First Home Owners Grant WA: What You Get and How to Claim
The WA First Home Owner Grant is $10,000 for a new home. Eligibility, the 26th parallel value caps, the stamp duty concession, and how to apply for 2025-26.
By Timothy Hirou GaschereauPublished 10 min read
Try it yourself
The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) in Western Australia is a $10,000 one-off cash payment from the WA Government, administered by RevenueWA. It is not a loan, you do not repay it, and there is no income or assets test, so your salary does not affect whether you qualify.
The catch: in WA the grant applies only to new homes, with a value cap that depends on where in the state you buy. 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 RevenueWA before you sign.
🎯 The essential: The WA FHOG is a $10,000 one-off grant for eligible first home buyers, for new homes only (newly built, off the plan, or building a new home), not established homes. The value cap depends on the 26th parallel: $800,000 south of it (all of Perth) and $1,000,000 north, for contracts from 7 May 2026. You must move in within 12 months and live there 6 continuous months. It stacks with the First Home Owner Rate of Duty (stamp duty concession), the federal 5% Deposit Scheme, and the First Home Super Saver Scheme.
What the First Home Owner Grant is
The FHOG is a one-off cash payment from the WA Government, administered by RevenueWA. The current amount is $10,000 for 2025-26. There is no income test and no assets test. For purchases it is paid at settlement; for construction contracts it is paid at the first progress payment, so you see the money when you need it.
How much it is, and what counts as a new home
The amount is a flat $10,000. It applies only to new homes, in three scenarios:
- Buying a newly built home that has never been lived in.
- Buying off the plan (a contract before or during construction).
- Building a new home (house-and-land package or owner-builder).
Substantially renovated homes can qualify in some cases under RevenueWA's criteria. Established homes do not qualify, which is the single most common reason applications are rejected. If a property has been lived in before, it is out, even briefly, even if it looks brand new.
The 26th parallel value caps
WA is the one state where the cap depends on where you buy. The dividing line is the 26th parallel of south latitude, which runs well north of Perth. For contracts from 7 May 2026:
| Location | Value cap (from 7 May 2026) |
|---|---|
| South of the 26th parallel (all of Perth, Geraldton) | $800,000 |
| North of the 26th parallel (Broome, Port Hedland, Karratha) | $1,000,000 |
The cap is the combined value of home and land. If you are buying near the boundary, check your property's exact location before assuming which cap applies.
Who is eligible
All of these must be true:
- At least one applicant is 18 or over, and at least one is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
- Neither you nor your spouse or de facto partner has previously owned residential property in Australia and lived in it for six continuous months (for ownership on or after 1 July 2004; earlier ownership has its own rules).
- Neither of you has previously received the FHOG or the first home owner rate of duty anywhere in Australia.
- The property is a new home within the value cap for its location.
- You move in within 12 months and live there as your principal home for at least 6 continuous months.
No income test, no assets test. Your salary and savings do not affect eligibility.
How it stacks with other first home buyer help
The FHOG does not exist in isolation. WA buyers can combine several schemes:
| Scheme | What it does | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| FHOG (WA) | $10,000 cash grant | New homes only |
| First Home Owner Rate of Duty | No duty up to $600k, concession to $800k | New and established homes |
| 5% Deposit Scheme (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 |
The First Home Owner Rate of Duty (WA's stamp duty concession) is separate and, unlike the grant, applies to established homes too: no duty up to $600,000, a concessional rate from $600,001 to $800,000 (from 7 May 2026). You can also buy with a 5% deposit via the federal 5% Deposit Scheme and build your deposit inside super with the First Home Super Saver Scheme. For the stamp duty picture generally, see our first home buyer stamp duty guide.
Worked example
Priya and Sam buy a newly built home in a Perth suburb for $720,000. Neither has owned property before, and their contract is after 7 May 2026.
- FHOG: new home, under the $800,000 Perth cap. They receive $10,000 at settlement.
- Stamp duty: at $720,000 they pay the concessional rate ($16.15 per $100 above $600,000), roughly $19,380, well below the full rate.
- 5% Deposit Scheme: they may buy with a 5% deposit and avoid LMI, subject to caps and a participating lender.
Combined: a $10,000 grant, a large stamp duty saving and no LMI. Exact figures depend on the lender and current rules.
How to apply
Through your lender or approved agent (most common): they lodge the application and the $10,000 is applied at settlement. This is standard for new home and off-the-plan purchases.
Directly through RevenueWA: owner-builders, or buyers whose lender is not an approved agent, apply directly within 12 months of the completion date.
Common traps to avoid
- Buying an established home and expecting the grant. It is new homes only.
- Exceeding the value cap. An $810,000 Perth build (from 7 May 2026) misses the $800,000 cap and gets nothing.
- Misreading the 26th parallel. Check your property's exact side of the line if you are near the boundary.
- Not actually moving in for the 6-month residency period within 12 months, which triggers repayment.
- Missing the 12-month application deadline if applying direct to RevenueWA.
- A partner's prior ownership, which disqualifies the whole application even if they are not named.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Can I get the First Home Owner Grant on an established home in WA?
+
No. The WA FHOG applies only to new homes that have never been lived in, or homes with substantial renovations meeting RevenueWA's criteria. A standard second-hand home does not qualify. You may still get the First Home Owner Rate of Duty (stamp duty concession) on an established home, which is a separate benefit.
How much is the First Home Owner Grant in WA in 2025-26?
+
$10,000. It is a one-off payment, not a loan, with no income test and no repayment. It is paid at settlement for purchases, or at the first progress payment for construction. Always verify the current figure with RevenueWA.
Can I use the FHOG as part of my deposit?
+
Not directly. It is paid at settlement (or first progress payment for a build), so it arrives at the point of purchase rather than beforehand. Some lenders may factor the incoming grant into their assessment, so ask your broker or lender how it works for you.
Does the WA FHOG apply to house and land packages?
+
Yes. A house and land package with a comprehensive home building contract is eligible. The combined home and land value must fall within the cap for your location ($800,000 south of the 26th parallel for contracts from 7 May 2026). The grant is paid at the first progress payment stage.
What happens if I do not move in within 12 months?
+
You must notify RevenueWA in writing. If you do not, and you do not meet the residency requirement, you may have to repay the grant with penalties and could lose the stamp duty concession. In genuinely unforeseen circumstances beyond your control, the Commissioner may grant an extension or reduction.
Can I get the FHOG if my partner has owned property before?
+
It depends. If your spouse or de facto partner has previously owned residential property in Australia and lived in it for at least six continuous months (on or after 1 July 2004), you are not eligible. The prior-ownership rules apply to all applicants and their partner, not just the person named. Check the full criteria with RevenueWA.
Keep reading
The bottom line
If you are buying or building a new home in WA under the cap, the $10,000 grant is close to free money, and stacking it with the stamp duty concession and the 5% Deposit Scheme is where the real saving adds up. Just watch the new-home rule and which side of the 26th parallel you are on, and confirm the current figures with RevenueWA 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, value caps and eligibility rules change and vary by state. Always verify current details with RevenueWA 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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