When you’re buying your first home, every dollar counts, and Queensland currently offers one of the more generous First Home Owner Grants in the country. Eligible first home buyers can receive $30,000 toward a new home, and this amount has been confirmed to continue for eligible contracts signed from 1 July 2026 onward, not reduce as some earlier guides suggested.

At MC Mortgage Solutions, we help Brisbane first home buyers check which grants and concessions may apply to their situation, and how to structure a loan application around them correctly. This guide covers everything current as at August 2026.

What Is the Queensland First Home Owner Grant?

The Queensland First Home Owner Grant, known as FHOG, is a one-off, tax-free payment from the state government administered by the Queensland Revenue Office. It’s designed to help eligible Queenslanders buy or build their first home by reducing the upfront cost of getting into the market.

The grant isn’t a loan, and you don’t repay it. It’s also not means-tested, so your income doesn’t affect whether you qualify.

How Much Is the Grant Worth?

The grant amount depends on when your contract was signed:

• $30,000 for eligible contracts signed on or after 20 November 2023
• $15,000 for contracts signed before that date

The boosted $30,000 amount has been confirmed by the Queensland Government to continue for eligible contracts signed from 1 July 2026 going forward. If you’ve read anywhere that the grant was dropping back to $15,000 after June 2026, that information is now out of date.

Is the Grant the Same as a Stamp Duty Concession?

No. The First Home Owner Grant and Queensland’s transfer duty, commonly called stamp duty, concessions are two separate forms of assistance administered under different rules. Many eligible first home buyers can access both on the same purchase, which we cover further down.

Which Properties Qualify for the Grant?

The FHOG applies exclusively to new homes. Established, previously lived-in properties are not eligible under any circumstances, regardless of price or location.

To count as a new home, the property must not have been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence.

Types of Eligible New Homes

Qualifying properties generally include:

• Newly constructed houses, townhouses, duplexes or units that have never been lived in
• Off-the-plan purchases, bought before or during construction
• A comprehensive building contract on vacant land, using a licensed builder
• Owner-builder projects, where eligibility is based on when the foundations are laid rather than when a contract is signed
• Substantially renovated homes, where the renovation must have been carried out before you bought the property, and where all or nearly all structural elements have been removed or replaced under strict Queensland Revenue Office criteria. The home must not have been occupied or sold as a residence since the renovation was completed

The Property Value Cap

The combined value of the home and land, including any contract variations made along the way, must be less than $750,000. This applies whether you’re buying a completed new home outright or entering a house-and-land package with a builder.

Who Is Eligible for the Grant?

Eligibility depends on both you as the applicant and the property you’re buying. You’ll generally need to meet all of the following.

Applicant Requirements

• You must be a natural person, not a company or a trust
• You must be at least 18 years old
• At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• Neither you nor your spouse or de facto partner can have previously owned residential property in Australia before 1 July 2000, or owned and lived in residential property in Australia on or after that date. Owning an investment property you never lived in does not automatically rule you out, and you can’t have received a first home owner grant anywhere in Australia before

The Residency Obligation

You must move into the home as your principal place of residence within 1 year of settlement or completion, and live there continuously for at least 6 months. This applies regardless of whether you’re buying an existing new home or building one yourself.

Stamp Duty Concessions First Home Buyers Can Also Access

Beyond the grant itself, Queensland first home buyers may qualify for separate transfer duty relief. Depending on what you’re buying, this can add a significant additional saving on top of the FHOG.

New Homes and Vacant Land

For eligible contracts signed on or after 1 May 2025, first home buyers pay zero transfer duty on both new homes and residential vacant land, with no value cap on either. This applies whether you’re buying a completed new home or land you intend to build your first home on.

Established Homes

If you’re buying an established home rather than a new build, different thresholds apply:

• Full exemption on transfer duty for homes valued up to $709,999.99
• A concessional sliding scale for homes valued over $700,000 but under $800,000, saving up to $17,350 depending on the exact value
• At $800,000 or more, the first home concession no longer applies, though the standard home concession may still reduce your duty

A New Residency Test From August 2026

From 1 August 2026, first home transfer duty concessions carry a residency test applied at the date you sign your contract. You’ll need to be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or specified foreign retiree at that date for the concession to apply. This test does not apply retrospectively to contracts signed before 1 August 2026.

Can the Grant Be Used Toward Your Deposit?

This depends on your lender, the type of property, and how you apply for the grant. Timing varies enough that the Queensland Government itself advises against relying on the FHOG to meet a deposit deadline or other time-sensitive obligation.

If you’re applying through your lender, the grant can sometimes be factored into your loan application ahead of settlement. If you’re applying directly through the Queensland Revenue Office, you generally can’t lodge the application until the eligible transaction is complete, which means the grant isn’t available in time to help with a deposit at all in that scenario. This is exactly the kind of detail worth checking with your lender or broker before you build the grant into your settlement figures.

How Do You Apply for the Grant?

There are two ways to apply.

Through an Approved Agent

If you’re financing your purchase through a participating bank or lender, your lender can often lodge the FHOG application directly alongside your loan documentation. Applying this way is generally faster, and it’s the path most first home buyers take since it keeps the grant aligned with the rest of the loan application.

Directly Through the Queensland Revenue Office

If you’re self-funding, or your lender isn’t an approved agent, you can apply directly through the Queensland Revenue Office’s online portal. Applying this way, you generally can’t lodge the application until after your purchase or build is complete, so it typically takes longer to receive the funds than applying through a lender.

Is the Grant Taxable?

No. The First Home Owner Grant is a tax-free payment, and you don’t need to declare it as income when you lodge a tax return. It’s also not means-tested, so it doesn’t matter what you or your co-applicant earn, or how much you have in savings.

How MC Mortgage Solutions Helps First Home Buyers Navigate the Grant

Understanding the grant is one part of the picture. Structuring your loan application, deposit, and settlement timing around it correctly is another, and it’s where a first home buyer mortgage broker makes the practical difference.

MC Mortgage Solutions compares options across 30 or more lenders and helps you check which grants and concessions may apply to your situation, so the process is clearer from the start rather than causing a surprise at settlement. Final eligibility is always determined by the Queensland Revenue Office or your approved agent, not by us.

Talk to MC Mortgage Solutions About Your First Home Purchase

If you’re planning to buy or build your first home in Queensland, we can help you check which grants and concessions may apply to your situation before you sign a contract. Call MC Mortgage Solutions on 1300 633 667 or book a free chat with our Brisbane bayside team.

Frequently Asked Questions

1: How much is the Queensland First Home Owner Grant in 2026?

The grant is $30,000 for eligible contracts signed on or after 20 November 2023. This boosted amount has been confirmed by the Queensland Government to continue for contracts signed from 1 July 2026 onward, so buyers signing now are not affected by the earlier expected reduction. Contracts signed before 20 November 2023 receive $15,000 instead.

2: Can I get the grant if I buy an established home?

No. The grant applies only to new homes, off-the-plan purchases, comprehensive building contracts, owner-builder projects, and substantially renovated homes that meet the Queensland Revenue Office’s criteria. Established, previously occupied properties are not eligible for the FHOG under any circumstances, though separate stamp duty relief may still apply.

3: Is there a property price limit for the grant?

Yes. The combined value of the home and land, including any contract variations made after signing, must be less than $750,000. If the total value reaches or exceeds this threshold at any point, the property no longer qualifies for the grant.

4: Do I have to be an Australian citizen to receive the grant?

At least one applicant on the application must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. If you’re applying jointly with a partner, it’s worth checking your specific situation, since your partner’s eligibility history counts even if they’re not the one named on the application.

5: Can I use the grant if I’ve owned property before?

It depends on what kind of property and when. Owning residential property in Australia before 1 July 2000, or owning and living in residential property on or after that date, generally rules you out. Owning an investment property you never lived in does not automatically disqualify you, so it’s worth checking your exact circumstances.

6: How long do I have to move into the property?

You must move into the home as your principal place of residence within 1 year of settlement or completion, and live there continuously for at least 6 months. This timeframe applies whether you’ve purchased an existing new home or built one yourself.

7: Is the First Home Owner Grant the same as stamp duty relief?

No. The grant and Queensland’s transfer duty concessions are separate forms of assistance, administered under different rules and paid or applied differently. Many eligible first home buyers can access both the FHOG and a stamp duty concession on the same purchase, which can add up to a substantial combined saving.

8: Can I use the grant toward my deposit?

It depends on your lender and how you apply. The Queensland Government advises against relying on the grant for a deposit or other time-sensitive obligation, since payment timing varies. If you apply directly through the Queensland Revenue Office, you generally can’t lodge the application until your purchase or build is already complete.

9: How do I apply for the grant?

You can apply through an approved agent, usually your lender, alongside your loan application, which is generally faster and is the path most buyers take. Alternatively, you can apply directly through the Queensland Revenue Office’s online portal, though you generally can’t lodge this application until after your purchase or build is complete.