1. First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)The
First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a one-off cash grant paid by
each Australian state and territory government to help eligible first home buyers purchase or build their
first new home. Grant amounts and rules vary by state - typically
$10,000 in VIC and NSW (with regional VIC sometimes higher),
$30,000 in QLD (current boosted amount),
$10,000 in WA, SA and TAS, and varying amounts in ACT and NT - so always check your state revenue office for the latest figures and caps.
General eligibility (rules vary by state):- You must be at least 18 years old and an Australian citizen or permanent resident (at least one applicant).
- You and your spouse/partner must never have owned residential property in Australia before (or never received a FHOG).
- You must live in the home as your principal place of residence for a minimum period (usually 6–12 continuous months) starting within 12 months of settlement or completion.
- The home must be brand new or substantially renovated - and the property value must be under your state's price cap.
Eligible properties (most states):- Newly built homes bought from a builder or developer.
- Land & house packages where you buy the land and build a new home.
- Vacant land + a building contract to construct a new home.
- Owner-builder new home construction (in some states).
- Established/second-hand homes are generally NOT eligible for FHOG (though other concessions like stamp duty discounts may apply).
How to claim FHOG: The easiest way is to ask your
bank or mortgage broker to lodge the FHOG application
through your home loan at the time of settlement (or first construction progress payment for a build) - the grant then arrives directly into your loan account. Alternatively, you can apply
directly to your state revenue office after settlement.
2. Stamp duty (transfer duty)Stamp duty (also called
transfer duty or
land transfer duty) is a
state government tax you pay when you buy property or land. It's usually the
biggest upfront cost after your deposit, calculated on a sliding scale based on the property's purchase price (or market value, whichever is higher). On a typical $700,000 property it can range from roughly
$25,000 to $40,000 depending on the state.
First home buyer concessions / exemptions (vary by state):- VIC - full exemption for new or established homes up to $600,000; concessional (sliding) rate up to $750,000. Off-the-plan concession also available.
- NSW - First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme: full exemption on new or established homes up to $800,000; concessional rate up to $1,000,000 (and higher caps on vacant land).
- QLD - full exemption on homes up to $700,000 (concession to $800,000); vacant land exemption up to $350,000 (concession to $500,000).
- WA - full exemption on homes up to $450,000 and vacant land up to $300,000, with concessions above.
- SA - full stamp duty relief for eligible first home buyers on new homes and vacant land (no price cap on new builds, conditions apply).
- TAS - 50% concession for eligible first home buyers on established homes up to $750,000.
- ACT - Home Buyer Concession Scheme provides full duty exemption for eligible buyers under income thresholds.
- NT - House and Land Package and HomeGrown Territory concessions/grants for eligible buyers.
Foreign buyers usually pay an additional surcharge (7–8% on top of standard duty in most states). Stamp duty is normally paid
at settlement, lodged through your conveyancer via
PEXA.
3. Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI)Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) is a
one-off insurance premium that protects the
lender (not you) if you default on your home loan. It's normally charged when your
deposit is less than 20% of the property value (LVR above 80%).
How much is LMI? As a rough guide on a $600,000 property:
- 10% deposit (90% LVR): roughly $10,000–$13,000 in LMI.
- 5% deposit (95% LVR): roughly $20,000–$25,000 in LMI.
LMI can usually be
capitalised (added to your loan and paid off over time) rather than paid upfront.
Government schemes that can help you avoid LMI:- Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) - administered by Housing Australia. The federal government acts as guarantor, letting eligible buyers purchase with as little as a 5% deposit (or 2% under the Family Home Guarantee for single parents) without paying any LMI. Sub-schemes include the First Home Guarantee, Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee and Family Home Guarantee.
- State schemes: VIC Homebuyer Fund (shared equity), NSW Shared Equity Home Buyer Helper, WA Keystart, SA HomeStart and similar.
- Some lenders also offer LMI waivers for certain professionals (doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc.) up to 90–95% LVR.
4. Land taxLand tax is an
annual state government tax on the
unimproved value of land you own (the value of the land itself, not the buildings on it).
Key things to know:- Your principal place of residence (the home you live in) is generally exempt in every state.
- Land tax is mainly paid by investors, owners of holiday homes, and owners of vacant land being held for development.
- Each state has a tax-free threshold - e.g. roughly $50,000–$300,000 in VIC, around $1.075M general threshold in NSW, $600,000 in QLD.
- Above the threshold, land tax is charged on a progressive scale, plus a foreign owner / absentee owner surcharge in most states.
- Vacant land being held for development may attract additional vacant residential land tax in some states (e.g. VIC).
5. PEXA (Property Exchange Australia)PEXA is Australia's
online electronic property settlement platform. Almost all property settlements in Australia are now done
electronically through PEXA, replacing the old paper-based settlements.
How a PEXA settlement works:- Your conveyancer or solicitor creates a PEXA workspace and invites all parties.
- All parties verify the title, contract, settlement figures, stamp duty and adjustments inside the workspace.
- On settlement day, PEXA simultaneously transfers the funds, discharges the seller's mortgage, registers your new mortgage, and lodges the transfer of title with the state land registry.
- Settlement typically completes in minutes.
Cost: A small
PEXA transaction fee (typically around
$120–$160) is charged on each settlement, usually itemised on your conveyancer's invoice.
Note: All grant amounts, tax rates, thresholds, eligibility rules, surcharges, scheme places, fees and lender policies above can change at any time and vary by state and territory. Always confirm the latest figures directly with your state revenue office, Housing Australia, your mortgage broker, bank, accountant or conveyancer before relying on these numbers or making decisions.