The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a one-off WA Government payment of up to $10,000 for people buying or building their first new home. There is no income or assets test, but there are rules about the home, its price and living in it.
Who can get the grant
You will generally be eligible if:
- you are 18 or over when you apply
- at least one applicant is an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- you will own the home in your own name, not as a trustee for someone else
- neither you nor your spouse or de facto partner has had a first home owner grant, or the first home owner rate of duty, before in any state or territory
- neither of you has owned a home in Australia and lived in it.
If you are buying with a partner, both of your property histories count, even if only one of you will be on the title.
New homes only
The grant is only for new homes. That means buying a newly built or off-the-plan home, signing a contract to build, or building as an owner-builder. A home that has been substantially renovated can also count. Established homes don’t qualify.
This is the biggest difference between the grant and the stamp duty concession. You can get the duty concession on an established home, but not the grant.
Price caps
The total value of the home, including the land, has to be under a cap. The cap depends on where the home is and when you signed:
- South of the 26th parallel (all of Perth and Peel): $800,000 for contracts from 7 May 2026, and $750,000 before that
- North of the 26th parallel (for example the Pilbara and Kimberley): $1,000,000
For a house-and-land build, the land price and the building contract are added together.
You need to live in it
Each applicant must live in the home as their main residence for at least six months in a row, starting within 12 months of completion. For a purchase, completion is usually settlement. For a build, it’s when the home is ready to live in, usually key handover.
If something unexpected means you can’t meet this, tell RevenueWA in writing within 30 days. In some cases the requirement can be varied.
How and when to apply
You can apply once the contract is signed by everyone, and you must apply within 12 months of completion. There are two ways:
- Through your lender. Most lenders are approved agents and lodge the application with your loan. For a new home purchase the grant is usually paid at settlement.
- Directly with RevenueWA online. For a purchase, the grant is paid after you are registered on the title, roughly 3 to 6 weeks after settlement.
If you are building, the grant is generally paid once the first progress payment has been made, usually slab down, and you are registered on the title. Our construction loans guide explains progress payments.
Using it with other first home help
Many first home buyers can use more than one kind of help on the same purchase:
- WA first home owner duty rate. For agreements from 7 May 2026, no transfer duty on a first home up to $600,000, and a reduced rate up to $800,000. On a $650,000 home that is $8,075 instead of $24,890. See our WA stamp duty guide.
- The 5% Deposit Scheme (First Home Guarantee). Since 1 October 2025 there is no limit on places and no income cap. Eligible buyers with a 5% deposit can avoid lenders mortgage insurance. The price cap is $850,000 in Perth and $600,000 in regional WA. You apply through a participating lender, which still has to approve your loan.
How a broker helps
Working out which schemes apply, and which lenders take part in the 5% Deposit Scheme, can be fiddly. A broker can check your eligibility for each, compare 30+ lenders, and line up the grant application with your loan so the timing works at settlement.
Common questions
Can I get the grant on an established home?
No. The grant is only for new homes, homes you build, or homes that have been substantially renovated. You may still get the first home owner rate of duty on an established home.
When is the grant paid if I’m building?
Generally after the first progress payment, usually slab down, and once you are registered on the title. If your lender lodges it for you, they will line the timing up with your loan.
Can I use the grant with the 5% Deposit Scheme?
In many cases, yes. One is a WA grant and the other is a federal scheme, and each has its own rules and price cap. Ask how your lender treats the grant as part of your contribution.
My partner owned a home years ago. Can I still apply?
Possibly not. The rules look at whether you or your spouse or de facto partner has owned and lived in a home in Australia. RevenueWA can confirm your situation before you sign.
General information only, written on 11 October 2026. It doesn't take your personal circumstances into account. Rates, grants, tax rules and concessions change, so speak with us before making a decision.
