First Home Buyer Grants Victoria 2026:What You’re Actually Entitled To

Buying your first home in Victoria in 2026?
You may be entitled to thousands of dollars
in government grants and concessions. Here’s
exactly what’s available and how to claim it.

The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)

The Victorian First Home Owner Grant is a
one-off payment from the state government
to eligible first home buyers.

Current grant amount: $10,000

This applies to the purchase or construction
of a new home — not an established property.

Eligibility requirements:

You’ve never owned a residential property
in Australia before
You’re an Australian citizen or permanent
resident
You or your spouse haven’t previously
received a first home owner grant in
any state or territory
The property must be a new home valued
under $750,000
You must move in within 12 months of
settlement and live there for at least
12 months continuously

What counts as a new home?

A newly built house, apartment or townhouse
A property purchased off the plan
A substantially renovated home
A home built on vacant land

Note: The FHOG does not apply to established
homes. If you’re buying an existing apartment
or house, you won’t receive the $10,000 grant —
but you may still receive stamp duty concessions.

First Home Buyer Stamp Duty Exemption

This is potentially worth far more than the
FHOG — especially in Melbourne where property
prices are high.

Full exemption (zero stamp duty):

Properties valued up to $600,000
Applies to both new and established homes
Must be your principal place of residence

Partial concession:

Properties valued between $600,001
and $750,000
Concession reduces on a sliding scale
Phases out completely at $750,000

Example savings:
A first home buyer purchasing a $580,000
apartment in Footscray pays zero stamp duty.
Without the exemption they would have paid
approximately $29,870. That’s nearly $30,000
back in your pocket.

First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSS)

The federal government’s First Home Super
Saver Scheme allows first home buyers to
save for a deposit inside their superannuation
fund — taking advantage of the lower tax
rate on super contributions.

How it works:

Make voluntary contributions to your
super (up to $15,000 per year)
Contributions are taxed at 15% instead
of your marginal tax rate
When ready to buy, withdraw up to
$50,000 total (across multiple years)
The tax saving on withdrawal can be
significant for higher income earners

Talk to your mortgage broker or financial
adviser about whether this suits your
situation.

Victorian Homebuyer Fund

The Victorian Homebuyer Fund is a shared
equity scheme where the Victorian Government
contributes up to 25% of the purchase price
in exchange for an equivalent share in
the property.

Key details:

Minimum 5% deposit required from you
Government takes a proportional ownership
stake
You can buy out the government’s share
over time
Available to eligible buyers who meet
income and property price thresholds
Property price caps apply and vary
by location

This scheme is particularly useful for
buyers who have a deposit saved but can’t
quite reach the 20% needed to avoid
lenders mortgage insurance.

Help to Buy (Federal — Pending)

The federal government’s Help to Buy shared
equity scheme has been legislated and is
expected to launch in 2026. It operates
similarly to the Victorian Homebuyer Fund
with the federal government taking a shared
equity stake of up to 40% for new homes
and 30% for existing homes.

Check the federal government’s housing
website for the latest on eligibility
and availability.

How to Apply

For the First Home Owner Grant:
Apply through your lender at settlement,
or directly through the State Revenue
Office Victoria at sro.vic.gov.au

For stamp duty concessions:
Your conveyancer applies for these
automatically as part of the settlement
process — make sure they know it’s
your first home.

For the Victorian Homebuyer Fund:
Apply through participating lenders —
check the Homes Victoria website for
the current list.

Get Your Finance Pre-Approved First

Before you start applying for grants or
inspecting properties, speak to a mortgage
broker. They can confirm which grants and
schemes you’re eligible for, factor them
into your borrowing capacity, and help
you structure your purchase to maximise
the benefit.

Most mortgage brokers in Australia are
paid by the lender — their service is
free to you.

Disclaimer: Grant amounts, eligibility
criteria, and scheme availability can change.
This article reflects our understanding of
Victorian and federal first home buyer
assistance as at 2026. Always verify current
details with the State Revenue Office Victoria
(sro.vic.gov.au), Homes Victoria, or a
licensed mortgage broker before making
any decisions.