First Home Buyer Grant QLD 2026 — $30,000 Grant Guide & Eligibility

What is the First Home Owner Grant in QLD?

The Queensland First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a state government initiative that provides a $30,000 grant to eligible first home buyers purchasing or building a brand new home valued at under $750,000. The grant is designed to help Queenslanders get into the property market sooner by reducing the upfront costs of buying your first home.

The $30,000 amount is a temporary boost that has been extended until 30 June 2026. After this date, the grant is expected to revert to $15,000. This makes 2026 an excellent window for first home buyers to maximise their government assistance.

• Grant amount: $30,000 (doubled from $15,000 until 30 June 2026)
• Property type: Must be a new home or substantially renovated property — not an established (existing) home
• Price cap: Total value must be under $750,000 (including land and building costs)
• How to apply: Through your mortgage lender at settlement (most common) or directly through the Queensland Revenue Office (QRO) within 12 months of completion

The grant can be used for house-and-land packages, off-the-plan apartments, townhouses, or owner-builder projects — as long as the home has never been lived in or sold as a place of residence before.

Am I eligible for the QLD First Home Owner Grant?

Use our quick eligibility checker below to get an instant indication, then review the full criteria underneath.

To qualify for the full $30,000 FHOG, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Australian citizen or permanent resident: At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident at the time of the transaction
• Aged 18 or over: You must be 18 years or older at the date of the eligible transaction
• Never owned residential property in Australia: Neither you nor your spouse/partner can have previously owned a residential property in Australia (including investment properties), whether or not you lived in it
• New or substantially renovated home: The property must be a brand new home that has not previously been occupied or sold as a place of residence, or a home that has been substantially renovated
• Under $750,000: The total value of the property (including the land) must be less than $750,000
• Move in within 1 year: You must occupy the property as your principal place of residence within 12 months of settlement or completion of construction
• Live there for 6 continuous months: You must reside in the property continuously for at least 6 months once you move in

Stamp duty concessions for first home buyers in QLD

In addition to the $30,000 FHOG, Queensland offers generous stamp duty (transfer duty) concessions for first home buyers. These concessions differ depending on whether you're buying a new home or an established property.

• New home or vacant land: Full concession — zero stamp duty with no price cap (effective since 1 May 2025). This means first home buyers pay absolutely no transfer duty on new builds regardless of price.
• Established home up to $709,999: Full concession — $17,350 is deducted from the duty amount, making it effectively zero for most properties in this range
• Established home $710,000–$799,999: Partial concession — the concession gradually reduces on a sliding scale as the price increases
• Established home $800,000 and above: No concession — full stamp duty applies

For a property priced at $700,000, the standard stamp duty would be approximately $17,350. As a first home buyer, you'd pay zero. That's a significant saving that can go toward your deposit, moving costs, or furnishing your new home.

Use our QLD Stamp Duty Calculator to calculate your exact duty and concessions based on your specific purchase price.

How to apply for the First Home Owner Grant

The application process is straightforward. Here's how to do it step by step:

• Step 1 — Get pre-approval from your lender: Before you start searching, speak to a mortgage broker or bank to get pre-approved for a home loan. This confirms your borrowing capacity and shows sellers you're a serious buyer.
• Step 2 — Find your property: Search for your new home. A buyers agent can help you find suitable properties, access off-market opportunities, and negotiate the best price — potentially bringing the price under the $750,000 FHOG threshold.
• Step 3 — Apply through your lender at settlement: The most common method is to apply through your mortgage lender. They'll include the FHOG application as part of your loan documentation. Alternatively, you can apply directly to the Queensland Revenue Office (QRO) within 12 months of the completed transaction.
• Step 4 — Grant is paid at settlement: When you apply through your lender, the $30,000 grant is typically paid at settlement and used to reduce the amount you need to borrow. If you apply directly to QRO, payment is made within approximately 3 months of your application being approved.
• Step 5 — Move in and stay: You must move into the property within 1 year of settlement and live there as your principal place of residence for a continuous period of at least 6 months.

Common mistakes first home buyers make

Buying your first home is exciting, but it's also when you're most vulnerable to costly errors. Here are the mistakes we see most often — and how to avoid them.

• Not getting pre-approval before searching: Without pre-approval, you risk falling in love with a property you can't afford. Worse, you may miss out because you can't move quickly enough when the right property comes along.
• Emotional bidding at auctions: Queensland auctions are unconditional — there is no cooling-off period, no finance clause, and no building inspection clause. If you win at auction, you're legally committed. Many first home buyers get caught up in the emotion and bid beyond their budget.
• Not understanding cooling-off periods: For private treaty sales (non-auction), QLD provides a 5 business day cooling-off period. However, exercising this right costs 0.25% of the purchase price as a termination penalty. Know your rights before signing.
• Skipping building and pest inspections: A $500 building and pest inspection can save you tens of thousands in unexpected repairs. Never skip this step, especially for older properties or homes in flood-prone areas.
• Not checking school catchments, flood zones, or council plans: These factors significantly impact both your lifestyle and the property's long-term value. Check the Brisbane City Council or relevant local council flood maps, verify school catchments, and review any planned infrastructure or development in the area.
• Paying too much without independent valuation: First home buyers often rely solely on the listing price or the agent's opinion. An independent valuation or comparable sales analysis gives you the true market value and negotiation leverage.
• Not using a buyers agent: Selling agents work for the seller. Without your own professional representation, you're negotiating against experienced agents who do this every day.

How a buyers agent helps first home buyers

First home buyers are statistically the most likely to overpay. You're emotional, inexperienced, and often competing against seasoned investors and upgraders who've done this before. A buyers agent levels the playing field.

Here's what we do for first home buyers:

• Negotiate the price down: Our average negotiation saving is $65,000 off the asking price. For first home buyers, this can be the difference between qualifying for the $30,000 FHOG (under $750,000) and missing out entirely.
• Access off-market properties: Up to 30% of properties sell without ever being publicly advertised. Less competition means better prices and more options for you.
• Handle due diligence: We coordinate building and pest inspections, review contracts, check flood maps, verify school catchments, and assess council plans. First-time buyers don't know what to look for — we do.
• Manage contracts and settlement: We liaise with your solicitor, mortgage broker, and the selling agent to ensure a smooth transaction from offer to settlement.
• Prevent costly mistakes: We've seen every trap in the market. From overpriced properties to hidden defects, we protect you from the errors that cost first home buyers thousands.
• Save you time: Instead of spending weekends at open homes and sifting through listings, we do the legwork and present you with shortlisted properties that match your criteria and budget.

Frequently asked questions