Buying your first home

The Victorian First Home Owners’ Grant is a state government initiative to help first home owners to get their new first home sooner.

A $10,000 First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is available when you buy or build your first new home.

The FHOG is $20,000 for new homes built in regional Victoria, for contracts signed from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2020. (Read information about FHOG amounts available before 1 July 2013.)

Your first home can be a house, townhouse, apartment, unit or similar but it must be valued at $750,000 or less, be the first sale of the property as residential premises and the home must be less than five years old.

It cannot be an investment property or a holiday house.

​The FHOG may be paid in addition to other exemptions or concessions for eligible homebuyers, including pensioners.

The timing of your FHOG payment depends on the contract you sign to buy or build your new home, and whether you lodge your application directly with us or via an approved agent.

Your answers to seven checklist questions on the Application for First Home Owner Grant (FHOG-Form-02) determines your eligibility to receive the grant. You can also use an online tool to assess your eligibility.

You are not entitled to the FHOG if you or your spouse/partner have previously:

• Received a first-home owner grant in Australia.
• Owned a home or other residential property in Australia, either jointly or separately, before
  1 July 2000.
• Occupied, for a continuous period of at least six months, a home which either of you owned or part-owned on or after 1 July 2000 in Australia.

You may still be eligible for the FHOG if you or your spouse/partner purchased a property on or after 1 July 2000 and have not lived there as your home.

Additionally, to receive the FHOG at least one applicant must:

• Must occupy the home as their principal place of reside (PPR) for at least 12 months, commencing within 12 months of settlement or completion of construction.
• Be aged 18 or over (discretionary).
• Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident:
  • In the case of the purchase of a new home – as at the date on which the applicant/s become entitled to possession of the home under the contract, which generally occurs on the date of settlement.
  • In the case of entering into a comprehensive building contract – as at the date on which the building is ready for occupation as a place of residence, which generally occurs when construction of the home is finished.

New Zealanders holding a special category visa under s32 of the Migration Act 1958 and anyone holding a permanent visa under s30(1) are considered permanent residents for these purposes.

New Zealand citizens must be living in Australia when the eligible transaction is completed.

Full FHOG eligibility criteria are outlined in the lodgement guide.

Penalties and interest will apply if you receive the FHOG and are not entitled to it.

Anyone who will own any part of your new home must be included on the original application for a first home owner grant. You only need one application for your new home, regardless of the number of applicants, because one grant is payable per new home.

If you have a spouse, they must be included on the application—either as an applicant or non-applicant spouse.

You must submit the original application and it must be:

• signed by all applicants
• witnessed
• completed in full
• accompanied by supporting documentation (e.g. proof of identity, contract, final inspection certificate).

The application form has a checklist of what you need to supply. For more information on the First Home Owner’s Grant, contact us today.