First Home Owners
Grant QLD
2025 Complete Guide
Start The Quiz
A financial boost can go a long way in getting you onto the Queensland property ladder so to help, the Government offers first time buyers seven different financial assistance programs.
One of these is the QLD First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) which is a $30,000 payment for those of you looking for additional support to help you build or buy a brand new home.
The easiest way to determine which of the seven programs you’re eligible for is to complete the 1-minute Quiz below.
If you want to more about the First Home Owners Grant QLD, I’ve updated this guide for 2025 and it covers everything you need to know.
Cheers,
Victor Kalinowski.
1. What is the Queensland First Home Owners Grant?
The QLD First Home Owners Grant (FHOG), previously known as the QLD First Home Buyers Grant, is a $30,000 payment from the Queensland government to help first-time homebuyers purchase or build a brand new home that has never been lived in before.
It’s basically a building grant, so if you are either buying land only or buying an existing home that has already been built and lived in before (known as an established home) then you won’t be eligible for the QLD First Home Owners Grant. Instead see this guide here for an overview of other financial assistance programs.
2. How Much is the First Home Owners Grant QLD?
The First Home Owners Grant Queensland is a Grant of:
- $30,000 – for building contracts or new home contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2025 (both dates inclusive)
- $15,000 – for building contracts or new home contracts signed and foundations laid before 20 November 2023.
Changes to the FHOG are announced annually through the QLD Budget announcements which we monitor. I will update this page as changes to the Grant are announced so please check this page or follow our socials, where we will post any updates
3. What are the First Home Owners Grant QLD Eligibility Criteria?
This $30,000 QLD First Home Owners Grant is a generous head start for Queenslanders looking to get into their first home so let’s go through the criteria you need to meet to be eligible.
If your eligibility still isn’t clear after running through this, I’d recommend you contact the Queensland Revenue Office on 1300 300 734. I have found them to be very helpful at clarifying tricky questions around eligibility.
Property Purchase Price
The total cost of your property must be less than $750,000.
For building a home, the total cost includes the land plus building contract plus any additional construction costs (such as fencing, landscaping, or solar panels), and must be less than $750,000.
For off-the-plan or brand new properties that have never been lived in, the purchase price is the total amount listed on your contract and must be under $750,000 to qualify for the grant.
Property Type
Can be a house, unit, duplex or townhouse or a detached dwelling built on relative’s land (e.g. granny flat, tiny home).
If buying a brand new home, the property can not have been lived in before.
Age
Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
Income
Your income won’t affect your eligibility.
Citizenship
You must be (or apply with someone who is) an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
Permanent residency includes those with a permanent visa or New Zealand citizens holding a special category visa with a current New Zealand passport.
Residence Requirements
You must occupy your new home as your principal residence:
- within one year of purchase; and
- live there continuously for at least six months.
You can rent out rooms during this 6-month residency if it doesn’t affect your use of the home.
However if you are also applying for the First Home Concession (also known as QLD Stamp Duty), you will not be able to rent out any rooms as it effects your eligibility. The First Home Concession will give you a maximum rebate of up to $17,350 if you spend under $800,000 on the purchase price.
Receipt of No Other Grants
Neither you nor your spouse should have previously received a First Home Owner Grant in any Australian state or territory.
You may be eligible to reapply if you repaid a previous grant (along with any penalties).
Previous Home Ownership
Neither you nor your spouse should have owned residential property in Australia:
- after 1 July 2000 that you lived in
- before 1 July 2000, regardless of whether you lived in it or not.
Previous Ownership of an Investment Property
You can still get the First Home Owners QLD if you have owned an investment property in Australia as long as you have:
- Owned it after 1 July 2000
- Never lived in it; and
- The Grant will be for your first home.
You will need to show that you have not lived in the investment property for the entire time by providing evidence like lease agreements, electricity accounts or tax returns declaring the rental property.
Cannot be Used for Investment Properties
As you will need to live in the property, you cannot use the grant to purchase or build an investment property.
4. When is the First Home Owners Grant Queensland paid?
If you are building a home:
- Paid on the first draw down of funds (deposit or slab stage which is at the very start building) as long as you apply directly with a Mortgage Broker or lender.
If you are buying a brand new home or off the plan:
- Paid at settlement which is when you get the keys and can access your new home.
As the FHOG is closely interlinked with your home home loan, the Queensland Revenue Office will transfer the $30,000 directly to your home loan lender who will then pay it directly to the builder / developer – in other words the money does not go into your account.
If the FHOG is not part of your deposit, then it will go directly into your account.
5. How to apply for the First Home Owners Grant QLD?
If we are helping you with your home loan, we will also complete the First Home Owners Grant Queensland application on your behalf and lodge it with the necessary supporting paperwork.
We will complete the First Home Owners Grant application form on your behalf at the same time as we are applying for your construction loan (if building) or home loan (if buying brand new). We’ll send it to you to sign and witness.
This is by far the quickest and most convenient way to apply.
There is no cost to you to use Blackk Mortgage Brokers for your loan or First Home Owners Grant Queensland application.
You can also apply directly yourself through the QLD Revenue Office.
6. The QLD First Home Owners Grant is Linked To Your Home Loan.
Now that you have an idea of where you stand with being eligible, the most important thing to know is that the First Home Owners Grant is closely linked with getting a home loan approved, especially when you’re using the Grant as a part of your deposit to build or buy a brand new home.
Clients have told us that the easist way to work out what to do from here is to book a free 20min call with me and I can advise how you may be eligible for mutltiple government financal assistance programs, how much deposit you need and the steps involved in applying, buying or building.
7. What other Government financial assistance can I get as a first time buyer in QLD?
There are seven first home buyer financial assistance programs in QLD and if you’re eligible for the $30,000 First Home Owners Grant, then you maybe eligible for others too!
As a Mortgage Broker, we help you maximise what you can get and advise you on how to be eligible for multiple programs.
You may like to read this guide on financial assistance for first time buyers which covers all the programs for Queenslanders whether you are buying an established home, building or buying a brand new home.
Seven Financial Assistance Programs for First Time Buyers in Queensland.
Most clients building a home (or buying brand new) end up being eligible for up to three Government Financial Assistance Programs
We know from experience that almost all our clients who are building or buying a brand new home end up getting two or three first home buyer programs which are:
- QLD First Home Owners Grant for $30,000 – covered in this guide;
- First Home Buyer Guarantee– where you buy with as little as a 5% deposit and pay no Lenders Mortgage Insurance;
- First Home Vacant Land Concession QLD – gives you a concession on the stamp duty you pay when you spend under $500,000 on the land.
8. Using the First Home Owners Grant Queensland as your deposit to help get you into your first home sooner
Yes, you can use the $30,000 FHOG QLD as part of your deposit to build a home / buy brand new.
It gives you a massive head start to really help make the dream to build (or buy brand new) a possible reality.
Working out the exact deposit you need to save to get started is a complex science which a simple free online calculator won’t do accurately, so please just book a free 20min call with me.
Here are a few pointers to get you started.
Generally, you need a 5% deposit saved and keep in mind that:
- Most lenders will also want you to save some money yourself (or be gifted it) which is called genuine savings.
- You’ll also need an extra 2% to 3% saved for relevant buying costs (like conveyancing, state government charges and registration fees).
- The FHOG QLD can only be used as a deposit on the construction costs (not the land as instead you may get the First Home Vacant Land Concession).
Deposit required when getting two financial assistance programs.
We help guide clients who are interested into being eligible for multiple first home buyer government assistance programs (not just the First Home Owners Grant QLD).
If you are interested in the science of how much deposit you need saved, here is an example when you are:
- Getting two first time buyer financial assistance programs – $30,000 First home Owners Grant QLD, and First Home Vacant Land Concession; and
- Spending $740,000 in total, where the land is $340,000 and the build is $400,000.
The table below shows:
- you will need to personally save (or be gifted) $37,000, which is a 5% deposit.
- You are paying no stamp duty on the land as you’re spending under $500,000 on the land and eligible for the First Home Vacant Land Concession. If you were not getting this, the stamp duty would be an additional $10,325 under buying costs which you would need to pay.
- You’ve got $15,200 left over which will be paid into your account when the FHOG QLD is paid at deposit / slab stage.
I recommend you check out this guide on how much deposit do I need to build a house where I’ve got a few different examples for you to look at if you want to understand more.
Deposit Required when Building under $30,000 First Home Owners Grant + First Home Vacant Land Concession
If you are seriously looking to make some decisions, then please book a free 20-minute call with me and I can tell you exactly what you need to save.
9. Further reading on the First Home Owners Grant Queensland
- Financial assistance for first time buyers (new blog to come with search vol 0-10 per month in Aus)
- How much deposit do I need to build a house (new blog to come with search vol 20 per month in Aus
- Genuine savings and your home loan (new blog to come)
- How to build a house step by step
1. Does my income effect if I get the $30,000 Grant?
No, the there are no income tests to get the $30,000 First Home Buyers Grant. You do need to meet banks lending standards to get a home loan approved.
2. What is the maximum I can spend on building a home to get the First Home Owners Grant?
You can spend up to $749,999 in total which needs to include the cost of the land, plus build plus any extras like driveway, landscaping, solar etc.
3. What happens if I move out of my home in less than the 6 consecutive months required within the first year?
You will probably need to repay the Grant back to QLD Revenue Office. I recommend calling them before hand rather than having them find out.
4. Can I get the Grant if the property is to be rented out for a few months, beginning within the first 12 months of completion of the property, before I move in?
No you must live in the home yourselves first for at least 6 consecutive months before renting it out.
5. I intend to move into the home as soon as it is completed, but can I also rent out a room in the house to make money?
Check your specific circumstances with the QLD Revenue Office first on 1300 300 734 or you may need to repay the Grant.
6. I am buying with a partner and we are both first home buyers. Do we both get the Grant?
No, you only receive one payment of $30,000.
7. I am buying with a partner and only one of us is a first home buyer. Can we still get the Grant?
Maybe. It depends on how long you have been together. Best to call the QLD Revenue Office. You may be eligible for a partial First Home Concession on the Transfer Duty.
8. I have never owned property in Australia before but I have owned a home overseas. Can I still get the Grant?
The QLD Revenue Office states you must not have owned residential property in Australia before. It does not specifically say you can not have owned property overseas. This is a bit of a grey area so best to call the QLD Revenue Office yourself on 1300 300 734.
9. Can I get the Grant if I have owned an investment property but I have never lived in it?
If you have owned an Investment Property but never lived in it, you may be eligible if you can show full rental history. Speak to the QLD Office of State Revenue.
10. Can I use the $30,000 Grant as a deposit to buy a block of land which I will build on later?
No, the $30,000 Grant goes towards the cost to build your home. You need enough savings to buy the land. So you can’t use it as a deposit to buy a blocks of land and then build on later. The Stamp Duty Concession covers the purchase of the land where you can get up to $7,175.
