First Home Owner Grants State By State
Calling all first home buyers! If you’re ready to make your very first real estate purchase, there are first home owner grants you may be eligible for to help you get into your dream home. We’ve done a little research and rounded up a quick summary for you of how each state’s First Home Owner Grants stack up as they vary in amount and property value. Take a look at your state’s grant eligibility requirements and what you could receive when you decide to purchase your first home!
Victoria
You’re eligible to receive up to $20,000 in First Home Owner Grants in Victoria depending on where you’re purchasing and the value of the home. If the home is in regional Victoria, you’ll receive $20,000 in FHOG – it’s the perfect excuse to make that move to the country! If the home you’re buying is not in regional Victoria, then you’ll receive $10,000 in grants. These grants are based on the purchaser buying or building a home up to the value of $750,000. There are also additional exemptions and concessions available to first home buyers such as off-the-plan and pensioner concessions, so make sure you do your homework and find out which grants are applicable to your purchase.
New South Wales
The First Home Owner Grant (New Home) assists eligible first home owners who are buying or building a home up to the value of $600,000, entitling them to a $10,000 grant. The NSW Government also has the First Home Buyers Assistance scheme, which provides exemptions or concessions on transfer duty for new and existing homes valued up to $650,000, and concessions on duty for new and existing homes valued between $650,000 and $800,000.
Australian Capital Territory
For first home purchasers in the ACT, a FHOG of $7,000 is available for transactions entered into before June 30, 2019 for properties whose total value (including land) is up to $750,000. Any transactions entered into after this date will not be eligible to receive the grant.
Queensland
First home owners are eligible to either $15,000 or $20,000 towards buying or building a new home, and this grant covers houses, units and townhouses up to the value of $750,000. It also covers purchasers who are buying off the plan, meaning you can find a home design that’s already attached to titled land and ready to build to save yourself some time! If your contract of sale is dated between October, 2012 and June 30, 2016 OR from July 1, 2018 or later, you’ll receive $15,000. If your contract of sale is dated from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018 you’re eligible to receive $20,000.
South Australia
In SA, the FHOG amount varies depending on a range of factors. Previously there were a range of grants available to first home buyers, however currently only first home purchasers of off-the-plan apartments are eligible to receive up $21,330 in grants where a transaction was entered into between May 31, 2012 to June 30, 2018. Unfortunately, established homes where a transaction was entered into from July 1, 2014 onwards are not eligible for any FHOGs.
Tasmania
The Tasmanian Government announced in the 2018/19 State Budget that the First Home Owner Grant would be extended for one additional year. First home owners will be eligible to receive $20,000 for transactions up to and including June 30, 2019. The extension of the FHOG ends on June 30, 2019, so there’s still a bit of time for you to find that dream home! Eligible transactions include a comprehensive home building contract for a new home, the building of a new home by an owner builder, and the contract for the purchase of a new home such as a spec. or off-the-plan purchase.
Northern Territory
First home owners purchasing a new home in the NT are eligible for a FHOG of $26,000. The home must be a dwelling that has never previously been sold or occupied as a place of residence. There is also a $2,000 household goods grant available for eligible applicants who entered into a contract to build or purchase a new home on or after September 1, 2016. Alternatively, first home owners who are purchasing an established home may be eligible for a stamp duty discount of up to $23,928, as well as a home renovation grant of up to $10,000, which means it’s the perfect time to buy that fixer-upper you’ve been looking at!
Western Australia
This one-off payment of $5,000 is available to first home buyers who have entered into a contract to purchase or construct a new home between January 1 and June 30, 2017. This also covers owner builders who commenced laying foundations of their home between these dates. This grant has geographically determined caps on the total value of the home up to either $750,000 or $1,000,000 depending on the location.
No matter which state you’re purchasing or building your first home in, there are First Home Owner Grants to help you get your foot in the door of the property market. Doing a little research will benefit you and your bank account in the long run, as most states offer some kind of assistance to first home buyers, depending on the transaction date and the home’s value. The Hotondo Homes website also features a Borrowing Power Calculator to help you determine how much you can afford to spend on your dream home.
Hotondo Homes is not a registered financial advisory and therefore we recommend you speak to your financial advisor or mortgage broker to receive expert advice before you enter into a real estate contract of sale.
