First Home Owners Grant SA: What You Get and How to Claim
The SA First Home Owner Grant is $15,000 with no property value cap on new homes. Eligibility, the stamp duty abolition, and how to apply for 2025-26.
By Timothy Hirou GaschereauPublished 10 min read
Try it yourself
The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) in South Australia is a $15,000 one-off cash payment from the SA Government, administered by RevenueSA. It is not a loan, you do not repay it, and since June 2024 there is no cap on the price of the home you buy.
That is a meaningful shift: whether you are buying a $450,000 townhouse or a $900,000 new build, the same grant is on the table. Here is who qualifies, how it stacks with SA stamp duty relief and federal schemes, and how to apply. General information only, and rules change, so confirm with RevenueSA before you sign.
🎯 The essential: The SA FHOG is a $15,000 one-off grant for eligible first home buyers, for new homes only (newly built, off the plan, or built under a building contract), not established homes. For contracts from 6 June 2024 there is no property value cap. From 13 February 2025, neither you nor your spouse or partner can have owned any Australian residential property before. You must move in within 12 months and live there 6 continuous months. It stacks with SA stamp duty relief, the federal First Home Guarantee, and the FHSS.
What the First Home Owner Grant is
The FHOG is a one-off cash payment from the SA Government, administered by RevenueSA. It is not a loan and you do not pay it back, provided you meet the eligibility criteria and live in the home. One grant is available per eligible transaction, so a couple gets one $15,000 payment between them, not one each.
How much it is, and what counts as a new home
The amount is $15,000, paid once (at or around settlement, or the first progress payment on a build). It applies to new homes only. Eligible types include:
- A newly built home that has never been lived in.
- An off-the-plan apartment (bought before or during construction).
- A home built under a comprehensive building contract, or a house-and-land package.
- A substantially renovated home meeting RevenueSA's criteria.
Not eligible: established homes (already lived in) and vacant land on its own. Buying a block does not trigger the grant; signing a building contract on it can. Knock-down rebuilds only qualify for contracts entered into before 13 February 2025.
The value cap is gone
This is the big recent change. For contracts signed on or after 6 June 2024, there is no property value cap: the grant is available regardless of the home's price. For contracts on or before 5 June 2024, a $650,000 cap applied.
The relevant date is when you signed the contract, not when you settled or finished building. This is genuinely good news for the Adelaide new-build market, where buyers of higher-value homes previously missed out entirely.
Who is eligible
Every applicant must be a natural person aged 18 or over, and at least one must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen on a Special Category visa. Then:
- Ownership history (contracts from 13 February 2025): neither you nor your spouse or domestic partner can have owned any Australian residential property previously. Any prior ownership disqualifies the application, regardless of when or how long.
- Even if your partner is not on the title, you must include their details, because their ownership history affects your eligibility.
- Residency: move in within 12 months of settlement or completion, and live there continuously for at least 6 months as your principal home.
There is no income test or assets test.
How it stacks with other first home buyer help
The FHOG does not exist in isolation, and combining schemes makes a real difference:
| Scheme | What it does | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| FHOG (SA) | $15,000 cash grant | New homes only (no value cap) |
| SA stamp duty relief | Stamp duty fully abolished | New homes and vacant land to build on |
| First Home Guarantee (federal) | Buy with a 5% deposit, no LMI | New and established (price caps apply) |
| First Home Super Saver (FHSS) | Withdraw up to $50k of voluntary super | Deposit savings |
The SA stamp duty relief (a separate RevenueSA scheme) is arguably worth more than the grant: for contracts from 6 June 2024, stamp duty is fully abolished for eligible first home buyers on a new home or vacant land to build on, also with no value cap. You can also buy with a 5% deposit via the federal First Home Guarantee and build your deposit inside super with the First Home Super Saver Scheme. See our first home buyer stamp duty guide for the wider picture.
Worked example
Priya is 28, an Australian citizen, and has never owned property (nor has her partner). She signs a contract in August 2025 to buy a new townhouse in Adelaide's north for $620,000.
- FHOG: contract after 6 June 2024, so no value cap, and no prior ownership. She receives $15,000.
- Stamp duty: fully abolished on the new home, saving roughly $26,000.
- First Home Guarantee: with a 5% deposit she avoids LMI, saving several thousand more.
- FHSS: she releases $28,000 of eligible super contributions to top up her deposit.
All four stack together. She must move in within 12 months and live there at least 6 months as her principal home.
How to apply
Through an approved agent (most common): most lenders lodge the application at settlement and apply the grant then. If you need the grant paid at settlement or first progress payment, you must go through an approved agent.
Directly with RevenueSA: for owner-builders or where your lender is not an approved agent. You can lodge from the time you sign the contract, and must lodge within 12 months of completion.
Common traps to avoid
- Established homes are not eligible. The grant is for new homes only.
- Vacant land alone does not qualify; you need a signed building contract too.
- The residency requirement is enforced. Renting it out or moving out early risks repayment plus penalties.
- The 12-month deadline runs from completion, not from the contract date.
- Your partner's prior ownership counts from 13 February 2025, even if they are not on the title.
- Knock-down rebuilds only qualify for contracts before 13 February 2025.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Can I get the FHOG SA for an established home?
+
No. The SA grant applies to new homes only: newly built, off the plan, substantially renovated, or built under a comprehensive building contract. An established home that has been lived in does not qualify (though you may still access SA stamp duty relief on a new home or land).
How much is the FHOG in SA?
+
$15,000, paid as a one-off lump sum. One grant is available per eligible transaction, regardless of how many applicants are on it. Amounts can change, so check RevenueSA for the current figure.
Is there a property value cap on the FHOG SA?
+
For contracts signed on or after 6 June 2024, there is no property value cap. The grant is available regardless of the price of the new home. For contracts on or before 5 June 2024, a $650,000 cap applied.
Can I stack the FHOG with SA stamp duty relief?
+
Yes. They are separate schemes with separate applications, and you can qualify for both at once. You can also stack them with the federal First Home Guarantee and the First Home Super Saver Scheme. Qualifying for one does not affect the others.
What if my partner previously owned a home?
+
For contracts on or after 13 February 2025, your spouse or domestic partner's previous ownership of any Australian residential property disqualifies your FHOG application, even if they are not on the title. You must include their details regardless. You may still qualify for stamp duty relief, so check that separately.
How do I apply for the FHOG in SA?
+
Through an approved financial institution (your lender) or directly with RevenueSA. If you need the grant paid at settlement or first progress payment, you must apply through an approved agent. You can lodge from the time you sign the contract and must lodge within 12 months of completion.
Keep reading
The bottom line
South Australia is one of the most generous states for first home buyers right now: a $15,000 grant with no value cap, plus fully abolished stamp duty on new homes. Just remember it is new-homes-only and the residency requirement is real, and confirm the current rules with RevenueSA before you sign.
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Some links above are affiliate links. If you buy through them, Snowball Invest may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend books we'd suggest anyway.
Sources
This article is general information only, not financial, legal or tax advice. Grant amounts and eligibility rules change and vary by state. Always verify current details with RevenueSA and seek advice from a qualified professional before making any property decisions.
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General information only. This article is educational and does not constitute personal financial advice. It does not account for your circumstances. Consider your own situation and seek advice from a licensed adviser before acting. Read our full disclaimer.
Timothy Hirou Gaschereau
Founder of Snowball Invest, not a financial adviser.
I write about what I'm learning myself, because nobody ever taught us how to take control of our own money. It's a skill, not a mystery, and it's never too late to learn it. The best day to start was yesterday, the second best is today.
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