Being a first-home owner is pretty remarkable all by itself. But it also comes with a completely catch-free, no-strings-attached, never-ever-have-to-repay boost from your state government.
It’s called the First Home Owners Grant (FHOG), and it’s designed to help renters break out of the landlord cycle and step into a brand-new space of their own. In Western Australia, it’s a $10,000 grant. In South Australia, it’s a grant of up to $15,000.
The 7 Golden Rules of Eligibility
Each state government has clear criteria for who gets the cash. To claim your grant, you and your property must tick these seven boxes:
| Criteria Category | The Exact Rule | The Fine Print |
| Legal status | You must be a real-life human. | No family trusts, companies or corporate entities allowed. |
| Age limit | You must be 18 or older. | If you’re under 18, you have to apply for a special exemption. |
| Residency | At least one applicant must be an Aussie. | Must be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident at the time of application. In SA, eligible New Zealand citizens holding a Special Category visa may also qualify. |
| Property history | You must have never owned a home in Australia. | If you’ve owned property anywhere in Oz before, your eligibility might be affected. The exact rules vary between WA and SA. |
| The partner | Your spouse or de facto must also be a first-timer. | If your partner received the FHOG or owned a home before, you can’t claim it as a couple. |
| The price cap | The rules depend on where you’re building. | In WA, your house and land package must be under $800,000 in metropolitan areas (like these). In SA, there’s currently no property value cap for eligible contracts entered into on or after the 6th of June 2024. |
| Move-in timeline | You must live in the home for at least 6 continuous months. | You have to move in within 12 months of handover and stay for at least half a year. |
Do I Actually Get a $10,000 Cheque on Day One?
Let’s bust a common misconception: the government doesn’t drop a couple of grand into your bank account the day you sign your contract so you can go on a shopping spree at IKEA.
Although we wish that were the case, since you’re building a new home, the application is lodged through your construction lender.
RevenueWA releases the $10,000 directly to the bank at the slab down stage (when the foundations of your house are poured). This money acts like a massive equity injection, lowering the overall amount you need to draw down on your loan.
In SA, it works a little differently. The grant is generally paid through your lender or approved agent at the first progress payment stage of the build. Just like in WA, it helps reduce the amount of funding needed throughout construction, making the journey to home ownership that little bit easier.
The Secret Bonus: Double Down with $0 Stamp Duty
If you qualify for the FHOG, the savings get even better. The government scales back your transfer duty (stamp duty) via the First Home Owner Rate.
For a house and land package, you only pay stamp duty on the land component. In WA, first home buyers now pay no stamp duty on vacant land up to $450,000, with reduced rates up to $550,000. For homes, no duty is payable up to $600,000, with concessions available up to $800,000.
In South Australia, stamp duty relief is available for eligible first home buyers, and for contracts entered into on or after the 6th of June 2024, no property value cap applies to eligible new homes and vacant land used to build a home.
Compared to buying an established home, where you pay full tax on the whole purchase price? Building new saves you tens of thousands.
Sound Like You? Let’s Get Started
Figuring out loan structures, land titles and government forms can feel like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded. That’s what we’re here for. We handle the heavy lifting, boring paperwork and everything in between.
If you’re ready to stop paying your landlord’s mortgage and start building your own equity, let’s chat.