Queensland first home buyers
First Home Buyer Grants and Concessions in Queensland
Buying your first home in Queensland? You may be able to receive the $30,000 First Home Owner Grant, pay no transfer duty (stamp duty) and buy with a smaller deposit through a government scheme. Several of these can be used together, but each has its own rules.
This guide explains each grant, concession and scheme as at October 2026, who it's for and how they fit together. It's general information, so we'll check your own circumstances with you before you rely on any of it.
Book a complimentary strategy sessionThe $30,000 First Home Owner Grant
The Queensland First Home Owner Grant is a one-off $30,000 payment for eligible first home buyers who buy or build a new home. It applies to contracts signed on or after 20 November 2023. The Queensland Government committed to keeping it at $30,000 in its 2026–27 Budget. Your income doesn't affect your eligibility.
To be eligible, generally:
- you're at least 18 and buying as an individual, not through a company or trust
- at least one applicant is an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- neither you nor your spouse has owned and lived in residential property in Australia since 1 July 2000, or owned any residential property in Australia before that date
- neither you nor your spouse has received a first home owner grant in any state or territory
- the home is valued under $750,000, including land and any contract variations
- you move in within 1 year of completion and live there for at least 6 continuous months
The home must be new. That can be a newly built home that has never been lived in or sold as a residence, an off-the-plan purchase, a home you build under a building contract or as an owner-builder, or a substantially renovated home bought from a GST-registered seller. The grant isn't available for established homes.
You can apply through an approved agent, which is usually your lender, or directly with the Queensland Revenue Office once the purchase or build is complete. When the grant is paid depends on how and when you apply, so don't count it towards your deposit until we've confirmed the timing with your lender.
Transfer duty (stamp duty) concessions
Transfer duty is usually one of the biggest upfront costs of buying a home. Queensland first home buyers can reduce it significantly or pay none at all.
- New homes: for contracts signed on or after 1 May 2025, eligible first home buyers pay no transfer duty on a new home, whatever its value. This includes off-the-plan homes and substantially renovated homes sold as new.
- Vacant land to build your first home: eligible buyers can also pay no transfer duty on the land, whatever its value.
- Established homes: no transfer duty on homes valued at $700,000 or less. Between $700,000 and $800,000 a partial concession applies, saving up to $24,525. Above $800,000 you may still receive the standard home concession.
To claim a first home concession you must never have held an interest in a home anywhere in the world, you must move in within 1 year of settlement and you can't rent out the whole home before you move in or within the first year. For contracts signed on or after 1 August 2026 you also need to be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or specified foreign retiree.
Use our stamp duty calculator to estimate the duty on an established home, or check the full rules on the Queensland Revenue Office website.
Buy with a 5% deposit: the 5% Deposit Scheme
The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme (previously the First Home Guarantee) lets eligible first home buyers buy with a deposit of as little as 5% without paying lenders mortgage insurance (LMI). The government guarantees part of the loan, so the lender doesn't need LMI.
Since 1 October 2025 there are no income limits and no cap on the number of places. In Queensland the property price caps are $1,000,000 in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast and $700,000 in the rest of the state. Both the purchase price and the lender's valuation need to be within the cap.
The scheme is only available through participating lenders and normal lending criteria still apply. Single parents and legal guardians may be eligible for the Family Home Guarantee with a deposit of as little as 2%.
Help to Buy: the federal shared equity scheme
Under Help to Buy, the Australian Government can contribute up to 40% of the price of a new home or up to 30% of an existing home, in exchange for an equal share of the property. You need a deposit of at least 2% and take out a smaller home loan for the rest. You can buy back the government's share over time.
Key eligibility rules include:
- taxable income at or below $103,000 for individuals, or $165,000 for joint applicants and single parents (indexed each 1 July)
- all applicants must be Australian citizens
- you can't own any other property in Australia or overseas
- Queensland price caps of $1,000,000 in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast and $700,000 elsewhere
Help to Buy is only available through participating lenders. It can't be combined with the 5% Deposit Scheme or another government shared equity scheme.
Boost to Buy: Queensland's shared equity scheme
Boost to Buy is the Queensland Government's own shared equity scheme. The government can contribute up to 30% of the price of a new home or up to 25% of an existing home. You may be able to buy with a 2% deposit on a property valued up to $1,000,000. Half of all places are reserved for regional Queensland.
Boost to Buy loans are only available through the scheme's single approved lender. We're not on that lender's panel, so we can't arrange a Boost to Buy loan for you. As at October 2026 round 2 is open, but South East Queensland places have been fully allocated and only regional places remain. If you're weighing it up, we can compare it with the 5% Deposit Scheme and Help to Buy so you can see which option may suit you best.
First Home Super Saver Scheme
The First Home Super Saver (FHSS) Scheme lets you make voluntary contributions to your super and later withdraw them, plus associated earnings, towards your first home deposit. You can withdraw up to $15,000 of contributions from any one financial year and up to $50,000 in total. Super and tax rules apply, so speak with your accountant or check the ATO website before you use it.
Which grants and schemes can you combine?
Many first home buyers in Queensland can use more than one. For example, if you're buying an eligible new home valued under $750,000, you may be able to receive the $30,000 First Home Owner Grant, pay no transfer duty and use the 5% Deposit Scheme on the same purchase.
Shared equity schemes work differently. Help to Buy can't be combined with the 5% Deposit Scheme or another shared equity scheme. Boost to Buy has its own rules. The right mix depends on the property, your income, your deposit and which lenders work with each scheme. That's where we can help.
How we help first home buyers
- check which grants, concessions and schemes you may be eligible for
- work out your borrowing power and what you'll need for your deposit and buying costs
- compare loans from our panel of 50+ lenders, including participating lenders for government schemes
- arrange pre-approval and help with your First Home Owner Grant application through your lender
- keep you on track from contract to settlement
Read more on our first home buyers page or see how pre-approval works.
Queensland first home buyer FAQs
Can I get the First Home Owner Grant on an established home?
No. In Queensland the grant only applies to new homes, off-the-plan purchases, homes you build and substantially renovated homes bought from a GST-registered seller. You may still be eligible for the first home transfer duty concession on an established home valued under $800,000.
Can I use the $30,000 grant as my deposit?
Possibly, but don't rely on it. When the grant is paid depends on whether you're buying or building and how you apply. Some lenders count it towards your contribution and others don't, so we'll check how your lender treats it before you sign a contract.
Do first home buyers pay stamp duty in Queensland?
Not on an eligible new home or vacant land to build on, if the contract was signed on or after 1 May 2025. On an established home there's no transfer duty up to $700,000 and a reduced amount up to $800,000. Above that you may still receive the standard home concession.
I've owned property overseas. Am I still a first home buyer?
For the First Home Owner Grant only residential property in Australia counts, so you may still be eligible. For the transfer duty concessions you must never have owned a home anywhere in the world. Help to Buy also excludes anyone who owns property in Australia or overseas.
Does my income affect the First Home Owner Grant?
No. There's no income test for the grant or the transfer duty concessions. The 5% Deposit Scheme no longer has income limits either. Help to Buy does have income limits. Other shared equity schemes have their own eligibility rules.
My partner has owned a home before. Can I still get the grant?
Usually not. If your spouse or partner has owned and lived in a home in Australia since 1 July 2000, or has received a first home owner grant, you generally won't be eligible either, even if the new home is only in your name. Different rules apply to the transfer duty concessions, so talk to us early.
Can I rent out my first home?
Not straight away. For the grant you must live in the home for at least 6 continuous months, starting within 1 year of completion. For the transfer duty concessions you can't rent out the whole home before you move in or within the first year. Renting out part of the home while you live there is generally allowed for leases that started on or after 10 September 2024.
Buying your first home in Queensland?
We'll check which grants and schemes you may be eligible for and compare loans from our panel of 50+ lenders. Your first strategy session is complimentary with no obligation.
Book a strategy sessionOr call us on (07) 3194 0888