First Home Owners Grant VIC: What You Get and How to Claim
The Victorian FHOG is $10,000 for new homes up to $750k. Check eligibility, how to apply, and what else you can stack it with. Updated for 2025-26.
By Timothy Hirou GaschereauPublished 10 min read
Try it yourself
The First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) in Victoria is a $10,000 one-off cash payment from the State Revenue Office for eligible first home buyers. It is not a loan, you do not pay it back (as long as you meet the conditions), and it is designed to take a bit of the sting out of buying or building a new home.
The catch that trips people up: in Victoria the grant applies only to new homes valued at $750,000 or less. Here is who qualifies, how it stacks with other first home buyer help, and how to apply. General information only, and amounts and caps change, so confirm with the SRO before you sign.
🎯 The essential: The Victorian FHOG is a $10,000 one-off grant for eligible first home buyers, for new homes only (newly built, off the plan, or substantially renovated) valued at $750,000 or less, not established homes. The old $20,000 regional grant ended on 30 June 2021, so it is $10,000 statewide now. You must move in within 12 months and live there 12 continuous months. It is not means-tested or taxable, and it stacks with the stamp duty exemption and the First Home Guarantee.
What the First Home Owners Grant is
The FHOG is a one-off cash payment administered by the State Revenue Office Victoria (SRO). The current amount is $10,000, statewide, for 2025-26. It is not a loan, it applies only to new homes, and the property must be valued at $750,000 or less.
One point of confusion worth clearing up: the $20,000 regional FHOG that ran from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2021 has ended and has not been reinstated. If you see references to a $20,000 regional top-up online, check the date of the article. It is $10,000 everywhere now.
How much it is, and what counts as a new home
The amount is a flat $10,000. The $750,000 value cap is hard: if your home costs $750,001, you get nothing, not a reduced amount. For off-the-plan purchases, the cap is based on the contract price. What qualifies as a new home:
- A brand-new home (house, townhouse, apartment, unit) that has never been sold or lived in as a residence.
- An off-the-plan apartment or townhouse.
- A substantially renovated home where the previous structure has been largely replaced, or a home built to replace a demolished dwelling.
What does not qualify: established homes (anything previously lived in), and investment properties being resold that were previously occupied. If you are buying an established home in Melbourne or regional Victoria, the FHOG does not apply (though the stamp duty exemption might).
Who is eligible
Every applicant must tick these boxes:
- Be a natural person (not a company or trust) aged 18 or over.
- Have never previously received the FHOG anywhere in Australia.
- Have never owned residential property in Australia before 1 July 2000, and never lived in a property you owned for 6+ continuous months on or after that date.
At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident (New Zealand citizens are eligible for settlements on or after 26 November 2025). At least one must move in within 12 months and live there for at least 12 months.
A key trap: these rules apply to your spouse or partner even if they are not on the title, and you must include their details on the application. Owning a property you only ever used as an investment (never lived in) does not disqualify you, and there are relief pathways for family-violence victim-survivors.
How it stacks with other first home buyer help
The FHOG is one piece of the puzzle. Several schemes can be combined:
| Scheme | What it does | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| FHOG (VIC) | $10,000 cash grant | New homes only (up to $750k) |
| Stamp duty exemption/concession | No duty up to $600k, concession to $750k | New and established homes |
| First Home Guarantee (federal) | Buy with a 5% deposit, no LMI | New and established (price caps apply) |
| First Home Super Saver (FHSS) | Withdraw voluntary super for a deposit | New and established homes |
On a qualifying new home under $600,000 you could take the FHOG ($10,000 cash), pay zero stamp duty under the first home buyer stamp duty exemption, and buy with a 5% deposit via the First Home Guarantee. You can also boost your deposit with the First Home Super Saver Scheme. Check eligibility for each separately.
Worked example
Priya is 27, an Australian citizen, and has never owned property. She buys a brand-new townhouse in Melbourne's outer suburbs for $580,000.
- FHOG: eligible (new home, under $750k). She receives $10,000.
- Stamp duty: full exemption (under $600k), saving roughly $31,070.
- First Home Guarantee: she may buy with a 5% deposit ($29,000) and avoid LMI, subject to caps and a participating lender.
Combined, that is roughly $50,000 to $55,000 in grants, exemptions and avoided costs. The exact figures depend on the dutiable value, her lender and the current rules.
How to apply
Through your lender (most common): most banks are approved agents and will lodge the application at settlement, applying the grant to your settlement funds. This is the easiest route, so check with your lender early.
Directly with the SRO: if your lender is not an approved agent, or you are an owner-builder, apply directly within 12 months of settlement or build completion. Everyone on the title must be an applicant, and your partner's details must be included even if they are not on the title.
Common traps to avoid
- Buying an established home and expecting the grant. It is new homes only.
- Exceeding the $750,000 cap. Even $1 over and you lose the entire grant, not just part of it.
- Not moving in within 12 months, or not staying the 12-month residency period. Either triggers repayment.
- Applying too late (you have 12 months if going direct to the SRO).
- A spouse or partner who has previously owned and lived in a home, which disqualifies the whole application even if they are not on the title.
- Assuming Victorian rules match another state. Amounts, caps and definitions differ everywhere.
❓ Frequently asked questions
How much is the First Home Owners Grant in Victoria in 2025-26?
+
$10,000 statewide for eligible new home purchases valued at $750,000 or less. There is no regional variation now. The amount has been $10,000 since 1 July 2021, when the old $20,000 regional grant ended.
Can I get the FHOG if I buy an established home in Victoria?
+
No. The Victorian FHOG is strictly for new homes: newly built, off the plan, or substantially renovated properties that have never been lived in. You may still qualify for the first home buyer stamp duty exemption on an established home, which is a separate benefit.
Do I have to live in the home to get the FHOG?
+
Yes. At least one applicant must move in as their principal place of residence within 12 months of settlement or build completion, and live there for at least 12 continuous months. ADF personnel on duty are exempt if enrolled to vote in Victoria.
Can I use the FHOG as part of my deposit?
+
In most cases, yes. If you apply through an approved lender, the $10,000 is typically applied at settlement, which reduces the cash you bring to the table. Talk to your lender early, as the timing can vary.
Can I get the FHOG and the stamp duty exemption at the same time?
+
Yes, if you qualify for both. A first home buyer purchasing a new home under $600,000 can receive the $10,000 FHOG and pay zero stamp duty. Between $600,001 and $750,000 you get the FHOG plus a reduced stamp duty concession.
Is the $20,000 regional FHOG still available?
+
No. The $20,000 regional grant ran from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2021 only. It ended and has not been reinstated. From 1 July 2021 the grant reverted to $10,000 for all of Victoria, including regional areas. If you see references to $20,000, check the article's date.
Keep reading
The bottom line
If you are buying a new home in Victoria under $750,000, the $10,000 grant is close to free money, and stacking it with the stamp duty exemption (under $600k) and First Home Guarantee is where the real saving adds up. Just watch the new-home rule and the value cap, and confirm the current figures with the SRO before you sign.
📚 Recommended reading
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Making Money Made Simple
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Sources
This article is general information only, not financial, legal or tax advice. Grant amounts, value caps and eligibility rules change and vary by state. Always verify current details with the State Revenue Office Victoria 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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