The Queensland Government has just confirmed the $30,000 First Home Owner Grant will continue beyond 30 June 2026.
Announced as part of the 2026-27 State Budget handed down on 23 June 2026, the boosted grant has been extended with more than $70 million budgeted across the forward estimates, giving first-time buyers on the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, and across Queensland a genuine, extended window to build their first home [1] [2].
If you have been sitting on the fence about building, this is the signal to move. This guide covers everything you need to know about the first home owner grant QLD, from the official definition of a "new home" to the full eligibility checklist, how to combine the grant with other government benefits, and how to make the most of it when building with AUSMAR.
The Queensland First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a one-off, tax-free payment from the state government to eligible first-time buyers who purchase or build a new home in Queensland. The grant was originally set at $15,000 but was doubled to $30,000 in November 2023 as part of a cost-of-living relief package. That boosted amount has now been extended and locked into the state budget for the years ahead [1] [2].
The grant is administered by the Queensland Revenue Office (QRO) and is separate from federal government schemes such as the Home Guarantee Scheme. Importantly, being eligible for a federal scheme does not affect your eligibility for the FHOG, meaning you can potentially access both [3].
The grant amount that applies to your situation depends on when your contract is signed:
|
Benefit |
Grant Amount |
|
Before 20 November 2023 |
$15,000 |
|
20 November 2023 to 30 June 2026 (inclusive) |
$30,000 |
|
From 1 July 2026 onward (confirmed in 2026-27 Budget) |
$30,000 continued |
For owner-builders, the relevant date is when your foundations are laid, not when the contract is signed [3].
This is one of the most important distinctions in the entire grant framework. The FHOG is only available for new homes. It does not apply to established (previously owned or occupied) properties. Understanding exactly what qualifies as a new home is critical to ensuring you are eligible before you sign anything.
According to the Queensland Revenue Office, a new home is defined as a dwelling that has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence [3]. In practical terms, this means the property must be brand new at the time of your completed transaction.
The following types of transactions qualify as a new home for the purposes of the grant:
Building a new home from scratch. This is the most common pathway for AUSMAR clients. You purchase land and enter into a building contract with a registered builder. The home is new because it has never been occupied or sold as a residence before.
Off-the-plan purchase. You sign a contract to purchase a home before it is built. The home qualifies as new because it has not been previously occupied.
Purchasing a brand-new completed home. If a developer or builder has constructed a home and it has never been lived in or sold as a place of residence, it qualifies. This includes spec homes and display homes that have never been used as a primary residence.
Substantially renovated homes. In limited circumstances, a substantially renovated home may qualify. The renovation must be so extensive that the home is essentially new. This is a complex area and requires careful assessment by the QRO.
Detached dwellings on a relative's land. From 1 December 2020, a home built on land owned by a relative (such as a granny flat or secondary dwelling) may also qualify under specific conditions [3].
The key principle is this: if someone has lived in the home before, or if it has been sold as a place of residence before, it is an established home and the grant does not apply.
Meeting the definition of a new home is just the first step. The FHOG has several additional eligibility requirements that all applicants (and their spouses) must satisfy. Work through this checklist before you apply.
Property value
The total value of your new home, including the land and any contract variations, must be less than $750,000. If the total value is $750,000 or more, you are not eligible for the grant [3].
For most AUSMAR First Series builds on the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay, this threshold is comfortably achievable, particularly when building in growth corridors such as Caboolture, Morayfield, Burpengary, and the northern Sunshine Coast hinterland.
Age
You must be a natural person (that is, an individual, not a company or trust) aged 18 years or older. In exceptional circumstances, the Commissioner of State Revenue may exercise discretion for applicants under 18 [3].
Citizenship and residency status
At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. A permanent resident is defined as someone holding a permanent visa, or a New Zealand citizen with a special category visa under the Migration Act 1958 [3].
If you are applying jointly and one applicant is not a permanent resident, you may still be eligible provided the other applicant meets the citizenship requirement and all other criteria are satisfied.
Previous home ownership
You (and your spouse or de facto partner) must not have previously owned residential property in Australia that you lived in on or after 1 July 2000. You must also not have owned any residential property in Australia before 1 July 2000, regardless of whether you lived in it [3].
There is an important exception for investment properties. If you have owned an investment property since 1 July 2000 but have never lived in it, you may still be eligible for the grant on a new property that will be your first home to live in. You will need to provide evidence covering the entire period of ownership, such as tenancy agreements, utility accounts, or tax returns declaring the rental income [3].
Previous grant history
You (and your spouse) must not have previously received a first home owner grant in any Australian state or territory. If you received a grant and later repaid it in full, along with any applicable penalties, you may be able to reapply [3].
Income
There is no income test for the Queensland FHOG. Your income has no bearing on your eligibility [3].
Residence requirements
The grant is for owner-occupiers, not investors. You must move into the new home as your principal place of residence within one year of the completed transaction and live there continuously for at least six months [3].
The completed transaction is defined as the point at which the home is ready for occupation and all requirements (such as a final inspection certificate or certificate of occupancy) have been fulfilled.
You can rent out rooms in the home during your six-month residency period without losing the grant, provided the arrangement does not affect your use of the home as your principal residence. However, renting out the entire property before you move in may affect your eligibility for the first home concession on transfer duty, which is a separate benefit [3].
The $30,000 first home owner grant QLD does not exist in isolation. The Queensland Government has introduced a suite of complementary measures that, when combined, significantly reduce the financial barriers to building your first home.
No stamp duty on new builds
From 1 May 2025, eligible first home buyers purchasing or building a new home in Queensland pay zero stamp (transfer) duty. This concession has been locked into law as part of the 2026-27 Budget [4] [5].
First home buyers pay no stamp duty on new homes valued up to $700,000, with a concessional rate applying for properties valued between $700,000 and $800,000 [5]. On a median-priced house-and-land package in Queensland, this stamp duty saving alone is worth more than $9,000 [4].
Boost to Buy shared equity scheme
The Boost to Buy scheme allows eligible first home buyers with a deposit of just 2% to access a government equity contribution of up to 30% for new homes (or 25% for existing homes), on properties valued up to $1 million [4]. This scheme is designed to help buyers who have a stable income but are struggling to save a large deposit.
Combined benefit summary
The table below illustrates the cumulative financial benefit available to an eligible first home buyer building a new home in Queensland:
|
Benefit |
Approximate value |
|
First Home Owner Grant |
$30,000 |
|
Stamp duty saving (new build, median price) |
$9,000+ |
|
Boost to Buy equity contribution (up to) |
30% of purchase price |
|
Total upfront saving (grant + stamp duty) |
$39,000+ |
These figures are approximate and depend on individual circumstances. Speak with a finance professional to understand exactly what you are entitled to.
Understanding the rules is one thing. Positioning yourself to take full advantage of the grant is another. Here are the most important practical tips for first home buyers considering building in Queensland.
Sign your contract at the right time. The $30,000 grant applies to contracts signed from 20 November 2023 onward. The 2026-27 Budget has confirmed the grant continues beyond 30 June 2026, so there is no longer a hard deadline pressure. However, the sooner you start the process, the sooner you can move into your new home.
Confirm the property value before you commit. The $750,000 cap includes the land, the build contract, and any contract variations. If you are adding upgrades or site-specific costs, ensure the total remains below the threshold. Your AUSMAR New Home Consultant can help you structure your selections to stay within the cap.
Check your investment property history carefully. If you have owned a rental property, you need to be able to demonstrate clearly that you never lived in it. Gather your tenancy agreements and tax returns before you apply.
Apply through an approved agent. Most buyers apply for the FHOG through their lender or conveyancer, who acts as an approved agent for the QRO. AUSMAR can point you in the right direction.
Do not confuse the grant with the first home concession. The FHOG and the stamp duty first home concession are separate benefits with separate eligibility requirements. You need to meet the requirements for each independently. For example, renting out the home before you move in may affect your concession eligibility but not necessarily your grant eligibility.
Understand the residence obligation before you plan to rent. The grant requires you to live in the home as your principal residence for at least six continuous months within the first year. If you are planning to travel, work remotely, or rent the property out, get advice before you apply.
The first home owner grant QLD is specifically designed for new homes, and for good reason. Building new offers a range of financial and practical advantages that established homes simply cannot match.
A new home comes with a full builder's warranty, modern energy efficiency standards, and no immediate maintenance costs. You are not inheriting someone else's renovation decisions, outdated systems, or hidden structural issues. Everything is built to current building codes, which means lower running costs and greater comfort from day one.
From a financial perspective, building new also means you benefit from the depreciation schedule for tax purposes if you ever choose to rent the property in future. New builds attract higher depreciation deductions than established homes, which can be a meaningful advantage over time.
When you combine the $30,000 grant, the stamp duty saving, and the long-term financial benefits of a new build, the case for building rather than buying established becomes compelling.
AUSMAR has been building homes on the Sunshine Coast and across South East Queensland since 1993, making us one of the region's most established and trusted local builders. We build from Moreton Bay to Gympie, across a range of product lines designed to suit first home buyers, growing families, and acreage buyers alike.
First Series designs
Our First Series range is purpose-built for first home buyers. Starting from $208,000, these designs offer quality inclusions, flexible floorplans, and a clear, published price. Every First Series home is eligible for the $30,000 FHOG provided you meet the eligibility criteria.
Can I use the grant if I am buying with a partner who has previously owned a home?
No. If your spouse or de facto partner has previously owned a home they lived in (on or after 1 July 2000), neither of you will be eligible for the grant. Both applicants and their spouses must meet all eligibility criteria.
Does the grant count as part of my deposit?
The grant is paid at settlement (for new home purchases) or at the point the home is ready for occupation (for builds). It does not typically count as part of the deposit you need to show your lender at the time of pre-approval. Speak with your broker about how the grant timing interacts with your finance structure.
Can I use the grant on a house and land package?
Yes. A house and land package where you purchase the land and enter into a separate building contract is one of the most common pathways for AUSMAR clients. The grant applies to the building contract component, and the total value of the land plus the build must be less than $750,000.
What happens if the total value of my home goes over $750,000 during the build?
Any contract variations that push the total value to $750,000 or more will make you ineligible for the grant. This is why it is important to confirm your total contract value, including all variations, before you apply. AUSMAR's fixed-price contracts and Price Hold commitment provide a strong safeguard against unexpected cost increases.
Is there an income limit for the grant?
No. There is no income test for the Queensland FHOG. Any eligible first home buyer, regardless of income, can apply.
Can I rent out my new home after I move in?
You must live in the home as your principal place of residence for at least six continuous months within the first year. After you have met this residency requirement, you are free to rent the property out. Renting out rooms during your residency period is also permitted, provided it does not affect your use of the home as your principal residence.
The extension of the $30,000 first home owner grant QLD is a genuine opportunity. Combined with the abolition of stamp duty on new builds and the Boost to Buy shared equity scheme, the Queensland Government has created one of the most supportive environments for first home buyers in the state's history.
At AUSMAR, we are here to help you make the most of it. Our New Home Consultants work with first home buyers every day, helping them understand the grant process, choose the right design, and build with confidence.
Book a consultation with the AUSMAR team today. We will walk you through your options, confirm your eligibility, and help you take the first step toward your new home on the Sunshine Coast or Moreton Bay.
References
[1] Queensland Government. (2026). Queensland Budget 2026-27 Budget overview. Retrieved from https://budget.qld.gov.au/files/2026-27-budget-budget-overview.pdf
[2] ABC News. (2026, June 23). Queensland budget 2026: Winners and losers. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-23/qld-budget-winners-and-losers/106810114
[3] Queensland Revenue Office. (2026). Eligibility for the first home owner grant. Retrieved from https://qro.qld.gov.au/property-concessions-grants/first-home-grant/eligibility/
[4] Queensland Government. (2026). A place to call home. Retrieved from https://aplacetocallhome.initiatives.qld.gov.au/
[5] SBS News. (2026, June 10). Australia's first full stamp duty exemption for some home buyers is coming. Retrieved from https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/stamp-duty-australia-2026-first-home-buyers-exemption-abolition-concession/nocn6qhcj