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Queensland First Home Owner Grant 2026: $30,000 Before It Expires June 30

Queensland’s $30,000 FHOG: A Deadline You Can’t Afford to Miss

If you’re a first home buyer looking to enter the Queensland property market, there has never been a better time to act. Queensland’s First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is currently set at $30,000 — double the standard rate — but this boosted amount expires on 30 June 2026. After that date, the grant reverts to $15,000, meaning you could leave $15,000 on the table simply by waiting too long.

Whether you’re planning to buy your first home in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast or regional Queensland, understanding the grant requirements now gives you the best chance of securing every dollar you’re entitled to.

What Is the Queensland First Home Owner Grant?

The Queensland First Home Owner Grant is a one-off state government payment designed to help eligible first-time buyers purchase or build a new home. It’s funded by the Queensland Government and administered through the Queensland Revenue Office (QRO).

Here’s the current breakdown:

$30,000 for contracts signed (or foundations laid for owner-builders) between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2026 (inclusive)
$15,000 for eligible transactions outside that window

The grant applies to new homes valued at less than $750,000 (including the land). It cannot be used for established homes — those that have been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence.

Eligibility: Who Can Apply?

To receive the $30,000 grant, you must meet all of the following criteria:

Age: You must be 18 years or older
Citizenship: At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
First home: Neither you nor your spouse/de facto partner can have previously owned residential property in Australia — this includes investment properties, even if you never lived in them
New home: The property must be a brand new dwelling that has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence
Property value: Total value of home and land must be under $750,000
Residency intention: You must move into the home as your principal place of residence within 12 months and live there continuously for at least 6 months

If you’re unsure whether you meet the ownership history requirement, speak to a broker early — it’s one of the most commonly misunderstood criteria.

What Qualifies as a ‘New Home’ in Queensland?

The FHOG is exclusively for new homes. In Queensland, an eligible transaction includes:

New home purchase: A brand new dwelling not previously occupied or sold as a place of residence
Off-the-plan purchase: Buying before or during construction, where the home hasn’t been lived in or sold as a residence
Contract to build: A comprehensive home building contract (foundations to completion) with a registered builder
Owner-builder: You build the home yourself and foundations are laid between the eligible dates
Substantially renovated home: A home where extensive structural renovation has occurred and the property hasn’t been occupied since renovation

Eligible dwelling types include houses, units, duplexes, townhouses, modular homes and kit homes. The key test is that nobody has lived in it before you.

For house and land packages, the $750,000 cap applies to the combined value of the land and construction contract. If the total exceeds $750,000, you won’t qualify — even if each contract individually falls under the threshold.

How to Apply for the Queensland FHOG

You can apply for the grant in two ways:

Through your lender (most common): If you’re taking out a home loan, your approved lender can lodge the application on your behalf at settlement or first draw-down. The grant is then applied directly to your loan or settlement costs.
Directly through the Queensland Revenue Office: If you’re not using a home loan (for example, owner-builders paying cash), you apply directly to the QRO after the eligible transaction is complete.

The key documents you’ll generally need include your signed contract, identification, and evidence you meet the residency and citizenship requirements. Your broker or conveyancer can help coordinate the paperwork.

Stacking the FHOG with Other First Home Buyer Benefits

The great news is that the FHOG doesn’t stand alone. Queensland first home buyers purchasing a new home may also be entitled to zero stamp duty (effective from 1 May 2025 for new builds with no price cap). That’s potentially another $15,000–$30,000 in savings on top of the $30,000 grant.

You can also combine the FHOG with the federal First Home Guarantee, which allows you to buy with as little as a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance. If you’re unsure how much deposit you need, that’s a great place to start your research.

Sam, Lagos Financial’s Brisbane-based team member, works with Queensland buyers every week and regularly sees buyers stack the $30,000 FHOG, zero stamp duty, and the federal 5% deposit scheme — a combination that can transform the timeline to ownership. With Brisbane property remaining in strong demand, acting before the June 30 deadline is critical. You can explore the loan types available to help you determine the right structure for your purchase.

The Brisbane Market Context: Why Timing Matters

Brisbane continues to experience strong buyer demand, partly driven by ongoing infrastructure investment and interstate migration. For first home buyers, the combination of the $30,000 grant and Queensland’s stamp duty exemptions on new homes represents a genuine window of opportunity that won’t last.

With the grant reverting to $15,000 from 1 July 2026, buyers who miss the deadline will need to save an additional $15,000 to make up the shortfall — a significant difference in today’s market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the Queensland FHOG for an established home?

No. The Queensland First Home Owner Grant is only available for new homes — properties that have not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence. Established homes do not qualify. However, first home buyers purchasing established homes valued under $800,000 may still be eligible for stamp duty concessions in Queensland.

Does the $750,000 cap include the land value?

Yes. For house and land packages, off-the-plan purchases, and contracts to build, the $750,000 cap applies to the total combined value of land and construction. If your total transaction value is $750,000 or more, you are not eligible for the grant.

What happens if I signed my contract before 20 November 2023?

If your eligible contract was signed before 20 November 2023, the grant amount is $15,000, not $30,000. The boosted $30,000 rate only applies to contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2026.

Can I use the FHOG and the First Home Guarantee (5% deposit scheme) together?

Yes, these are separate schemes administered by different levels of government. The Queensland FHOG is a state government grant, while the First Home Guarantee is a federal scheme. Eligibility criteria differ between the two, so it’s worth confirming your eligibility for both with a mortgage broker.

Ready to Claim Your $30,000?

The window is closing. With the Queensland First Home Owner Grant reverting to $15,000 on 1 July 2026, now is the time to get your finances in order, find the right property, and secure your application. At Lagos Financial, our team — including Sam in Brisbane — helps first home buyers across Queensland navigate every grant, scheme, and loan option available to them. Book a complimentary assessment today and let’s map out your path to ownership before the deadline arrives.