Don’t miss on free government money. Find out if you’re eligible for the first home owners grant in QLD.

Ready to buy your first home? Check your eligibility for the first home owners grant in QLD 

Are you keen to say goodbye to rental inspections and difficult landlords for good? Owning a house gives you the flexibility to create a home you love, and the stability of knowing it’s yours! 

But it’s also the biggest financial commitment we’ll make in our lifetimes. So while you are probably already skimping and saving, there are other ways to help boost your bank account and fast track moving into your dream home. 

The Queensland First Home Owners' Grant  is available to help people just like you move into their first home sooner. So read on to find out what it is, how much you can get, and check if you’re eligible. 

What is the first home owners grant? 

The Queensland First Home Owners' Grant provides a bonus of $15,000* towards buying or building your first house. This is a grant, not a loan, so you will never have to pay it back. It’s also not means tested, so it is not related to your salary. However, you will need to be able to pass a bank’s mortgage test to receive it. 

It can be used to buy a new or off the plan house, unit, townhome, apartment or duplex anywhere in Queensland. It’s important to note, this amount is one per house, not per applicant. 

Check your eligibility

To be eligible for the first home owners grant you must be able to answer YES to all the following questions: 

• Are you buying a new home or having a new home built? 

• Will this be the first home owner grant for you, your spouse or another applicant? 

• Are all applicants individuals and over 18 years of age (i.e. not a company or a trustee)? 

• Will this be the first home owned and lived in by you, your spouse or another applicant in Australia? 

• Are at least one of the applicants Australian citizens or permanent residents? 

• Is your building contract date on or after 1 July 2018? 

• Will you move into the home as your principal place of residence within 1 year of completing the transaction, and remain in the home for a continuous period of 6 months? 

• Is the value of the home (including the land) less than $750,000? 

If you said YES to all of the above, congratulations- you may be eligible for the Queensland First Home Owners' Grant. To check your eligibility visit The Queensland Government website has an eligibility tester for the first home owner grant. 

A few more things to consider 

While they won’t stop you receiving the grant, the following points need to be considered, and you may need to provide extra paperwork or statutory declarations to prove eligibility: 

• If you are receiving financial help, such as a loan or gift from a family member, this needs to be disclosed.  

• If most of the home has been renovated (most or all of the building has been removed or replaced.) you may also be eligible. 

• If this person plans on living in the home, you’ll need to explain why. 

• If the home is being built by a friend or relative, you’ll need to provide evidence of the market value. 

• If you don’t apply for the grant at the time of purchase, you may be able to apply within one year of taking possession of the new home. 

Additionally, you may be able to save on stamp duty (the government tax you pay on the sale of a property).

Where to buy a home in Queensland? 

Buying a house and land package in a new community is the best way to ensure your home is eligible for the Queensland First Home Owners' Grant.  

Located at the southern end of the beautiful Sunshine Coast, only a short drive to beaches and 90km^ from Brisbane is the community of Aura. Queensland’s fastest growing residential community offers everything you need for a relaxed and modern family life. Or check out the house and land packages available in Providence, 43km south of Brisbane, where you have everything at your fingertips – two local schools, parks, playgrounds and more to come!  

Further north, North Shore in Townsville is the epitome of laid-back outdoor living, close to the Northern Beaches, schools, shops, and James Cook University. It’s leafy surrounds and kilometres of walking trails make it a great place to put down roots in your first home.  

Check out the full list of house and land packages in Queensland. 

Next steps 

1. Start searching for your dream block of land to build on or the perfect new home ready to move straight into (called a turnkey package). Make sure you consider the land size, house size, nearby amenities such as schools and shops, and build time. 
2. Speak to residential developers like Stockland who can help you choose a home that suits your needs and budget. Once you have an idea of how much you’ll need, it's time to get finance. In most cases you will  also need to speak to a lender at this stage to get pre-approval, which gives you an indication of how much they are willing to lend you.  
3. If you’re building a new home or renovating, meet with local builders to find the right fit. Look through the house plans they offer, check what's included, speak to past clients and talk about timelines before signing any contracts.
4. Take your plans to a bank or mortgage broker to get a home loan. They can also help you apply for the first home owner grant, and any other discounts you may be eligible for. Normally, grants are paid directly into your bank at the time of settlement, not at the start of the build.
5. Go back to your developer and builder to sign the contract to begin the build, or start the settlement process and get the keys to move in! 

*Not a Stockland promotion. Eligibility and other restrictions apply. Visit https://www.qld.gov.au/housing/buying-owning-home/financial-help-concessions/qld-first-home-grant for more information. 

^All distance and travel timeframe references are estimates only, refer to distance by car or driving time (unless specified otherwise), and are based on information obtained from Google Maps at the time of publication (September 2024).