Saving for a first home in NSW can feel like the goal keeps moving. The good news is real government support exists, but people mix up the two main schemes constantly. Ask ten people about the NSW first home buyers grant and half of them will describe stamp duty relief instead. Here’s what the $10,000 First Home Owner Grant really covers, who qualifies, and how Coral Homes can help you plan the build itself.
NSW First Home Owner Grant: quick summary
Here’s the shape of the grant before we get into the detail.
Detail | What applies |
Grant amount | $10,000, one-off and tax-free |
Eligible property type | New, off-the-plan or substantially renovated homes only |
New home purchase cap | $600,000 |
Land and build cap | $750,000 combined |
Main applicant requirements | At least 18, an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and a genuine first home buyer |
Occupancy requirement | Move in within 12 months and live there continuously (12 months for contracts from 1 July 2023) |
Where to check official details | Revenue NSW |
What is the First Home Owner Grant in NSW?
The First Home Owner Grant, or FHOG, is a one-off payment from the NSW Government that helps eligible first home buyers cover some of the cost of a new home. It’s paid once you buy or build, on top of whatever else you’ve saved or borrowed.
The grant only applies to new homes. That means a home nobody has lived in before, an off-the-plan purchase, or a property that’s been substantially renovated. Established homes that have already been lived in don’t qualify, no matter how affordable they are.
How much is the first home buyers grant in NSW?
The NSW First Home Owner Grant is worth $10,000. It’s tax-free, it isn’t means tested, and you don’t have to pay it back.
Most buyers use it to reduce their deposit shortfall, cover legal and settlement costs, or put it toward fixtures and finishing touches once the keys are handed over. However you use it, it’s paid once, at settlement or your first construction progress payment if you’re building.
Who is eligible for the NSW First Home Owner Grant?
Eligibility comes down to these five things.
- Age and residency status: You need to be at least 18, and at least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
- New home requirement: The home must be newly built, purchased off the plan, or substantially renovated. Established homes don’t qualify.
- Price cap: Up to $600,000 to buy a completed new home, or $750,000 combined for land and a building contract.
- First home status: You and your spouse or partner must not have owned residential property in Australia before 1 July 2000, and must never have received a First Home Owner Grant anywhere in Australia.
- Occupancy: You need to move in within 12 months of settlement or completion and live there as your main residence, generally for 12 continuous months if your contract was signed from 1 July 2023 onward.
Requirements can vary depending on when you signed your contract, so it’s worth checking your exact position with Revenue NSW before you rely on any of these figures.
Can you use the NSW First Home Owner Grant to build a new home?
Yes. If you buy vacant land and sign a building contract, Revenue NSW adds the value of the land to the value of the build and any variations. The combined total needs to stay under $750,000 for the grant to apply.
This is where a fixed-price build matters. If your land and build costs are already itemised and agreed upfront, you know early whether you’re inside the cap, rather than finding out after variations have crept the price past it. Coral Homes can help first home buyers work through home designs, inclusions and land options that fit comfortably under the threshold.
What homes may qualify for the grant?
Generally, three types of purchase qualify: a new house, apartment or townhouse nobody has lived in before, an off-the-plan property still under construction, and a home that’s been substantially renovated and not lived in since. Vacant land on its own doesn’t qualify unless you also sign a building contract.
If you’re planning to build, it’s worth looking at home designs, house and land packages and display homes early, since your choice of design and inclusions will affect where you land against the $750,000 cap.
NSW First Home Owner Grant vs the First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme
The grant and the stamp duty scheme, officially called transfer duty in NSW, are easy to mix up because they both target first home buyers, but they work differently.
Program | What it gives you | Property value limit |
First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) | $10,000 one-off cash payment | $600,000 to buy, $750,000 combined for land and build |
First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme (FHBAS) | Full or partial exemption from transfer duty | Full exemption up to $800,000, concessional rate up to $1,000,000 (vacant land: full exemption up to $350,000, concessional up to $450,000) |
Many buyers qualify for both on the same purchase, since one is a cash grant and the other reduces what you pay in transfer duty. There’s also federal support worth checking, including the Help to Buy shared equity scheme and the First Home Guarantee 5% deposit scheme, both administered separately through Housing Australia. Confirm your eligibility for each rather than assuming you’ve only got access to one.
How to apply for the NSW First Home Owner Grant
- Check your eligibility against the current criteria before you sign anything.
- Confirm your new home or building contract sits within the value caps.
- Gather your documents, including proof of identity and your contract of sale or building contract.
- Apply through your lender if you’re financing the purchase, or directly through Revenue NSW if you’re not.
- Lodge your application within 12 months of settlement or completion.
How Coral Homes can help first home buyers in NSW
Once you know what you’re eligible for, the next step is finding a builder that makes the rest just as easy. Coral Homes has been building fixed-price homes across NSW for more than 35 years, with a first home buyer pathway built around exactly this stage of the journey.
- Classic Series: A simplified process and a fixed starting price, built for first home buyers.
- NSW home designs: Browse the full range of home designs available across NSW.
- House and land packages: Compare current house and land packages priced within the grant caps.
- Display homes: Walk through a display home in person before you commit to anything.
- Selection Showroom: Pick your own tapware, flooring and finishes at our MyChoice Selection Showroom.
- New Home Consultant: Talk to a New Home Consultant about what fits your budget and grant eligibility together.
Start your first home journey with Coral Homes
The NSW first home buyers grant and the First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme solve different problems, and knowing which one applies to your purchase is worth more than either payment on its own. Get that distinction right, and you can move ahead with both forms of support locked in, on a build you’ve already confirmed fits your budget, with a deposit that finally feels within reach.
Coral Homes can help you turn that eligibility into an actual plan, from choosing a design to locking in a fixed price before you sign. Speak to a New Home Consultant to see what’s possible on your budget.
Frequently asked questions — NSW first home buyers grant
How much is the first home buyers grant in NSW?
The NSW First Home Owner Grant is worth $10,000 for eligible first home buyers building or buying a new home. It's paid once, on top of whatever you've already saved or borrowed, with nothing to pay back.
What grants are available for first home buyers in NSW?
NSW first home buyers can access the $10,000 First Home Owner Grant plus a stamp duty exemption through the First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme. Federal support like Help to Buy or the First Home Guarantee may also apply.
Is stamp duty waived for first home buyers in NSW?
Yes, if your new or existing home is valued up to $800,000, you pay no stamp duty at all. Homes between $800,000 and $1,000,000 get a concessional rate instead of a full exemption.
Do I still need a deposit if I'm getting the first home buyers grant?
Yes, the $10,000 grant reduces what you need to save, but it isn't a substitute for a deposit. Most lenders still want to see genuine savings on top of any government support.
Can my partner and I still get the grant if only one of us is a first home buyer?
Generally, no. If your spouse or partner has owned residential property in Australia before, neither of you can receive the grant, even if you've personally never owned a home.
How long does it take to get the first home buyers grant in NSW?
If you're buying, the grant is usually paid at settlement. If you're building, it lands with your first construction progress payment instead, once your application has been checked and approved.
