First Home Buyer Grant

Here we’ve laid out what you need to know when it comes to finding the property of your dreams, and the right home loan to go with it.

One of the most important first steps when you’re looking to buy a home is knowing what you can afford. Use iSelect’s Borrowing Power Calculator to work out an approximate figure based on your income, regular expenses and how many dependents you have.

How does the First Home Owner Grant work?

The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a one-off, tax-free grant paid to Australian citizens or permanent residents who are buying their first home in Australia. It can be very useful in covering some of the cost of stamp duty. Each state and territory has their own cap on the maximum house price for FHOG eligibility.

The First Home Owner Grant was brought in on 1 July 2000 to offset the cost of the GST. Although it’s a national scheme, each state and territory offers different bonuses and incentives, and has different eligibility rules to receive the grant.

This, combined with the fact that the First Home Owner Grant has changed a lot since it was first introduced, means it can be hard to keep track of what’s on offer.

If you’re wondering whether you’re eligible for the First Home Owner Grant, and what you could potentially get back, here’s a state-by-state guide to how it works.

Who is eligible for the First Home Owners Grant?

To be eligible for the First Home Owner Grant, you must:

• Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident,
• Be buying or building your first home in Australia, and
• Live in the property for a set period of time, which differs between states

Last but not least, the total purchase price of the property must not exceed the capped amount in your state or territory.

How much is the First Home Buyer Grant?

As mentioned, the First Home Owner Grant varies across Australia.

Make sure you learn about Stamp Duty - you can get an indication of the government fees and grants or concessions in your state or territory.

How much of a deposit do I need for my first home loan?

Another important first step in the home-buying process is saving for a deposit. Generally, the more money you’re able to put down the better, but you may be able to fast-track your dreams of home ownership through a low deposit home loan.

• From five to 15 per cent deposit. You may be able to get a home loan with five per cent of the property price as your deposit. However, your lender will still expect you to be able to cover stamp duty and other costs, and you may have to undertake Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI), which protects the lender if you default on the loan.
• At least 20 per cent deposit. The higher your deposit, the better – aiming for 20 per cent is a good start, but you may need up to 35 per cent to cover additional fees in order for you to avoid paying LMI. Having a bigger deposit could potentially also put you in a better position to negotiate with your lender and open up a range of low interest rate home loans.

Alternatively, you may be able to purchase a property with no deposit and without having to pay LMI if you have someone to act as guarantor on your home loan. In this case, your guarantor would be liable for an agreed, guaranteed amount in the event that you default on the loan.

However, the guarantor would need to have sufficient equity in their home loan so they don’t incur LMI when supporting the guarantee. Learn more about no deposit home loans.

How do I apply for the First Home Owners Grant?

To apply for the First Home Owner Grant, visit the relevant revenue office in your state or territory:

ACT
NSW
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA