The help you get depends a lot on one thing: is it a new home or an established one?
New home (or building)
- First home owner grant: $30,000 for new homes valued under $750,000 (including land).
- Transfer duty: nil on a new home for first home buyers with contracts from 1 May 2025, with no price cap on the home.
Established home
- No first home owner grant.
- Transfer duty: nil if valued at $700,000 or less. A reduced concession phases out between $700,000 and $800,000. Over $800,000, only the standard home concession applies.
Conditions apply, including living in the home within one year. From 1 August 2026 you must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or specified foreign retiree for the first home concessions. Check the Queensland Revenue Office pages in Sources.
The order of steps
- Know your numbers. Deposit saved, income, debts and what you can repay comfortably, including if rates rise.
- Check federal help. The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme (Housing Australia) can let you buy with a smaller deposit. The First Home Super Saver scheme lets you use voluntary super contributions towards a deposit. Check both before you sign anything.
- Get pre-approval from a lender so you know your budget.
- Decide new vs established, since the grant and duty rules differ.
- Before signing: building and pest inspection, contract reviewed by a solicitor or conveyancer, cooling-off period understood.
- Sign the contract, then apply for the grant and claim the duty concession (usually through your lender or solicitor).
- Settle and move in within the required time.
Sources
- Queensland Government: First home owner grant ($30,000, new homes under $750,000)
- Queensland Government: Transfer duty concessions
- Queensland Revenue Office: First home concession (established homes)
- Queensland Revenue Office: First home (new home) concession
- Housing Australia: Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme
- ATO: First home super saver scheme
Figures checked 1 November 2026.