New Builds in QLD - Government Grants and Incentives

Buying a new home is a huge milestone. To make homeownership more achievable for Queenslanders, the state government has launched grants and incentives to reduce the upfront cost of purchasing a home.

Here’s what aspiring home owners need to know about the available government schemes offered in Queensland in 2025. 

First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)

The First Home Owner Grant provides a lump sum of $30,000 to eligible first time home buyers. The grant amount can be used to offset the costs of buying or building a new build. The FHOG can be applied to off-the-plan purchases of houses and apartments, or house-and-land packages valued under $750,000.

The FHOG grant amount was doubled from $15,000 to $30,000 in November 2023. During early June 2025, the Queensland Government announced that the doubled grant will be extended by another 12 months to include eligible contracts signed before 30 June 2026. The FHOG is expected to revert to $15,000 after 30 June 2026.

FHOG Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old and hold Australian citizenship or Permanent Residency.
• Applicants must not have previously owned property in Australia, even as a joint owner.
• Built homes must be lived in for a minimum of six consecutive months within the first year of completion.

Stamp Duty (Transfer Duty) Exemption

Stamp duty is a tax on every property transaction. The dutiable amount is based on a percentage of the property’s price, and can make up a substantial portion of the purchase costs.

Under the first home (new home) concession scheme, first-time home buyers purchasing or building a new home can claim a full concession for transfer duty. This stamp duty exemption applies to both house-and-land packages, off-the-plan builds, and new builds that have not been previously occupied.

Unlike the FHOG, there is no cap on the maximum value of the property for the full concession to apply. The first home stamp duty concession for new homes is applicable to contracts signed from 1 May 2025 onwards.

Here are some examples on how much first-time home buyers can save with the first home (new home) concession scheme.

Stamp Duty Concession For New Builds

A stamp duty concession also applies to Queenslanders building a new home who have previously owned property. This concession applies to the first $350,000 of the new build and the general stamp duty rate applies to the balance.

Applied to a new home valued at $550,000, the home concession reduces the amount of transfer duty payable by $7,175.

To be eligible to claim the home concession for a new build, individuals must:

• Acquire the property as an individual
• Occupy the property as a main place of residence within 1 year of completion
• Not use the new build for rent or sell the property within 1 year after moving into the property

There are no citizenship requirements for claiming the home concession.

Boost to Buy (Shared Equity Scheme) 

The Queensland Government launched the Boost to Buy scheme on 1 July 2025 to help buyers purchase a home with lower deposit requirements. In the Boost to Buy scheme, the government contributes a percentage of a property’s equity (30% for new homes and 25% for existing homes) - this allows buyers to purchase the property at a 2% deposit, without the need for lender's mortgage insurance.

The Boost to Buy scheme significantly lowers the upfront cost of purchasing a home, ideal for buyers who can afford regular mortgage repayments but are unable to secure a deposit. Properties that are valued under $1,000,000 will be eligible for the Boost to Buy scheme. Applicants must also not have previously owned property in Australia, and meet the annual income limit of $150,000 for individuals and $225,000 for couples. 

For prospective homeowners and those planning to build a new home in regional Queensland, John Munro Builder is a local home builder in Townsville with over 20 years of experience delivering quality builds that exceed our clients’ expectations. Our team works to ensure that you have the right advice for the government grants and incentives that apply, whether you’re building your first home or a dream home.