First Home Owners Grant SA: The Ultimate Guide 2026

The South Australian First Home Owner Grant provides up to $15,000 towards an eligible new home. Check the property, previous-ownership and residence rules before including it in your deposit budget.

This guide explains the residence rules, duty relief and when the grant can be paid. If you need help coordinating the loan, speak with our team.

How Much Is The First Home Owners Grant In SA?

The SA grant is a one-off payment of up to $15,000 for eligible applicants buying or building a new home to live in.

The grant and duty relief are separate benefits. You must qualify and apply for each.

What Property Types Are Eligible For The First Home Buyers Grant In SA?

an image of the eligible properties for the first home buyers grant in sa

Knowing which homes qualify is essential for a successful application. To get the green light from RevenueSA, your property must fall into one of these specific categories:

Brand-New Homes: This includes houses, apartments, or townhouses that have never been lived in or sold.
Substantially Renovated Homes: Most of the original structure must be replaced for these to qualify as "new."
Off-the-Plan Purchases: You can secure the grant for apartments or townhouses still in the planning stages.
Comprehensive building contracts and owner-builder projects can qualify if all grant conditions are met. Buying vacant land alone does not trigger a grant.

What Properties Are Not Eligible?

To avoid any surprises during your home loan journey, keep in mind that certain properties are strictly excluded:

Established Homes: You cannot claim the FHOG for previously occupied "second-hand" houses or apartments.
Minor Renovations: Homes that only received cosmetic updates, like new paint or flooring, do not qualify.
Investment Properties: The grant is only for residents. You cannot use it for properties you intend to rent out.

Property Value Limits in 2026

Use the contract date to check whether a property-value limit applies.

For contracts signed on or after 6 June 2024, there is no property-value cap on the grant. The buyer and property still need to meet the other eligibility conditions.

If you are settling on an older contract, different rules apply based on your specific start date:

Contract Date	Property Value Limit
15 June 2023: 5 June 2024	$650,000 or less
On or before 14 June 2023	$575,000 or less

Eligibility Criteria For The First Home Owner Grant In SA

You and the property must meet the grant conditions. Check your age, residency status, ownership history and plans to live in the home.

Personal Eligibility Requirements

Check the age and citizenship or residency requirements:

Age: Every applicant must be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
Status: At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
A New Zealand citizen permanently residing in Australia with a Special Category Visa may meet the citizenship or residence criterion.

The Previous Property Ownership Rule

The rules for prior ownership are now much stricter. Your eligibility depends heavily on when you sign your contract:

Contracts from 13 February 2025: You are ineligible if you or your partner have ever held a relevant interest in any Australian residential property. This applies even if you never lived in the property.
Earlier contracts: For contracts signed before 13 February 2025, different previous-ownership rules may apply. Check the rules for the date of your transaction.
GST Context: Why the focus on new homes? The FHOG exists specifically to help you offset the impact of GST on the price of new residential properties.
Spousal Impact: Your partner's property history affects your application. This is true even if they aren't listed on the home loan or the title.

The Residency Requirement

The government wants to ensure you are buying a home, not just an asset. Therefore, you must follow these occupancy rules:

Move-In Deadline: You must move into the property within 12 months of settlement or construction completion.
Minimum stay: Each applicant must live in the home as their principal place of residence for at least 6 continuous months.
If you cannot meet the residence requirement: Contact RevenueSA promptly. You may have to repay the grant, and penalties can apply.

How To Apply For The FHOG (And When The Cash Hits Your Account)

How to apply for the first homeowners grant in SA

You can apply through an approved agent or directly to RevenueSA. The route and transaction type affect when the grant can be paid.

Option 1: Apply through an approved agent

You can lodge through a RevenueSA-approved agent, usually your bank or credit union. If you need the grant at settlement or the first progress payment, RevenueSA says to apply through your financial institution. A broker can help coordinate the paperwork but is not automatically an approved agent.

Approval and payment depend on the documents, transaction type and agent's requirements. Confirm the payment date before committing the money.

Option 2: Direct Application to RevenueSA

You can apply directly to RevenueSA from the commencement of the eligible transaction; you do not have to wait until you receive the keys to submit an application. Payment timing depends on approval and the required settlement or building evidence. Owner-builders should check the completion evidence needed.

See RevenueSA's application guide. Do not assume a fixed processing time or count on the funds before RevenueSA confirms payment.

The "Fine Print" On Payments And Deadlines For The Grant

Regardless of how you apply, RevenueSA uses Direct EFT to deposit the funds into your nominated account. To keep your application on track, remember these three rules:

The 12-Month Rule: You must submit your application within one year of settlement or your build's completion date.
Single Account Rule: The $15,000 must go into one bank account. It cannot be split across multiple institutions.
Residency Proof: You may need to provide utility bills later to prove you've met the 6 month living requirement.

Check to see if you are eligible for a home loan

BONUS: Stamp Duty Relief For First Home Buyers In SA

Eligible buyers may also qualify for duty relief on a new home or vacant land to build a new home. Established homes are excluded. Your solicitor should check the duty claim separately from the grant.

The "No Cap" Advantage

For any contract signed on or after 6 June 2024, the South Australian government has completely abolished property value caps for this relief.

Eligible new-home purchases attract $0 ordinary duty under the relief scheme.
Eligible vacant land to build your first home can attract $0 ordinary duty, subject to the scheme's conditions.

No current property-value cap applies to eligible transactions from 6 June 2024. Other conditions remain, and foreign ownership surcharge is not relieved for relevant contracts from 13 February 2025.

For a purchase that does not qualify for relief, use our stamp duty calculator with South Australia selected to estimate ordinary duty. Confirm the result and any surcharge with your solicitor.

Who is Eligible for Relief?

The rules for stamp duty relief align closely with the FHOG, but they are strictly enforced. To qualify, you must meet these standards:

Status: You must be a 'natural person' (not a company) and at least 18 years old.
Citizenship: At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
Property History: You (and your spouse) must not have held a "relevant interest" in residential property in Australia before.
Residency: You must move into the home within 12 months and stay for at least 6 continuous months.

What Properties are Covered?

This relief is a strategic move to boost housing supply, so it only applies to specific property types:

Brand-New Homes: Houses, flats, units, and townhouses never previously sold or occupied.
Off-the-Plan Apartments: Units that are still in the planning or construction phase.
Substantially Renovated Homes: Properties that have undergone a major structural overhaul.
Vacant Land: Land purchased specifically to build your first principal place of residence.

Note: This relief does not apply to established "second-hand" homes or properties purchased purely for investment purposes.

Legacy Caps (Contracts before 6 June 2024)

If your contract date falls between 15 June 2023 and 5 June 2024, different thresholds apply to your relief:

New Homes: Full relief applies up to $650,000, with partial relief phasing out at $700,000.
Vacant Land: Full relief applies up to $400,000, with partial relief phasing out at $450,000.

First Home Buyer Grants Across Australia

In Australia, each state provides unique grants and incentives to assist first-time homebuyers. This support varies across states, helping to make the process of buying your first home more feasible. Here's a brief rundown of what's available in each state:

State-by-State Comparison (2026 Update)

State	Grant Amount	Property Value Limit	Key 2026 Insight
NSW	$10,000	Up to $750k (Build)	Focus is on stamp duty exemptions up to $800k.
VIC	$10,000	Up to $750k	Regional and Metro grants are now identical.
QLD	$30,000	Below $750,000 including land	Continues for eligible new-home contracts from 1 July 2026.
WA	$10,000	$800,000 south or $1 million north of the 26th parallel	These grant caps apply to eligible transactions commencing from 7 May 2026.
TAS	$20,000	No value cap	Eligible new-home transactions from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027; earlier transactions use earlier amounts.
ACT	No cash FHOG	No HBCS income or value cap from 1 July 2026	Eligible buyers pay $0 duty; ownership and residence conditions still apply.
NT	$50,000	No Limit	The HomeGrown Territory Grant is the highest in Australia.

National Highlights for 2026

Queensland continues the $30,000 grant for eligible contracts from 1 July 2026. The NT Government confirms 30 September 2027 as the extended date to sign an eligible HomeGrown Territory purchase or building contract. ACT HBCS relief has no income or value cap from 1 July 2026, subject to eligibility. Check the national grants guide and first home duty guide.

Why the State Doesn't Always Matter

The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme operates nationally through participating lenders. Eligible buyers still need credit approval and a property within the relevant price cap; a place or loan is not guaranteed.

Other Incentives You May Be Eligible For

In addition to the First Home Owners Grant SA, several national programs can help you bypass the traditional 20% deposit requirement. These schemes are designed to get you into the market years sooner by removing the need for costly Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

The Home Guarantee Scheme

This is the "big one." Last year, the federal government removed the annual quota on places. This means there is no longer a "race" to secure a spot.

First home buyers: Eligible buyers can apply with a minimum 5% deposit and avoid LMI through a participating lender. The government guarantees part of the loan; it does not provide cash towards your deposit. Loan approval and scheme conditions still apply.
Regional buyers now use the expanded Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme. The former separate regional guarantee is no longer the current application pathway.
Eligible single parents or single legal guardians with dependent children may use a minimum 2% deposit under the current scheme. Ownership, residence and lender requirements still apply.

Help to Buy Scheme (Shared Equity)

The Help to Buy Scheme lets the government contribute towards the purchase price in return for an equity share. You still need an approved loan and must meet the scheme's ongoing obligations.

How it works: You provide a 2% deposit, and the government contributes up to 40% for new homes (or 30% for existing ones).
The Benefit: Your mortgage repayments are significantly lower because you're only borrowing a fraction of the home's value.
The Trade-off: The government owns a share of your home's equity. You can buy them out over time or pay them back when you sell.

First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS)

If you're struggling to save, the FHSSS lets you build your deposit inside your superannuation fund to take advantage of lower tax rates.

The FHSS limits: Up to $15,000 of eligible voluntary contributions per financial year, and $50,000 across all years, can count towards FHSS. These are FHSS limits, rather than your general super contribution caps.
The ATO determines the releasable FHSS amount. Generally, 85% of qualifying concessional contributions and 100% of qualifying non-concessional contributions can be released, plus associated earnings and subject to limits. Release tax and deadlines apply; there is no guaranteed percentage improvement in saving speed.

Frequently Asked Questions: First Home Owners Grant SA

Can I get the SA FHOG for an established home?

No. The SA grant is for eligible new homes, including qualifying off-the-plan and substantially renovated properties.

Does my partner's income affect the grant?

No, the FHOG in SA is not means-tested; however, your partner must be included in the application as their property history affects eligibility.

What is the "residency requirement" for the SA grant?

Each applicant must live in the home for at least 6 continuous months, starting within 12 months of settlement when buying, or completion when building.

How much is the stamp duty relief in SA for 2026?

For contracts signed on or after 6 June 2024, there is no property-value cap on duty relief for eligible new homes or vacant land to build a first home. Other eligibility conditions still apply.

Can permanent residents apply for the first home owners grant SA?

At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen permanently residing in Australia who holds a Special Category Visa. All other grant conditions still apply.

What counts as a "Substantially Renovated" home?

A home where most or all of the building was replaced/removed, and it has not been lived in since the renovation.

Is there an application deadline?

Yes, you must apply within 12 months of settlement or construction completion.

What happens if I move out before 6 months?

You must notify RevenueSA within 14 days, as you may be required to repay the grant plus potential penalties.

Would you like to learn about your situation?

Next Steps And Buying A Home In South Australia

Bring your savings, the property details and your planned settlement or building dates. Our team can check the loan and help you plan around the grant payment.

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

hunter galloway - mortgage broker brisbane team

More Resources For Homebuyers:

Further references

Use our deposit calculator to budget for buying costs as well as the deposit. Compare loan features in our CommBank review; a lender's loan approval is separate from a state grant decision.