Updated October 2026 ยท Victorian rules from the State Revenue Office (SRO).
Who doesn't love a $10,000 payment from the government? Before you start choosing paint colours, here's the catch: the Victorian First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is only for new homes. Don't worry, there's good news for established-home buyers too, thanks to stamp duty relief. Let's go through both.
How much is the grant?
The Victorian First Home Owner Grant is a one-off $10,000 payment to help eligible first home buyers buy or build a new home to live in. The $10,000 applies statewide; the older $20,000 regional grant ended in mid-2021. The grant is generally paid at settlement and applied directly to your home loan.
What counts as a "new" home?
According to the SRO, the property must be:
- in Victoria and worth up to $750,000 (for off-the-plan purchases, this means the contract price; for a build, the total value including land)
- new: not previously sold, occupied as a home, leased out or used for short-term accommodation. This includes substantially renovated homes and homes built to replace a demolished one
- used as your principal place of residence
- bought or built under a contract signed on or after 1 July 2013
It can be a house, townhouse, apartment or unit. Established homes (second-hand) do not qualify for the grant.
Applicant eligibility
Everyone who will be named on the title must be an applicant. If you have a spouse or partner, their details must be included even if they won't be on the title, because their circumstances affect your eligibility. To qualify, all applicants must generally be:
- natural persons (not a company or trust)
- at least 18 years of age at settlement or completion of construction
- Australian citizens or permanent residents
- first home buyers who have never owned residential property in Australia (alone or jointly) and have not previously received a first home grant
- going to live in the property as their home, within the timeframe set by the SRO
The SRO's website has the full list and the specific occupation requirements, so check it before you sign a contract.
Don't forget stamp duty relief (this is the bigger saving for many)
Victorian first home buyers may get land transfer (stamp) duty relief on new or established homes:
- Full exemption if the dutiable value is $600,000 or less
- A concession (a sliding-scale discount) if the dutiable value is $600,001 to $750,000
- No first home buyer duty relief above $750,000
For example, on a $550,000 purchase, stamp duty without the concession is roughly $26,000. For a first home buyer, it's $0. The SRO notes the first home buyer duty benefits are not available if you or your partner have previously received them. Your conveyancer or solicitor usually applies for the duty relief when they lodge the digital duties form as part of electronic conveyancing. If you overpay because you didn't claim an entitlement, the SRO allows a refund claim up to five years after the duty was paid.
There's also a principal place of residence concession (for owner-occupiers who aren't first home buyers, up to $550,000) and a temporary off-the-plan concession, so ask your conveyancer which you may qualify for.
A worked example: the combo
Meet Sam and Priya. They buy a brand-new $585,000 off-the-plan apartment in Melbourne's west. They get:
- $10,000 First Home Owner Grant
- $0 stamp duty instead of roughly $25,000+ (first home buyer exemption)
- a 5% deposit possible through the First Home Guarantee with no LMI (the price is well under the $950,000 cap)
That's a very large chunk of upfront costs avoided. (The numbers are a simple illustration; every deal is different.)
How to apply: step by step
- Check eligibility on the SRO website before you sign a contract.
- Engage your lender or broker. Most people apply through an approved agent, such as a bank or credit union, as part of the home loan.
- Provide documents (see the checklist below).
- The grant is paid when the application is approved, usually applied to your loan at settlement.
- If no approved agent lodges for you, you can apply directly to the SRO within 12 months of settlement or completion of the build.
Checklist: before you apply
- The home is new (or substantially renovated, or a replacement build) and valued at $750,000 or less
- Every person on title (and your partner) has never owned residential property in Australia and hasn't had a first home grant before
- Everyone is 18+ and meets citizenship/residency rules
- I plan to live in the home as my principal place of residence
- My contract was signed on or after 1 July 2013 (it will be, unless you own a time machine)
- Your lender/conveyancer has confirmed the FHOG application and the stamp duty exemption or concession
- ID, contract of sale, and any build contract and plans are on hand
- I know about repayment risks: if you don't meet the residency conditions, the SRO may require the grant to be repaid
Common mistakes
- Assuming an established home qualifies for the grant (it doesn't)
- Forgetting that a partner's property history can affect eligibility
- Going just over the $750,000 limit and losing the grant entirely
- Treating the grant as spendable cash on top of a tight budget, when it normally goes straight to your loan at settlement
A bit of humour
The FHOG is a bit like a cashback offer at the supermarket: wonderful, but you do need to buy the right product, in the right size, and bring your card. Skip one of the steps and you may end up with a lot of paperwork and nothing in your shopping bag.
Official links
- State Revenue Office Victoria, First Home Owner Grant: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/fhog
- SRO, understanding the FHOG: https://sro.vic.gov.au/first-home-owner-grant/understanding-first-home-owner-grant
- SRO, first home buyer duty exemption or concession: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/first-home-owner
- SRO, land transfer duty calculator: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au
- Housing Australia, First Home Guarantee: https://www.housingaustralia.gov.au/first-home-guarantee-faqs
Disclosure and Disclaimer
This article is general information only and is not financial, credit, legal, tax or investment advice. It does not consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. Grants, thresholds and eligibility rules are set by government and change often, so confirm everything with the State Revenue Office before relying on it. Please do your own research and obtain independent advice from a licensed financial adviser, mortgage broker, accountant and conveyancer or solicitor before making any decision. To the maximum extent permitted by law, our business, its directors, employees and brokers accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this article.