounts and eligibility across states before deciding where to buy
• Checking whether your property type and price fall within your state's grant price cap
• Unsure whether you meet the citizenship, age, or ownership-history rules
• An owner-builder or signing a comprehensive building contract who needs to confirm new-home eligibility
• Planning to combine the FHOG with the 5% Deposit Scheme, the FHSS, or Help to Buy and want to estimate the total
• A previous property owner checking whether the updated rules let you qualify again
• An ACT resident wanting to understand your stamp duty concession under the Home Buyer Concession Scheme

How to Use the First Home Buyers Grant Calculator

Enter six quick details and the calculator returns your grant, an estimated stamp duty saving, and your total benefit. Here's what each field means:

1. 1Select your state or territory. Grant amounts and eligibility rules differ across all eight jurisdictions.
2. 2Enter your property value. Use the full purchase price or total build cost including land and variations. This is checked against your state's price cap.
3. 3Select your property type. New home, house and land, off the plan, substantially renovated, or established. Most grants are restricted to new builds.
4. 4WA buyers: choose your location. WA sets different caps north and south of the 26th parallel, so pick the right one.
5. 5Confirm your eligibility. Enter your age (18+) and confirm you are a first home buyer and an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
6. 6Click Calculate My Grant. Your grant, estimated stamp duty saving, and total assistance appear instantly. Download a PDF or CSV to keep.

First Home Buyers Grant: Worked Examples (2025–26)

These examples show how the grant and stamp duty saving combine in real scenarios across different states.

FHOG Eligibility by State: Quick Reference (2025–26)

At a glance, here is how the core eligibility rules compare across the seven grant-paying states and territories (the ACT runs a concession scheme instead of a grant).

*NT: the $50,000 HomeGrown Territory Grant is for new homes only. The separate $10,000 grant for established homes closed to new contracts on 30 September 2025. NT now requires a 12-month occupancy period.^{[NT Treasury]}

Edge Cases, Exemptions and Special FHOG Situations

Beyond the standard rules, several situations change whether you qualify. Confirm your own case with your state revenue office before you rely on any of these.

Previous property ownership. If you or your spouse owned residential property in Australia on or after 1 July 2000 but never lived in it for six continuous months, you may still qualify in some states. South Australia tightened this from 13 February 2025: having ever owned residential property in Australia now disqualifies you, regardless of whether you lived in it.

Australian Defence Force members. ADF members may be exempt from the residence requirement in some states, provided all applicants are on that state's electoral roll.

New Zealand citizens. NZ citizens living in Australia on a Special Category Visa are eligible in most states. In Victoria, if the NZ citizen holds permanent-resident (not citizen) status, their spouse or partner must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Substantially renovated homes. A property counts as substantially renovated only if most of the building has been removed or replaced and the sale is a taxable supply under the GST Act. Cosmetic work does not qualify.

Off-the-plan purchases. To count as off the plan, the lot and plan description must be registered after the contract date. If the lot was already registered before you signed, it generally won't qualify as off the plan.

Stacking Schemes: FHOG, 5% Deposit Scheme, FHSS and Help to Buy

The FHOG is just one piece of the first home buyer toolkit. The biggest savings usually come from combining eligible schemes. Here's how they fit together.

First Home Guarantee / 5% Deposit Scheme. This federal scheme, administered by Housing Australia, lets eligible buyers purchase with a 5% deposit and no Lenders Mortgage Insurance; the government guarantees up to 15% of the loan. From 1 October 2025 income caps and place limits were removed and property price caps were raised (for example, up to $1.5m in Sydney, $950,000 in Melbourne, $850,000 in Perth). LMI on a $700,000 purchase at a 5% deposit is typically around $25,000–$30,000 — a saving this scheme removes entirely.^{[Housing Australia]}

First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSS). The FHSS lets first home buyers withdraw up to $50,000 of voluntary super contributions (plus associated earnings) toward a deposit. Contributions from 1 July 2017 count, and the ATO releases the funds to you with concessional tax treatment. It can be combined with the FHOG and the 5% Deposit Scheme.

Help to Buy. A federal shared-equity scheme that launched on 5 December 2025. The government contributes up to 40% of a new home's price (or 30% for an established home) in exchange for an equity share, and you need as little as a 2% deposit. Income caps are $103,000 for individuals and $165,000 for couples and single parents (wage-indexed). When you sell, the government takes back its proportional share. You cannot combine Help to Buy with the 5% Deposit Scheme, but you can generally use it alongside the state FHOG and stamp duty concessions.^{[firsthomebuyers.gov.au]}

Stamp duty concessions. Every state and territory offers some stamp duty relief for first home buyers, and it is separate from and on top of the FHOG. NSW exempts duty under $800,000; VIC under $600,000; QLD charges $0 on new homes with no cap; SA gives full relief on eligible new homes. Estimate yours with our Australia Stamp Duty Calculator.

Family Home Guarantee. For eligible single parents or guardians with a dependent child, this federal scheme allows a 2% deposit with no LMI. It's open to previous homeowners re-entering the market, not only first home buyers.

How to Apply for the First Home Owner Grant

There are two ways to apply, and both are straightforward. Most buyers use their lender.

Through your lender (recommended). Most banks and brokers can lodge the grant application for you when you apply for a home loan. This aligns the grant payment with settlement, or with the first construction drawdown for a build. Check that your lender is an approved agent for the grant in your state.

Directly with your state revenue office. If your lender isn't handling it, or you've already settled, you can apply directly. Applications must be lodged within 12 months of settlement or construction completion.

You'll usually need photo ID for all applicants, the signed sale or building contract, proof of Australian citizenship or permanent residency, and a statutory declaration that you haven't previously owned property in Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions: First Home Buyers Grant Australia

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