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FIRST HOME OWNERS GRANT QLD 2024

Are you after the ultimate guide to the First Home Owners Grant QLD in 2024? Then look no further!

But before we begin, let me be clear about something:

This is NOT a lame First Home Owners Grant QLD guide written by egg heads in complicated legal jargon. 

Instead, you’re going to get the simple breakdown of the $30,000 First Home Owners Grant and what you can do to qualify right now.

So if you’re looking for all the answers on the First Home Owners Grant in Queensland you’ll love this guide.

Table of Contents

QLD First Home Owners' Grant: The Basics

What is the First Home Owners Grant?

The Queensland First Home Owners Grant is a financial assistance program designed to help eligible first-time home buyers in Queensland.

How much is the First Home Owners' Grant in QLD?

Until recently, the First Home Owners’ Grant was $15,000. 

As of November 19, 2023, the grant amount has been doubled to $30,000. This enhanced grant is applicable for new builds under $750,000 and will be available until mid-2025.

How do I know if I'm eligible for the grant?

To be eligible for the QLD First Home Owners’ Grant, you need to pass the eligibility criteria for your personal circumstances and for the property itself.

Personal requirements

The following eligibility criteria apply for the First Home Owners’ Grant:

Age: You must be aged 18 years or older. If you are applying with a co-applicant, they must also be aged 18 or older. 

Citizenship: You need to be either an Australian citizen or a permanent resident. If you are applying with a co-applicant, only one applicant needs to be a citizen or permanent resident. 

Previous Grant Recipients are Not Eligible: Neither you applicant nor your spouse should have previously received a first home owner grant in any Australian state or territory.

Previous Home Owners are Not Eligible: You or your spouse must not have owned residential property in Australia that you lived in. Investment properties are okay. 

Residence Requirements: You must move into the new home as your principal place of residence within 1 year of the completed transaction and live there continuously for 6 months. 

Property requirements

Not all properties are eligible for the grant. Only new or substantially renovated properties are eligible.

 

Property type: The property can be one of the following:

– a house, unit, duplex or townhouse

– a granny flat built on a relative’s land

– a home that has been moved from one site to another

– a substantially renovated home

 

Transaction type: The property transaction type can be one of the following:

– new home

– off-the-plan purchase

– substantial renovation

– contract to build

– owner-builder

 

Value of the property: The total value of the home must be less than $750,000, including the cost of the land and any changes made to the contract. 

Application timeline

First home owners are expected to be able to apply for the increased grant amount starting from the first week of January 2024. The changes apply to eligible transactions between November 20, 2023, and June 30, 2025.

To apply for the grant, you will need to provide supporting documents and meet the outlined requirements. 

Using the First Home Owners' Grant as a Deposit

One of the great things about the First Home Owners’ Grant is that you can use it as part of your deposit. 

This amounts to 4% of a $750,000 home, so it can jumpstart your homebuying process and get you on the property ladder much sooner than you think. 

However, you will still need to contribute some of your own money towards buying a home. 

Many banks will need to see evidence of genuine savings if you’re purchasing with a minimal deposit, and the First Home Owners’ Grant doesn’t count as genuine savings. 

You’ll also need to take into account other buying costs, which can add up to around 3% of the purchase price of your property. 

To find out exactly how much deposit you will need to buy a property, get a free assessment with one of our mortgage brokers. We can calculate these figures for you based on your unique circumstances. 

How to Apply for the QLD First Home Buyer Grant

If you work with Hunter Galloway we’ll help you complete the First home owners Grant application form as a part of your home loan application.

We will help you fill out, and complete the paperwork to make it super easy! 

The total First Home Buyers Application Form is 15 pages long, and has 7 main sections:

Section 1: Eligibility Criteria

The first section of the First Home Buyers Application form for the Queensland First Home Owners Grant checks that you are able to apply for the grant.

As you can see from the example below, a qualifying first homeowner will answer yes to questions 1 to 7, and then no for questions from 8 onwards.

First Home Owners Grant Application Section 1 Section 1 of the First Home Owners Grant application form has the qualifying questions.

Section 2: Applicant Details

This section of the application form has all your basic personal information, name, address, contact details all the simple stuff for both you, and your partner. If there are more than 2 applicants you can just add an additional form.

 Section 2 of the First Home Owners Application in Queensland has your basic contact information.

Section 3: Spouse Details

Section 3 is only there if you have a partner or spouse who is not an applicant that you detailed in section 2. If you do not have a partner or spouse you can skip this section and continue to section 4!

First Home Owners Grant Application Section 3 You’ll be happy to know Section 3 of the First Home buyers application form can be skipped if you are not applying with a partner or spouse.

Section 4: Property and Transaction Details

In section 4 you will need to include the details of the property you are purchasing, or building as well as the type of property.

First Home Owners Grant Application Section 4 Section 4 of the First Home Owners Grant Application QLD has the property details.

The options in section 4 include the below, only choose 1 option.

  • – Contract to purchase a new home
  • – Contract to purchase a substantially renovated home
  • – Contract to build
  • – Contract to purchase off-the-plan
  • – A building as an owner-builder
  •  

Buying off the plan means you are purchasing a property before the building is out of the construction phase, and the title has yet to be created.

If you are buying off the plan it means the property is not completed yet, so if you have bought a new property that is ready to be moved into you can choose ‘contract to purchase a new home’.

Section 5: Optional Information

As the name suggests this is not a mandatory section, and only applies if you are Aboriginal or a descendant from the Torres Strait.

Section 6: Declaration by Applicant

This section is where you need to sign the application form, and it needs to be witnessed by someone who isn’t an application.

First Home Owners Grant Application Signature This section of the First Home Owners Grant QLD application form is for signatures.

Put another way, if you and your partner are applying for the grant your partner cannot witness your signature and vice versa. Lucky for you, because you are working with our Mortgage Brokers at Hunter Galloway we can witness your signature.

Section 7: Declaration by Spouse

When you are applying with a partner or a spouse, this is the section that they sign. Same as the above, their signature needs to be witnessed by someone that isn’t you.

What supporting documents do I need to apply for the First Home Owners Grant in QLD?

When applying for the First Home Owner Grant in Queensland, you need to provide various supporting documents with your application form. Here’s a summary of the required documents:

Proof of Identity:

Provide one document from each of the following categories:

– Category 1: Australian birth certificate, current Australian passport, Australian citizenship certificate, current passport or ImmiCard with visa, or Titre de Voyage.

– Category 2: Current Australian driver licence, firearm licence, proof of age card, or passport.

– Category 3: Valid Medicare card, car registration, debit/credit card, concession card, or Veteran card.

– Category 4: Recent utility bill, bank statement, or home insurance policy showing your name and address.

If you’ve changed your name or marital status, provide relevant certificates or documents.

For non-applicant spouses residing overseas, a current identification document from their country of residence is required.

Financial Help:

If you’ve received financial help, provide a statutory declaration describing the help received, or a copy of the financial arrangement if it’s in writing.

If the financial help is from a related person who will live in or frequently use the home, details must be provided in the statutory declaration.

For Different Types of Homes:

– New Home (including off the plan): Signed contract, registration confirmation statement or title search, and final inspection certificate. A vendor statement is needed if the home is not off the plan.

– Substantially Renovated Homes: Same as for a new home, plus a tax invoice showing GST, and a statement from the seller about the renovations.

– Contract to Build: Signed contract, registration confirmation statement or title search, final inspection certificate, and valuation or market appraisal of the land.

– Owner–Builder: Registration confirmation statement or title search, first inspection certificate, owner–builder cost summary, receipts, independent valuation or market appraisal, and final inspection certificate.

– Building on a Relative’s Land: Statement or written agreement from the relative authorizing the build.

– Purchase from Related Person or No Contract: Stamped Titles Queensland Form 1 Transfer, evidence of payment, statement from the vendor, and independent valuation or market appraisal.

– Manufactured or Mobile Homes: Site agreement, lease, or other relevant agreement for land occupancy.

What other incentives am I eligible for in QLD?

Besides the First Home Owners’ Grant, there are some other schemes and concessions that can help you to buy your first home. Here’s a quick overview:

Stamp Duty Concessions

If you’re buying a house valued at $550,000 or less, you can receive a first home concession on transfer duty when buying your first home. This can save you up to $15,925!

If you’re buying a house valued over $550,000, you can still receive a stamp duty concession of up to $7,175.

Read more: Stamp Duty Calculator Queensland

Home Guarantee Scheme

There are three separate schemes under the Home Guarantee Scheme which you can use in combination with your First Home Owner’s Grant. Here’s a quick overview:

First Home Guarantee

This scheme is open to all first home buyers (if you meet the eligibility criteria) and it lets you buy a home with just a 5% deposit. 

Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee

This one’s specially for people buying homes in regional areas. Like the First Home Guarantee, you only need a 5% deposit.

Family Home Guarantee

This one’s for single parents or guardians. You can buy a home with a super low deposit of just 2%.

Read more: First home guarantee

First Home Super Saver

This scheme helps you save for your home deposit in your superannuation (like a retirement fund). It’s got some tax benefits, and you can now save up to $50,000 for your deposit.

Read more: First Home Super Saver Scheme

Help to Buy Scheme

This scheme is about sharing the cost of buying a home. The government can pay up to 40% of the price for a new home or 30% for an existing one. This is to make homes more affordable, and there are 10,000 spots each year for people who qualify. 

Read more: Help to Buy Scheme

Next Steps

A mortgage broker at Hunter Galloway
The Hunter Galloway Mortgage Broker Brisbane team is here to help. We have a team of home loan experts.

Our team here at Hunter Galloway is here to help you buy a home in Brisbane. 

Unlike other mortgage brokers who are just one-person operations, we have an entire team of experts to help make your home loan journey as simple as possible.

If you want to get started, give us a call on 1300 088 065 or book a free assessment online to see how we can help.  

FAQs

The First Home Owners’ Grant is a financial aid program for first home buyers who are buying or building a new home. 

This grant comes as a one-off payment of $30,000. 

First-time homebuyers who are Australian citizens or permanent residents, planning to live in the new home as their primary residence.

The grant is currently $30,000 as of 19 November 2023, and will remain at this amount until 2025. 

Yes, the First Home Owners’ Grant is still available in Queensland, and will remain available at its current value until 2025.

Yes, you can use the grant money for a deposit. However, some banks may not accept it as evidence of genuine savings, so you may need additional funds. 

The grant applies to new homes, including houses, townhouses, apartments, and substantially renovated properties. The maximum property value is $750,000.

Established homes (ones that have been lived in before) are not eligible for the grant. 

You will need proof of identity, details of the property transaction, and possibly some financial information. 

We recommend speaking with a broker to find out what documents you need before applying for the grant. 

We recommend applying for the grant when you are arranging your home loan, or before settlement. 

You can apply through your lender or directly with the government, but we recommend applying through a broker. 

We can fill out the form for you and make sure that everything is correct before applying. 

No, there is no income test for the grant. However, you will still need to meet the bank’s lending standards. 

Yes, the total value of the property myst be under $750,000. This includes land and additional costs like driveways and landscaping. 

If you need to move out of your home within the first six months in your first year, you may have to repay the grant. It’s best to contact the Queensland Revenue Office if this occurs. 

No. There is only one payment made per application. 

If you have owned an investment property and it has always been used as an investment, then you still may be eligible. 

No. The grant is only to be used for building costs. You will need savings for the land if you buy it separately.

Yes, if you are applying with a partner and they are either a citizen or permanent resident. 

Otherwise temporary visa holders are ineligible for the grant. 

Generally no. The exception is when there has been substantial renovations to the home. A new coat of paint or a single renovated room wouldn’t qualify; the entire home has to be renovated. 

The exact time of payment varies. It is paid upon sale completion for new builds from developers, or when construction begins for self-built properties.