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Queensland offers first home buyers a grant toward a new home and separate transfer duty concessions, but the two work differently and the figures involved have changed in recent years. This guide covers the basics and, more importantly, why you need to check the current position for yourself before relying on any number.
First Home Owner Grant Basics
The Queensland first home owner grant is currently $30,000, applying to eligible contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2026, with the $30,000 amount confirmed to continue for eligible contracts signed from 1 July 2026 onward. The grant is administered by the Queensland Revenue Office (QRO) and is generally available for buying or building a new home, not an established, previously occupied dwelling.
Eligibility at a Practical Level
Broadly, applicants need to be individuals rather than a company or trust, at least one applicant generally needs to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and applicants and their spouse generally must not have previously owned residential property in Australia. QRO’s own eligibility guidance sets out the full criteria and is the appropriate place to confirm your specific situation rather than relying on a general summary.
The New Home Requirement
The grant is targeted at new homes, meaning a home that has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence, including a home you build yourself or buy off-the-plan, or in some cases a substantially renovated home. Buying an established home that someone has already lived in generally will not qualify for the grant itself, even though it may still qualify for other concessions below.
Transfer Duty Home Concession vs First Home Concession
Queensland has a general transfer duty home concession available to any buyer who will live in the property as their principal place of residence, not just first home buyers. Separately, the first home concession is a more generous concession specifically for eligible first home buyers, and works on a different threshold structure.
First Home Concession for Established Homes
For an established home, the first home concession currently means no transfer duty is payable up to a purchase price of $700,000, a reduced amount of duty applies between $700,000 and $799,999, and standard home concession rates apply from $800,000 upward.
First Home Concession for New Homes
For a new home, the concession is more generous again. For eligible transactions entered into on or after 1 May 2025, a full transfer duty concession applies with no cap on the purchase price of the new home for eligible first home buyers.
First Home Vacant Land Concession
A separate concession exists for first home buyers purchasing vacant land on which they intend to build their first home. The specific value threshold for this concession should be confirmed directly through QRO’s own vacant land concession guidance, since it is assessed under its own rules separate from the established and new home concessions above.
Owner-Occupation Requirements
Both the grant and the transfer duty concessions generally require you to move into the property and treat it as your home within a set timeframe after settlement or completion, and to continue living there for a minimum period. The exact timeframes are set by QRO and should be confirmed directly, since failing to meet them can affect your eligibility after the fact.
Why You Must Check Current Thresholds Before Relying on Them
Grant amounts, concession thresholds, and eligibility dates have changed multiple times in recent years and can change again. Always confirm the current figures directly on the Queensland Revenue Office website for your specific contract date before budgeting around them.
When Professional Guidance Is Appropriate
An accountant can help you understand how these concessions fit your overall financial position, and your conveyancer or solicitor can help ensure your contract and application are handled correctly. For anything beyond a general understanding, QRO’s own guidance and application process is the authoritative source.
Where This Fits Into Your Research
See our guide to choosing a conveyancer or solicitor and our broader guide on what to check before making an offer.
Where Narevella Can Help
Our free Queensland Property Research Checklist covers the wider pre-purchase research process. For a specific address, our Property Review can help.
Disclaimer
This guide provides general research information only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Grant amounts and concession thresholds change and eligibility depends on your specific circumstances. Always confirm current figures and your eligibility directly with the Queensland Revenue Office before relying on them.
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