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Every First Home Buyer Grant and Scheme: History and Current Options

A complete record of every Australian first home buyer grant, concession, and scheme since the schemes started in 2000, plus every current option as at April 2026.

The Australian government has been helping first home buyers get into the market for 26 years. The schemes have been introduced, topped up, scaled back, rebranded, and expanded again. Some schemes operated for a decade before being folded into something else. Others launched, reached modest uptake, and were replaced.

The result is a genuinely confusing picture. A buyer looking into their options today often finds outdated advice, retired schemes presented as current, and current schemes that have been updated several times in the past 24 months. This article sets the record straight. Every major scheme since 2000 is covered, followed by a clean list of every option available as at April 2026 and how they stack together.

Part 1. The history, 2000 to 2026

The first national first home buyer scheme in its modern form was introduced in 2000. Everything before that was state-specific and generally smaller in scope.

1 July 2000: First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) launched

The FHOG started on 1 July 2000 as a cash grant funded by the federal government and administered by each state and territory. Its original purpose was to compensate first home buyers for the newly-introduced GST, which was expected to add to the cost of new housing.

The initial grant amount was $7,000 and applied to both new and established homes. The scheme was administered consistently across states but each state set its own eligibility conditions. Over time, each state took ownership of its own version and the schemes diverged.

2001 to 2007: First Home Owner Grant Additional (FHOGA)

A temporary $7,000 top-up was added during the early 2000s to stimulate new construction. Combined with the base FHOG, eligible buyers of new homes received $14,000 for a period. This was the first demonstration that the scheme would be used as a short-term stimulus lever, not only as a long-term entitlement.

14 October 2008: First Home Owner Boost (GFC response)

During the global financial crisis, the Rudd government announced the First Home Owner Boost as an emergency stimulus. Between 14 October 2008 and 30 September 2009, first home buyers received the base $7,000 FHOG plus a $7,000 boost for established homes (total $14,000) or a $14,000 boost for new homes (total $21,000). This was later tapered: from 1 October to 31 December 2009 the Boost dropped to $3,500 for established homes and $7,000 for new homes.

The Boost ended on 31 December 2009. It was credited with pulling forward a significant volume of first home buyer activity into 2009, which in turn contributed to the cooling of first home buyer numbers in 2010 and 2011.

2011 to 2013: Grants narrow to new builds only

In the years after the GFC, most states progressively removed the FHOG on established homes and restricted it to new builds only. Queensland restructured its scheme on 12 October 2012, keeping a $15,000 grant for new and off-the-plan homes and scrapping the $7,000 grant for established properties. New South Wales did the same on 1 October 2012 with a $15,000 grant for new homes only. Similar changes happened in Victoria and other states.

This was the turning point. From this period onward, the FHOG in every state was effectively a new-home-construction grant, not a universal first home buyer payment. Buyers of established homes shifted their focus to transfer duty concessions and (later) federal schemes.

2012 to 2016: Queensland "Great Start Grant"

Queensland rebranded its FHOG as the Great Start Grant from 12 September 2012 at $15,000 for eligible new homes. The amount was later lifted to $20,000 for contracts between 1 July 2016 and 30 June 2018, before reverting to $15,000 when the boost expired.

1 July 2017: First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS)

The Turnbull government introduced the FHSSS to let first home buyers save for a deposit inside their superannuation fund. Voluntary concessional contributions could be released for a first home purchase. Initial contribution limits were $15,000 per financial year, $30,000 total. The scheme was designed to let buyers benefit from the concessional 15% super tax rate rather than their marginal rate on savings.

1 January 2020: First Home Loan Deposit Scheme (FHLDS)

The Morrison government launched the FHLDS to let eligible first home buyers purchase with a 5% deposit and avoid paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance. The federal government guaranteed the remaining portion of the typical 20% deposit. Initially 10,000 places were available each financial year on a first-in-first-served basis. Price caps varied by region (for Brisbane the initial cap was $475,000).

4 June 2020: HomeBuilder Grant (COVID response)

During the COVID downturn, the federal government introduced HomeBuilder to support the construction industry. Grants of $25,000 were offered for new builds or substantial renovations on contracts signed between 4 June and 31 December 2020. A reduced $15,000 grant applied for contracts signed between 1 January and 31 March 2021. HomeBuilder was not exclusive to first home buyers, but they were the largest user group. The scheme concluded on 31 March 2021.

1 July 2021: Family Home Guarantee (FHG) launched

The FHG launched with 10,000 places over four years for eligible single parents with at least one dependent child, allowing a 2% deposit with the remainder guaranteed. It opened up to previous home owners as well as first home buyers.

1 July 2022: FHSSS cap raised to $50,000

The lifetime contribution cap inside the FHSSS was raised from $30,000 to $50,000 (still within the $15,000 per financial year limit).

1 October 2022: Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee

A separate 5%-deposit scheme launched for regional first home buyers, with 10,000 places per year. This sat alongside (not replacing) the FHLDS.

1 July 2023: Home Guarantee Scheme rebrand

The federal government consolidated the FHLDS, FHG, and Regional FHBG under a single umbrella called the Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS). The FHLDS was rebranded as the First Home Guarantee (FHBG). Eligibility was broadened to include Australian permanent residents (not only citizens).

20 November 2023: Queensland FHOG doubled to $30,000

In response to deteriorating first home buyer affordability, the Queensland government doubled the FHOG from $15,000 to $30,000 for contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2025, later extended to 30 June 2026. The scheme remained restricted to new homes with a maximum property value of $750,000.

9 June 2024: Queensland First Home Concession uplifted

The Queensland First Home Concession on transfer duty was materially uplifted from contracts signed on or after 9 June 2024. The full concession (nil duty) extended up to $709,999 with a taper between $710,000 and $799,999. Above $800,000 the first home concession is nil but the general home concession still applies.

1 July 2024: Stage 3 income tax cuts

The Stage 3 tax cuts changed the resident individual tax brackets: 16% (from 19%) at $18,201 to $45,000; 30% (from 32.5%) at $45,001 to $135,000 (up from $120,000); 37% threshold moved to $135,001 to $190,000 (from $120,001 to $180,000); 45% threshold moved to $190,001+. For first home buyers in the $80k to $135k income band, this provided material additional borrowing capacity.

1 May 2025: Queensland First Home Vacant Land Concession uncapped

The First Home Vacant Land Concession, which previously applied to land valued up to $400,000, was made a full concession with no cap on land value for contracts entered into on or after 1 May 2025.

1 October 2025: Home Guarantee Scheme expansion

The federal Home Guarantee Scheme was materially expanded from 1 October 2025. Income caps were removed entirely (previously $125k single, $200k couple). The cap on the number of places was removed (previously 35,000 per year across FHBG + Regional FHBG + FHG). Price caps were raised: Brisbane's cap moved to $1,000,000.

December 2025: Help to Buy scheme launched

The federal shared-equity Help to Buy scheme launched in December 2025 through Commonwealth Bank and Bank Australia, with more lenders joining in 2026. The scheme allows eligible buyers to purchase with a 2% deposit, with the federal government taking a 30% equity share (existing homes) or 40% (new homes). Up to 40,000 households across four years. Income caps $100k single, $160k couples and single parents.

Part 2. Current options, April 2026

What follows is every first home buyer scheme that is live and accepting applications as at April 2026. Grouped by type. Where amounts, thresholds, or rules have changed recently, the effective-from date is noted.

Queensland First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)

• Amount: $30,000 for eligible new home contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2026. Reverts to $15,000 for contracts signed from 1 July 2026.
• What qualifies: New home (never previously occupied as a residence), off-the-plan apartments, substantially renovated homes, or owner-builder builds. Existing homes do not qualify.
• Maximum property value: $750,000 (including land).
• Who is eligible: Australian citizens or permanent residents who have never owned residential property in Australia. Must occupy the home as principal place of residence for at least 12 continuous months starting within one year of settlement.
• How paid: To your lender at settlement (for a purchase) or at the first progressive payment (for a build). Applied for through your lender or directly through the Queensland Revenue Office (QRO).

Queensland First Home Concession on Transfer Duty

• Amount: A concession against standard transfer duty of up to $17,350.
• What qualifies: Eligible first home buyers of existing OR new homes (the previous separate new-home version was consolidated).
• Thresholds (from 9 June 2024): Full concession (duty = $0) on properties up to $709,999. Taper between $710,000 and $799,999. At $800,000 and above, the first home concession is nil but the general home concession for owner-occupiers still applies.
• Who is eligible: Has never owned an interest in residential property in Australia. Must live in the home as principal place of residence for 12 months starting within one year of settlement. Must be a natural person (not a company or trust).

Queensland First Home Vacant Land Concession

• Amount: Full transfer duty concession with no cap on the land value (from 1 May 2025).
• What qualifies: Vacant residential land on which the first home buyer will build their first home. Eligibility conditions mirror the First Home Concession.
• Build obligation: A home must be constructed and occupied within a set period (typically two years). Failure to complete the build triggers a clawback of the concession.

First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS)

• How it works: Voluntary concessional contributions to your super fund can be released later to put toward a first home deposit. Contributions are taxed at the super rate (15%) rather than your marginal rate, which is usually lower. The withdrawn amount is taxed at your marginal rate minus 30%.
• Contribution limits: Up to $15,000 in any single financial year. Lifetime cap of $50,000 (raised from $30,000 on 1 July 2022). Your contribution counts toward the $30,000 annual concessional cap (which includes employer super guarantee).
• Release timing: Once you have found a property or are about to sign a contract, you apply through the ATO to release the funds. Release can take a few weeks, so plan for this during your pre-approval conversations.
• Couples: Each partner has their own $50,000 cap. A couple can contribute $100,000 combined across the full lifetime, in addition to their other deposit savings.
• Critical point: You must apply to the ATO to release the money BEFORE you sign the contract. Signing before applying makes you ineligible.

First Home Guarantee (FHBG)

• How it works: You purchase with a 5% deposit (instead of the usual 20%). The federal government guarantees the remaining portion of the deposit shortfall, which removes the requirement for Lenders Mortgage Insurance. The saving is typically $20,000 to $40,000 depending on the property price and deposit size.
• Current rules (from 1 October 2025): No income cap. No limit on the number of places. Price cap in Brisbane is $1,000,000 (Brisbane capital city and regional Queensland).
• Who is eligible: Australian citizens or permanent residents. Must be a first home buyer or someone who has not owned a residential property in Australia in the past ten years. Must occupy the home. Single or couple applications accepted.
• How applied for: Through one of the panel lenders (major banks and many others) as part of the loan application. The guarantee is confirmed within the pre-approval process.

Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee

• How it works: Same mechanism as the FHBG, but targeted at regional applicants with property purchases in regional areas.
• Current rules (from 1 October 2025): Also uncapped on places. Income caps removed. Applies to Queensland regional areas outside the Brisbane capital-city region. Price cap for regional Queensland $1,000,000.

Family Home Guarantee (FHG)

• How it works: A 2% deposit option for eligible single parents or legal guardians with at least one dependent child. The federal government guarantees the 18% deposit shortfall.
• Current rules (from 1 October 2025): No income cap (previously $125,000). No limit on the number of places (previously 10,000 per year). Available to both first home buyers and previous owners, as long as the applicant does not currently own residential property.
• Property types: Houses, units, townhouses, off-the-plan, or house-and-land.

Help to Buy (federal shared equity)

• How it works: A shared-equity scheme where the federal government contributes up to 40% of the purchase price for a new home (30% for an existing home) in exchange for a matching equity share in the property. You buy with as little as a 2% deposit.
• Launched: December 2025 (via Commonwealth Bank and Bank Australia). More lenders joining through 2026.
• Who is eligible: Australian citizens over 18. Income caps $100,000 for singles, $160,000 for joint applicants and single parents. Must occupy the home. Must not currently own or have an interest in any Australian property. Available to both first home buyers and previous owners.
• Places: 10,000 places per year across four years (40,000 total). These are capped, unlike the FHBG.
• Repayment: The government's equity is paid back when you sell, refinance above an LVR threshold, or at the end of the loan term. You can also buy out the government's share progressively as your equity grows.
• Trade-off: Lower upfront cost and lower ongoing repayments (because your loan is smaller), but capital gains are proportionally shared with the government. Worth modelling against a standard 5%-deposit purchase before deciding.

Part 3. How the options stack

Not every scheme can be combined. Some are mutually exclusive, some are additive, and some are situation-specific.

• FHOG + First Home Concession on transfer duty. Stackable. An eligible first home buyer purchasing a new home under $750,000 can receive the $30,000 grant AND pay zero or reduced transfer duty.
• FHSSS + anything else. Stackable. FHSSS funds form part of your deposit. They do not disqualify you from the FHBG, Help to Buy, Family Home Guarantee, or state concessions.
• FHBG + First Home Concession on transfer duty. Stackable. Many buyers use both: 5% deposit under the FHBG, plus nil or reduced transfer duty on the QLD first home concession.
• FHBG + FHOG. Stackable if you are buying a new home under both schemes' caps. Not common because the FHOG requires a new home and the FHBG is often used for established purchases.
• Help to Buy + FHBG. Not stackable. Help to Buy and the FHBG are alternative routes to low-deposit purchase. Choose one.
• Help to Buy + state concession. Generally stackable with state transfer duty concessions, but confirm with your solicitor.
• Family Home Guarantee + FHOG. Stackable in principle, but the FHG opens to previous home owners and the FHOG requires first home buyer status. Both must independently be satisfied.

A realistic example: Brisbane first home buyer, April 2026

Let us model a realistic scenario. A Brisbane couple, both first home buyers, earning $135,000 combined. They have $85,000 saved and are looking at a new three-bedroom townhouse in Carina at $720,000.

What they can access:

• Queensland FHOG: $30,000 (new home under $750k cap, contract before 30 June 2026).
• Queensland First Home Concession: at $720,000 the concession tapers. The duty calculation returns approximately $1,540 payable (well below the ~$17,000 a standard buyer would pay at this price).
• First Home Guarantee (FHBG): available because the property is under the $1M Brisbane cap. Allows them to proceed with a 5% deposit.
• FHSSS: if they have contributed to super voluntarily, they can release the funds to boost their deposit. Each partner can contribute up to $50k lifetime.

Their numbers:

• Purchase price: $720,000
• Deposit required under FHBG: 5% = $36,000
• Transfer duty: approximately $1,540 (first home concession applied)
• Legal and conveyancing: $2,200
• Building inspection: $700
• Mortgage registration and misc: $500
• Total cash needed at settlement: approximately $40,940
• LESS FHOG ($30,000 paid direct to lender): effective cash required $10,940
• With $85,000 savings, they are comfortably in the purchase with buffer for moving and setup.

Without these schemes, the same purchase would have required approximately: 20% deposit ($144,000) + $17,000 transfer duty + $3,400 in other costs = $164,400. The schemes reduce the required savings from $164,400 to about $41,000 before applying the FHOG payment. This is the genuine effect of the current stack of first home buyer support.

What to check before assuming you qualify

Every scheme has eligibility fine print. A few items trip up first home buyers more than others.

• "Never owned" includes your partner. If your partner has previously owned property, neither of you qualifies for most first home buyer schemes.
• "Never owned" includes overseas property. If you owned property in the UK, NZ, or elsewhere, you are generally excluded.
• Investment property disqualifies. Having previously owned an investment property (never lived in) still disqualifies you from most schemes.
• Occupancy requirement. Most schemes require you to move in within 12 months and live there for 12 continuous months. Breaching the occupancy requirement triggers clawback.
• Permanent residency status. Some schemes require Australian citizenship; others accept permanent residents. Confirm based on your specific situation.
• Price caps. The Brisbane FHBG cap is $1M. The FHOG cap is $750k. Help to Buy caps differ. Buying above any cap removes that specific scheme.
• FHSSS timing. You must apply to release FHSSS funds BEFORE signing the contract. Mistiming this is a common disqualifier.

Sources and references

• Queensland Revenue Office, First Home Owner Grant. qro.qld.gov.au. Accessed April 2026.
• Queensland Revenue Office, Home Concession Rates (last updated 30 April 2025). qro.qld.gov.au.
• Housing Australia, First Home Guarantee factsheet. housingaustralia.gov.au. Scheme expanded 1 October 2025.
• Australian Taxation Office, First Home Super Saver Scheme. ato.gov.au.
• Australian Government, Help to Buy Scheme. firsthomebuyers.gov.au. Launched December 2025.
• Revenue NSW, First Home Owner Boost (retired). revenue.nsw.gov.au.