If you're building or buying a brand new home in Queensland, the state government has a $15,000 payment available for building contracts signed after 30 June 2026.
The Queensland First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) is one of the most straightforward pieces of financial assistance for but it comes with specific conditions. New homes only. Under $750,000. And that $30,000 reverted to $15,000 the moment the deadline passeds in June 2026.
Worth noting: in many Brisbane suburbs, new house and land packages are now starting above that threshold[1], so it pays to be strategic about where you're looking.
What Is The Queensland First Home Owners Grant?
The Queensland First Home Owners Grant (FHOG), previously known as the First Home Buyers Grant QLD, is a one-off, tax-free payment from the Queensland Government to help first home buyers purchase or build a brand new home. It's administered by the Queensland Revenue Office (QRO).
If you're buying an established home that's been lived in before, you're not eligible for the FHOG. You may be eligible for other government programs for first time buyers that include stamp duty concessions stamp duty exemptions for first home buyers in QLD and the First Home Guarantee scheme.
How Much Is The First Home Owners Grant QLD?
| Contract Signed | Grant Amount |
| 20 November 2023 to 30 June 2026 (inclusive) | $30,000 |
| Before 20 November 2023 | $15,000 |
| After 30 June 2026 | $15,000 |
Use the QLD transfer duty calculator alongside the FHOG to model your total upfront costs, including any stamp duty you may or may not owe depending on your property type.
Important: it's the contract date that counts, not the settlement date. You can sign your contract before 30 June 2026 and settle after that date and still receive the $30,000 grant. If you're building, the relevant date for owner-builders is when foundations are laid, not when any contract is signed.
The grant is paid per property, not per applicant. Two people buying together still receive one payment of $15,000, not two.
Worth being upfront about: in and around Brisbane, finding a new home and land package under $750,000 is increasingly challenging.[1] Regional Queensland, townhouses, and off-the-plan apartments in outer areas tend to offer more options within the cap. If you're working with a tight budget, it's worth talking to a broker about what's realistic before you get attached to a suburb.
Who's Eligible For The FHOG In QLD?
Property Requirements
The property must be brand new: never previously occupied or sold as a place of residence. Eligible types include new houses, units, duplexes, townhouses, off-the-plan apartments, substantially renovated homes, and detached dwellings built on a relative's land (granny flats, tiny homes). Total value must be under $750,000, including land, build costs, and any contract variations such as fencing, landscaping, or solar.
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
Personal Requirements
All of the following must apply to you (and your spouse or de facto partner if applicable):
Age: You must be 18 or older at the time of application.
Citizenship: At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. This includes New Zealand citizens holding a special category visa with a current NZ passport.
First home buyer status: Neither you nor your spouse should have previously owned residential property in Australia that you lived in on or after 1 July 2000. You also can't have owned any residential property (occupied or not) before 1 July 2000.
No prior FHOG: Neither you nor your spouse should have previously received a First Home Owner Grant in any Australian state or territory.
Must buy as an individual: The grant is not available to companies or trusts.
Note on de facto partners: the QRO considers a de facto partner to be someone you've been living with on a genuine domestic basis for 2 or more years, a registered partner under the Civil Partnerships Act 2011, or a spouse. If you're buying with a partner, their eligibility history counts, even if they're not on the grant application.
Owned An Investment Property Before?
You may still qualify if you've owned a residential investment property after 1 July 2000, never lived in it, and the new property will be your first home. You'll need to prove non-occupation for the entire ownership period via lease agreements, utility accounts, or tax returns.
Residency Requirements
Move in within 12 months of settlement (or final inspection certificate for builds) and live there continuously for at least 6 months. You can rent out rooms during this period provided it doesn't affect your use of the home as your principal residence. If you're also claiming the first home stamp duty concession, renting out rooms may affect that separately.
| Criteria | Requirement |
| Property type | Brand new home only. Never previously occupied or sold as a residence. |
| Property value | Under $750,000 (including land, build, and all contract variations). |
| Age | 18 or older at time of application. |
| Citizenship | At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. |
| First home buyer | Neither you nor your spouse has owned a home you lived in (after 1 July 2000) or owned any residential property before 1 July 2000. |
| Prior FHOG | Neither you nor your spouse has previously received a FHOG in any state or territory. |
| Occupancy | Must move in within 12 months and live there continuously for at least 6 months. |
| Income | No test. The FHOG is not means-tested. |
| Contract date | Signed after 30 June 2026 it's $15,000. Signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2026 for the $30,000 amount. |
If your eligibility is unclear, the Queensland Revenue Office is worth calling directly on 1300 300 734. In my experience, they're genuinely helpful at clarifying edge cases. I work with first home buyers across Gold Coast, Brisbane, and Sunshine Coast if you'd like to chat through your situation.
Can You Use The FHOG As Your Deposit?
Yes, but only on the build component of your loan. The grant is paid at settlement (buying) or first drawdown (building), not upfront. You still need genuine savings of your own in place before the grant arrives. Most lenders require a minimum 5% deposit plus buying costs and want to see genuine savings (money held for at least 3 months). The FHOG complements that but doesn't replace it.
A few things to keep in mind:
You'll generally need 5% of the purchase price saved as a deposit.
An extra 2% to 3% is needed for buying costs (conveyancing, registration fees, government charges).
The FHOG can only be applied to the construction costs of a build, not the land portion. For the land component, you may be able to use the first home vacant land concession.
Use the borrowing power calculator and home loan repayments calculator to model your numbers before you book a call.
When Is The First Home Owners Grant Paid?
Payment timing depends on how you apply and what type of transaction you have. Here's how it works across the three scenarios:
Buying a new home (including off-the-plan): The grant is paid at settlement: when you're entitled to possess the home under the contract and you've registered ownership on the title.
Building a new home (including house and land packages): If you apply through your mortgage broker or lender, the grant is paid on the first drawdown of funds (the deposit or slab stage, which is right at the start of the build). This is the fastest route.
Owner-builders: The grant is paid when you receive your final inspection certificate or certificate of occupancy, not at the start. The relevant date for eligibility is also when your foundations are laid, not when any contract is signed.
The QRO transfers the $30,000 directly to your lender, to reduce the amount you need to borrow. It doesn't go into your personal bank account.
If you apply directly to the QRO after completion then you nominate a bank account on the form and the grant is paid there. If applying directly through the QRO portal rather than through your broker, payment is generally made within 10 working days of submitting documents, but only after your new home is complete.
How To Apply For The First Home Owners Grant QLD
There are two ways to apply: through your mortgage broker or lender, or directly through the QRO. Having your home loan pre-approval sorted at the same time puts you in a much stronger position. Applying through a broker is almost always faster.
If we're managing your home loan at Blackk, we complete the FHOG application on your behalf at the same time as your loan application at no cost to you. This is the fastest route: payment is made at first drawdown (when building) or settlement (if buying off the plan) rather than waiting until the build is complete. You can also apply directly through the QRO's online portal, though payment generally isn't made until your new home is finished and all documents are submitted.
You'll need your signed contract, 100 points of ID, evidence of citizenship or permanent residency, and a statutory declaration confirming you've never owned residential property in Australia. If using the investment property carve-out, you'll need full rental history documentation.
The FHOG application is closely linked to your home loan. If you want to make sure you're eligible and maximise what you can claim from this and other government assistance programs, book a free 20-minute call with me at Blackk. We handle the application as part of your loan process at no cost to you. You’ll also get advice like how to safely maximise what you can spend, step by step guidance and help with staged payments to your builder . Blackk Mortgage Brokers operates under Australian Credit Licence 386 726.
What Other Schemes Can You Stack With The FHOG?
Most of my clients who are building or buying a brand new home end up accessing two or three government programs at once. The FHOG is just one layer. Stack it with the First Home Guarantee (5% deposit, no LMI) and the stamp duty exemption and the combined savings can be well over $40,000. Here's how the main schemes interact:
Queensland First Home Buyer Schemes: What Stacks With The FHOG
| Scheme | What You Get | Stacks With FHOG? | Property Type |
| First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) | $15,000 cash after 30 June 2026 (was $30,000) | N/A | New homes under $750,000 |
| First Home Vacant Land Concession | Concession on transfer (stamp) duty if spending under $500,000 on land | Yes | Land only |
| Stamp duty exemption (new homes) | Zero transfer duty. No price cap (contracts from 1 May 2025) | Yes | New homes |
| First Home Guarantee | Buy with a 5% deposit, no LMI. Up to $46,110 saving in SEQ | Yes | New or established, up to $1M in SEQ |
| First Home Super Saver (FHSS) | Withdraw up to $50,000 saved in super toward your deposit | Yes | New or established |
| Boost to Buy | Government equity contribution (up to 30%). Only 2% deposit needed | No | New or established, up to $1M |
FAQ
No. The FHOG is not means-tested. There are no income limits. You do still need to meet a lender's lending standards to get your home loan approved, but income doesn't affect FHOG eligibility itself.
$749,999 in total, which must include the cost of the land, build, and any extras such as driveways, landscaping, or solar panels. If the total comes to $750,000 or more, you're not eligible.
No. The contract signing date is what matters, not the settlement date. You can sign your contract before 30 June 2026 and settle after that date and still receive the $30,000 grant.
You'll likely need to repay the grant to the QRO. Call them before that happens rather than waiting. The number is 1300 300 734. There may be limited exceptions depending on your circumstances.
No. The grant is paid per property, not per applicant. Two people buying together receive one payment of $30,000.
It depends on the circumstances: specifically whether your partner owned and lived in property in Australia on or after 1 July 2000. If they did, you're not eligible as a joint applicant. You may be eligible for a partial concession on transfer duty. Call the QRO on 1300 300 734 to discuss your specific situation.
Possibly. If you've owned an investment property since 1 July 2000 but never lived in it, you may still be eligible provided you can demonstrate full rental history for the entire period of ownership. Speak to the QRO or your broker before assuming you qualify.
Contracts signed by 30 June 2026 lock in the $30,000. If you're getting close to making a move, read up on how to make an offer on a house so you're ready when the right property comes up. After that it halves to $15,000. Stack it with the stamp duty exemption and the First Home Guarantee and you're looking at a substantial reduction in what you need upfront. Book a free call with me at Blackk and we'll work out exactly what you qualify for.
References
Rustik Realty, $30K First Home Buyer Grant Extended: What You Can Get for $750K in QLD. 2025. Analysis of new house and land package prices across Brisbane suburbs relative to the $750,000 FHOG price cap.
Queensland Government, Delivering the great Australian dream for more Queenslanders. Ministerial Media Statement, June 2025. Confirms extension of $30,000 FHOG to 30 June 2026.
A Place to Call Home, Extending the $30,000 First Home Owner Grant. Queensland Government. Crisafulli Government extension to 30 June 2026.
Queensland Revenue Office, Eligibility for the first home owner grant. Accessed May 2026. Authoritative source for eligibility criteria, contract date requirements, and grant amounts.
Queensland Government, First home owner grant. Accessed May 2026. Confirms $30,000 until 30 June 2026, reverts to $15,000 thereafter.
Victor Kalinowski
Mortgage Broker and Founder of Blackk
I’m Victor Kalinowski and a Brisbane Mortgage Broker at Blackk Mortgage Brokers. I’ve helped thousands of people get loans for their homes and investment properties.
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