First Home Owner Grant QLD 2026: $30,000 Grant, Stamp Duty Concessions & New Rules

Updated: August 2026

Buying your first home in Queensland can involve more than simply saving a deposit.

Depending on the property you purchase and your personal eligibility, government grants and transfer duty concessions could significantly reduce the amount of money you need to complete your purchase.

For Brisbane and South East Queensland buyers in particular, understanding the difference between the First Home Owner Grant and first-home transfer duty concessions is important because they are separate forms of assistance with different eligibility requirements.

As of August 2026, eligible Queensland buyers purchasing or building a qualifying new home may be able to receive the $30,000 First Home Owner Grant. Eligible first-home buyers may also qualify for transfer duty—commonly called stamp duty—concessions when purchasing a new home, established home or vacant residential land.

Here is what first-home buyers need to know before signing a contract.

How Much Is the First Home Owner Grant in Queensland in 2026?

The Queensland First Home Owner Grant provides $30,000 to eligible buyers purchasing or building a new home under the current rules.

The Queensland Government confirmed that the increased $30,000 grant would continue for eligible contracts signed from 1 July 2026.

The grant applies to qualifying new homes valued at less than $750,000, including the land.

Importantly, the First Home Owner Grant is not available for an established home.

A qualifying new home can include a newly built house, unit or townhouse and, in certain circumstances, a substantially renovated home that meets the Queensland Revenue Office definition.

First Home Owner Grant vs Stamp Duty Concession

These two benefits are often confused, but they are not the same.

The First Home Owner Grant is a payment that may help an eligible first-home buyer purchase or build a qualifying new home.

A transfer duty concession reduces the amount of Queensland transfer duty payable when purchasing property.

An eligible buyer may potentially qualify for both when purchasing a new home.

The key differences in August 2026 are:

Eligibility conditions apply in every case.

Do First Home Buyers Pay Stamp Duty in Queensland?

The answer depends heavily on what you are buying.

Buying a Brand-New Home

For qualifying transactions entered into from 1 May 2025, eligible first-home buyers purchasing a new home may receive a full transfer duty concession, reducing the duty on the residential component to zero.

Unlike the $30,000 First Home Owner Grant, the new-home transfer duty concession currently has no value cap on the residential home and land component.

This distinction can make a major difference when comparing properties.

For example, an eligible first-home buyer purchasing an $850,000 qualifying new home would be above the $750,000 First Home Owner Grant threshold, but may still qualify for the full new-home transfer duty concession.

Buying an Established Home

Different thresholds apply when the property has already been occupied.

For eligible first-home buyers purchasing an established Queensland home, the current concession can reduce transfer duty to $0 for homes valued at $700,000 or less.

A partial concession applies to qualifying homes valued between $700,001 and $799,999, and the Queensland Revenue Office states the first-home concession can save up to $24,525.

Once the property reaches $800,000, the special first-home concession no longer applies, although the ordinary home concession may still be available depending on the circumstances.

What About Vacant Land?

Queensland also provides an important concession for eligible first-home buyers purchasing residential vacant land on which they intend to build their first home.

For qualifying agreements entered into from 1 May 2025, eligible first-home buyers may pay no transfer duty on the residential vacant land, with no value cap applying to the residential portion.

Duty can still apply to any part of the property that is not residential land.

This can be particularly relevant to buyers comparing house and land packages throughout Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay and other South East Queensland growth areas.

The Important New Rule From 1 August 2026

Queensland changed the eligibility rules for home-related transfer duty concessions from 1 August 2026.

For transactions entered into from that date, a buyer generally needs to be an:

Australian citizen, permanent resident, or specified foreign retiree.

Temporary residents will generally no longer qualify for these home concessions. Queensland Revenue Office advises that foreign buyers who do not qualify may also be liable for the additional foreign acquirer duty where applicable.

The date the contract is entered into is important.

Queensland Revenue Office states that the new eligibility rule applies to transactions signed on or after 1 August 2026. Transactions signed on or before 31 July 2026 are treated under the earlier eligibility rules even if settlement occurs later.

Buyers whose residency status is relevant to their eligibility should obtain professional advice before relying on a concession.

Three Simple First-Home Buyer Examples

Understanding the difference between the grant and stamp duty becomes easier when looking at examples.

Example 1: $690,000 Established Home

An eligible first-home buyer purchases an established Brisbane home for $690,000.

Because it is an established property, the buyer would not receive the $30,000 First Home Owner Grant.

However, because the property is below the current $700,000 threshold, the eligible buyer may qualify for a full first-home transfer duty concession and therefore pay no transfer duty.

Example 2: $740,000 New House and Land Property

An eligible first-home buyer purchases or builds a qualifying new property with a total value of $740,000.

Because the property is new and below the current $750,000 First Home Owner Grant limit, the buyer may qualify for the $30,000 grant.

If the transaction also meets the requirements for the first-home new-home transfer duty concession, transfer duty on the residential property may be reduced to zero.

Example 3: $850,000 Brand-New Home

An eligible first-home buyer purchases a qualifying brand-new property for $850,000.

The purchase price is above the current $750,000 First Home Owner Grant limit, so the grant would generally not be available.

However, the current first-home new-home transfer duty concession does not have a value cap for the residential component. The buyer may therefore still qualify for $0 transfer duty if all other eligibility requirements are satisfied.

This is why buyers should not assume that exceeding the First Home Owner Grant price limit automatically means they lose all first-home buyer assistance.

First Home Buyer Eligibility: What Should You Check?

Eligibility depends on the particular grant or concession being claimed, so buyers should confirm their circumstances directly with Queensland Revenue Office.

For the first-home transfer duty concessions, important considerations include whether you have previously owned an interest in residential property, whether you are buying as an individual, your age and residency status, and whether you will occupy the property as your home.

Queensland Revenue Office generally requires eligible buyers claiming a first-home concession to move into the property and live there on a daily basis within one year of settlement.

Different conditions apply to the First Home Owner Grant, so do not assume that qualifying for one benefit automatically means you qualify for every available concession.

Can You Receive the $30,000 Grant and Pay No Stamp Duty?

Potentially, yes.

An eligible first-home buyer purchasing or building a qualifying new home under $750,000 may potentially receive the $30,000 First Home Owner Grant while also qualifying for the full first-home new-home transfer duty concession.

The Queensland Government specifically distinguishes the grant from transfer duty concessions and confirms that eligible buyers of new homes may potentially access both.

For first-home buyers comparing new builds with established properties, this means it is important to compare the total cost to purchase, rather than the advertised property price alone.

What Should House and Land Buyers Check?

House and land packages can be structured differently from a straightforward established-home purchase, with a land contract and building contract often forming separate parts of the transaction.

Before relying on any grant or concession, confirm the total project value, land price, building price, contract dates, variations, inclusions, site costs, expected registration date, finance requirements and whether the property meets the relevant definition of a new home.

The First Home Owner Grant threshold is currently less than $750,000 including land, so buyers close to the limit should also consider whether variations or other amounts included in the relevant value calculation could affect eligibility.

This is particularly important when upgrading a floor plan, façade, landscaping, electrical package, air conditioning or other building inclusions after initially selecting a package.

Should You Buy New or Established to Access First-Home Buyer Benefits?

Government assistance should form only one part of the decision.

An established property may provide a location, block size or character that better suits your needs.

A new property may offer newer fixtures, contemporary designs, reduced immediate maintenance and access to government assistance that is not available when purchasing an established home.

The right option depends on your budget, borrowing capacity, preferred location, lifestyle and long-term plans.

Rather than choosing a property purely because a grant is available, compare the complete cost and quality of each opportunity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the First Home Owner Grant still $30,000 in Queensland in 2026?

Yes. Under the current Queensland rules in August 2026, eligible buyers purchasing or building a qualifying new home may receive a $30,000 First Home Owner Grant. The qualifying new home must be valued at less than $750,000 including land.

Can I get the $30,000 grant when buying an established home?

No. The Queensland First Home Owner Grant applies to qualifying new homes rather than established properties. Eligible buyers of established homes may instead qualify for a transfer duty concession.

Do first-home buyers pay stamp duty on a new home in Queensland?

Eligible first-home buyers purchasing a qualifying new home under a contract entered into from 1 May 2025 may receive a full transfer duty concession on the residential component. There is currently no value cap for this concession.

What is the stamp duty threshold for an established first home in Queensland?

Eligible first-home buyers may pay no transfer duty on an established home valued at $700,000 or less. A partial first-home concession applies between $700,001 and $799,999.

Does the $750,000 grant limit also apply to the new-home stamp duty concession?

No. They are separate programs. The First Home Owner Grant has a property-value limit of less than $750,000, while the current first-home new-home transfer duty concession has no value cap on the qualifying residential component.

Can first-home buyers get a stamp duty concession on vacant land?

Eligible first-home buyers purchasing qualifying residential vacant land on which to build their first home may receive a full transfer duty concession under the rules applying to agreements from 1 May 2025.

Explore First-Home Buyer Opportunities in Brisbane and South East Queensland

Understanding the grants is one part of buying your first home. Finding a property that works with your budget, finance, preferred location and long-term plans is equally important.

Allwood Property Group helps first-home buyers compare new builds, land and house and land packages throughout Brisbane and South East Queensland.

Our team can help you compare available locations, package prices, land sizes, home designs, turnkey inclusions and current property opportunities.

If you are considering buying or building your first home, contact Allwood Property Group to discuss what is currently available.

Phone: 0410 302 343
Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute financial, legal, taxation or credit advice. Government grants, concessions, property prices and eligibility requirements can change. Buyers should confirm current requirements with the Queensland Revenue Office and obtain independent professional advice before entering into a property, land, building or finance contract.