Buying your first home is an exciting time and often the largest investment you will make. When buying a home in Victoria for the first time, financial help is available with the $10,000 First Home Buyers Grant, known as the First Home Owners Grant (FHOG). Whether it is a house, townhouse, apartment or unit, eligibility criteria is the same so that owners must live there.
Eligibility Criteria for the First Home Owners Grant in Victoria
The First Home Owners Grant for Victorians is aimed solely at those first time buyers purchasing new builds. Although it is a national scheme, it is funded individually by states and territories so each has their own eligibility criteria. For those eligible applicants, a one-off grant is available. In Victoria, the current eligibility criteria for the First Home Owners Grant is:
Applicant eligibility
- Applicants must be first home buyers. You and your spouse or partner cannot have owned a property before.
- You can only receive the grant once.
- Must be one Australian citizen or permanent resident.
- Cannot be a company or trust.
- You must occupy the house for a minimum of six months.
- Minimum 18 years of age.
- The contract must be signed after July 1, 2013.
Property eligibility
- The property must be brand new. That means newly built or built by the applicants.
- The contract price can be up to $750,000.
First Home Owners Grant Eligibility Exemptions
There are two possible exemptions to the eligibility criteria for the grant.
- You may still be eligible for a First Home Owner Grant if your spouse or partner purchased a property on or after 1 July, 2000 and have not lived there as your home.
- Family or domestic violence sufferers.
How to Apply for the First Home Owners Grant in Victoria
To apply for the First Home Owners Grant in Victoria you would usually apply through your bank or credit union who will lodge the application on your behalf. Most first home buyers will go through the lending institution to apply for the grant at the same time as organising your mortgage. If you do not have a lending institution or want to apply separately, you can also go through the state revenue office.
Applying through a bank or credit union
In most cases the bank or lender who is organising your finance will lodge the application for the First Home Owners Grant. The lender acts as an approved agent authorised by the State Revenue Office to process applications. When using a loan for the purchase of your first home, this is the most common process to apply for the grant:
- Contact lender: Find a lending institution for your first home loan and help with details of the purchase. The bank or credit union can act as your approved agent to lodge the First Home Owners Grant on your behalf.
- Eligibility check: Your approved agent will assess your eligibility for the grant and perform a 100 point identity check.
- Provide documentation: The agent will ask for any necessary documentation to support the application. This will mean supplying proof of identity like an Australian birth certificate, passport or citizenship certificate and the contract of sale for the property. You may need to supply a statutory declaration in the case of name changes or any variations in documents from the past. The agent will fill out the application on your behalf.
- Sign application: The applicant or applicants will sign the application form.
- Lodgement: The agent lodges the application with supporting documents on your behalf.
Applying through the state revenue office
In cases where an approved agent is not lodging the application for you, as they are not providing finance, you prefer to lodge it yourself, or you have missed the lodgement deadline, you can apply directly through the State Revenue Office. The process is similar but it is a direct interaction rather than through an agent.
- Check to see if your agent is lodging first: If you do have a lending institution, make sure the agent has not already lodged the First Home Owners Grant application on your behalf.
- Contact the State Revenue Office: If the form has not been lodged, contact the State Revenue Office directly via phone or the website.
- Download and complete the form which explains how to lodge and the supporting documents you need to supply.
- Complete the form and add documents including proof of identity like an Australian birth certificate, passport or citizenship certificate and the contract of sale for the property
- Sign and submit the application online.
Tips for a Successful Application
Applying for the First Home Owners Grant is a big step so it is important that you make sure you have fulfilled all the criteria. That $10,000 could make a significant difference to your ability to buy a first home. Tips for applying include:
- Double-Check Eligibility: Ensure you are the right age, have citizenship requirements, and that the property is eligible for the grant. If you have a partner make sure they have not received the First Home Owners Grant before.
- Accurate Documentation: Have all the documents prepared in advance and double check your application to make sure there are no errors. Make sure you are applying through the proper channels, either through an authorised agent or by yourself directly through the State Revenue Office.
- Timely Submission: The First Home Owners Grant needs to be lodged within a specific timeframe which is usually related to the date of signing the contract or the completion of the home’s construction. Should you miss these deadlines, it may be rejected or you may have to apply by yourself.
- Professional Advice: Seek professional advice to help you through the process. Consulting money lenders, financial advisors or legal advice can provide guidance for your specific situation.
- Plan your occupancy: The property must be used as a permanent residence in the first year. Plan for how you are going to do that.
When will the Grant be Paid?
If you have applied for the First Home Owners Grant through a bank or credit union and it is approved, you will usually receive the payment at settlement when buying a newly-established home or purchasing off the plan. For those building a new home, the grant is often paid with the first progress payment.
For those who applied through the State Revenue Office where the certificate of occupancy is completed, the application will be reviewed within 10 working days, and if approved, the grant will be paid into your nominated bank account after that. Those building a new home applying through the State Revenue Office, if approved, will receive the funds after the occupancy certificate is issued.
Additional Help for First Home Buyers in Victoria
Beyond the First Home Buyers Grant in Victoria, there is additional assistance for potential homeowners to help them open the door to their first home.
- 5% Low Deposit Scheme: From October 2025, the Federal Government expanded its First First Home Buyer Guarantee into the Australian Government 5% Low Deposit Scheme. The government acts as a guarantor on up to 15% of the home loan so no lenders mortgage insurance is required. This is ideal for potential first home owners in Victoria looking for a low deposit home loan.
- Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee: For many first home buyers, moving to a relaxed and charming setting in regional Victoria is their dream. The Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee reduces the savings needed for a deposit to just 5% in the same way as the 5% Low Deposit Scheme but targeting regional areas.
- Reduced or removed stamp duty: The Victorian government reduced or removed stamp duty for first home buyers. If you are buying a house for $600,000 or less, there is no stamp duty. For those purchasing between $600,000 and $750,00, stamp duty is tapered.
- Stamp duty concessions for buying off plan: If you have already qualified for the first home buyer stamp duty concessions, you may qualify for off the plan stamp duty concessions as well.
If you are looking to purchase your first home, there are a number of ways to get into the real estate market and buy the home of your dreams. With government incentives like the First Home Owners Grant, 5% Low Deposit Scheme and Regional First Home Buyers Guarantee, purchasing a home in a location like Echuca is more viable. The First Home Owners Grant of $10,000 is ideal for eligible first home buyers wanting to buy a new home or house and land package in an idyllic location. Yallarah offers first home buyers the opportunity to purchase a house and land package with 3,4 and 5 bedrooms while saving thousands of dollars.