First Home Buyer Grants and Stamp Duty Concessions in Victoria

Buying your first home in Victoria comes with several potential government benefits.

That is the good news.

The dangerous part is when first home buyers let grants, concessions or stamp duty savings drive the buying decision.

A grant can help with cash flow. A stamp duty concession can reduce upfront costs. But neither of them will save you from buying the wrong property, in the wrong location, at the wrong price.

At Concierge Buyers Advocates, we believe first home buyers should understand the available support — but still buy with strategy, data and discipline.

The grant is not the prize. The right property is.

What First Home Buyer Support Is Available in Victoria?

First home buyers in Victoria may be eligible for several types of support, including:

• The First Home Owner Grant.

• First home buyer stamp duty exemption or concession.

• Off-the-plan duty concessions in certain cases.

• Other specific concessions depending on buyer circumstances.

The exact rules, thresholds and eligibility criteria can change, so buyers should always confirm the current position with the State Revenue Office Victoria, their conveyancer, solicitor or financial adviser before purchasing.

As at July 2026, the State Revenue Office Victoria lists the First Home Owner Grant as a $10,000 payment for eligible first home buyers buying or building a new home in Victoria, subject to conditions.

The SRO also states that eligible first home buyers may pay no land transfer duty for homes with a dutiable value up to $600,000, and may receive a reduced duty amount for homes valued from $600,001 to $750,000.

That can be meaningful. But it should not override proper property selection.

First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) Victoria

The First Home Owner Grant is designed to help eligible first home buyers purchase or build a new home.

In Victoria, the grant generally applies to new homes, including certain houses, townhouses, apartments or units, provided the home meets the relevant requirements and value threshold.

A key point many buyers miss is that the grant is not generally available for every established property.

That means if you are buying an older established house, townhouse or unit, you may not qualify for the First Home Owner Grant.

This is where some first home buyers make a poor strategic decision.

They chase the grant and end up buying a weaker new-build property in a less desirable location, instead of buying a stronger established property that may perform better over time.

That is a classic case of picking up a $10,000 note while stepping over a $100,000 long-term mistake.

Very first-home-buyer. Very painful.

First Home Buyer Stamp Duty Exemption or Concession

Stamp duty is one of the biggest upfront costs when buying property in Victoria.

For eligible first home buyers, the stamp duty exemption or concession can make a major difference.

As at July 2026, eligible first home buyers in Victoria may receive:

• No land transfer duty for homes with a dutiable value up to $600,000.

• A reduced amount of duty for homes with a dutiable value from $600,001 to $750,000.

The property can be a new home, an established home or vacant land intended for building your first home, subject to the relevant criteria.

This is important because the stamp duty benefit may still apply to established homes, even where the First Home Owner Grant does not.

For many Melbourne first home buyers, this distinction matters.

A well-located established property may be a better long-term decision than a new property purchased mainly because it qualifies for the grant.

Eligibility Matters

Government benefits usually come with conditions. The conditions may sound overbearing, but they are very logical.

These may include rules around:

• Whether you have owned property before.

• Whether your spouse or partner has owned property before.

• Whether the property is new or established.

• The property value.

• Whether all buyers are natural persons rather than companies or trusts.

• Citizenship or permanent residency requirements.

• Whether the property will be your principal place of residence.

• How long you must live in the property.

• The timing of your move-in.

Do not assume eligibility. Confirm it before you sign.

A first home buyer who incorrectly assumes they qualify for a concession may face a nasty surprise at settlement. That is not the type of surprise anyone wants. This is property, not a lucky dip.

Do Not Let the Grant Choose the Property

Here is the blunt truth. A government grant or government incentive should never be the main reason you buy a property. There are usually reasons why grants and incentives are needed. And you may not like the truth. The property still needs to make sense.

You should still assess:

• Location quality.

• Land value.

• Property type.

• Owner-occupier demand.

• Resale appeal.

• Oversupply risk.

• Body corporate fees.

• Build quality.

• Floorplan.

• Transport access.

• School access.

• Comparable sales.

• Long-term growth potential.

A grant can improve the numbers slightly.

It cannot fix a poor asset.

New Build vs Established Property

Many first home buyers are attracted to new builds because of grants, concessions, modern finishes and lower immediate maintenance. That can make sense for some buyers. But new does not automatically mean better.

New apartments, townhouses or house-and-land packages can carry risks such as oversupply, poor land value, high body corporate fees, limited scarcity, smaller land components, lower owner-occupier demand or weaker resale performance.

Established properties may not look as shiny, but they can sometimes offer better land value, stronger locations, better scarcity and greater renovation upside.

The right answer depends on the buyer, budget, suburb, property type and long-term plan.

This is where data-led advice matters.

How Concierge Buyers Advocates Helps First Home Buyers

At Concierge Buyers Advocates, we help first home buyers understand grants and concessions as part of the broader buying strategy. We do not let the incentive drive the decision. We assess whether the property itself makes sense.

When you work with us, our approach may seem as if you are being ignored. But we can assure you, we are not ignoring you. Our process looks at suburb performance, comparable sales, location quality, property condition, resale depth, buyer demand, contract risks and negotiation strategy.

If a property qualifies for a grant or concession and is also a strong purchase, excellent. If the only attractive thing about the property is the government benefit, we call it out.

Your first home should be selected because it is the right property — not because it came with a small sugar hit from the government.

The Bottom Line

First home buyer grants and stamp duty concessions in Victoria can be useful. They can reduce upfront costs and make the purchase easier. But they do not replace proper strategy.

The biggest financial benefit for a first home buyer is not always the grant or concession. It is avoiding the wrong property.

At Concierge Buyers Advocates, we help first home buyers in Melbourne buy with clarity, data and confidence. Because the goal is not just to qualify for a grant. The goal is to buy a first home that supports your future.