Preparing financially
Victorian First Home Owner Grant
A one-off grant for eligible first-home buyers of a new home in Victoria — applicant and previous-ownership eligibility, the residency obligation, and how it differs from the duty exemption.
- The Grant applies only to new homes valued up to $750,000 — newly built, qualifying off-the-plan, substantially renovated, or replacing demolished premises.
- The previous-ownership test isn't simply "never owned" — it turns on whether you or your partner lived in an owned Australian property for 6+ months on or after 1 July 2000.
- At least one applicant must live in the home as their main residence for 12 months, starting within 12 months of settlement or construction finishing.
- It's separate from, and can potentially be combined with, the Victorian duty exemption/concession — but each has its own eligibility rules.
This guide covers Victoria's own First Home Owner Grant in full detail. Every other state and territory runs its own grant, with amounts from $10,000 to $50,000 — see first-home buyer duty concessions and grants outside Victoria for the full NSW, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT and NT comparison.
What the Grant pays and who qualifies
The Victorian First Home Owner Grant pays $10,000 (State Revenue Office Victoria, verified 7 Aug 2026) to eligible first-home buyers of a new home — newly constructed, a qualifying off-the-plan purchase, substantially renovated, or built to replace demolished premises — for properties valued up to $750,000 (State Revenue Office Victoria, verified 18 Aug 2026). A property can lose its "new" status through prior occupation, a prior residential sale, or use as leased or short-term accommodation, so the specific property's history matters more than its age.
Who can apply?
Every applicant must be a natural person, at least 18, and every person who will hold an interest in the property must apply — a spouse or partner must be disclosed even if they won't be on the title. At least one applicant generally needs to meet the citizenship or permanent-residency requirement.
Have you really never owned property?
The common shorthand — "you must never have owned property" — is imprecise. The actual test is whether you or your spouse/partner have lived in a home either of you owned in Australia, on or after 1 July 2000, for a continuous period of 6 months or more. If you owned a property after that date but never lived in it for that long, you may still be eligible; ownership before 1 July 2000 generally rules you out regardless. Your partner's ownership and occupation history counts even if they aren't an applicant or on the title, and having already received an Australian First Home Owner Grant also affects eligibility.
What residency obligation applies after settlement?
At least one applicant generally must occupy the home as their principal place of residence for a continuous period of at least 12 months, starting within 12 months of settlement or of construction finishing. Not meeting this obligation is generally something you need to report to the SRO, and can require repaying the Grant — a narrow exception exists for eligible Australian Defence Force personnel.
How it differs from the duty exemption
The Grant is a one-off cash payment toward your purchase, separate from the Victorian first-home buyer duty exemption or concession. Established-home buyers may still be eligible for the duty exemption/concession even though they can't receive the Grant, which only applies to new homes — worth checking both separately rather than assuming one implies the other.
Practical checklist
Before assuming the Grant applies
- Confirm the property's occupancy and sale history qualifies it as 'new'
- Check your (and your partner's) previous-ownership history against the 1 July 2000 / 6-month test
- Check the property's price against the current cap
- Confirm you can meet the 12-month residency obligation before you rely on the Grant
- Ask your lender or the SRO how and when the Grant will actually be paid
Questions for a professional
- Does this specific property qualify as 'new' for First Home Owner Grant purposes?
- Does my (or my partner's) previous ownership history affect my eligibility?
- What is the current price cap, and does this property fall under it?
- Can I receive the Grant and the duty exemption on the same purchase?
Official resources
Sources and methodology
- First Home Owner Grant — State Revenue Office Victoria (retrieved 29 Jul 2026)
- First Home Owner Grant | State Revenue Office Victoria — State Revenue Office Victoria (retrieved 18 Aug 2026)
Figures on this page are drawn from Delora's local knowledge graph, refreshed from these primary sources and checked for changes on a regular schedule. If a figure here looks out of date, the official source above is always the authority — please let us know.