Turnkey new house and land package covered alfresco
The Doubled $30,000 Queensland Housing Stimulus
In response to rising construction costs and housing affordability pressures, the Queensland Government doubled the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) from $15,000 to an industry-leading $30,000. For eligible first home buyers purchasing brand new property, this statutory injection provides a transformative leg-up onto the property ladder.
Nowhere is this grant more effectively deployed than in South East Queensland's masterplanned house and land corridors across Ipswich, Logan, and Moreton Bay. However, strict statutory eligibility criteria and lending rules govern how the grant is claimed and disbursed. Discover our eligible house and land packages structured specifically to meet grant guidelines.
The $750,000 Statutory Price Cap Mechanism
Under the Queensland First Home Owner Grant and Other Home Owner Grants Act 2000, the total transaction value of the home must be less than $750,000. When purchasing a two-part house and land package (split contract), the statutory value is calculated as the combined total of the land purchase price plus the building construction contract value.
If your land contract is $340,000 and your fixed-price building contract is $395,000, your total package price equals $735,000, fully qualifying for the $30,000 grant. However, if post-contract variations (such as upgraded stone benchtops, air conditioning, or site cost provisional sums) push the final completed build price to $750,001, the entire $30,000 grant entitlement is immediately forfeited. Maintaining strict contractual cost caps is vital.
Can You Use the $30,000 Grant as Your Initial Deposit?
A common misconception among first home buyers is assuming the Queensland Revenue Office (QRO) will hand over $30,000 in cash to pay the initial land contract deposit. In reality, the grant is disbursed strictly at specific statutory milestones:
- Turnkey Contracts (Single Contract): The grant is disbursed directly at legal settlement to reduce the funds required to complete purchase.
- Split Contracts (House & Land): When applying through an approved mortgage lender, the grant is paid at the foundation stage (the first progressive drawdown following the pouring of the concrete slab).
This means purchasers must still possess genuine personal savings or a family gift to cover the initial land deposit (typically five to ten percent) and satisfy bank loan approval requirements. The $30,000 grant is then applied against subsequent construction invoices.
Stacking the Grant with Transfer Duty Exemptions
Crucially, eligible first home buyers in Queensland can stack the $30,000 FHOG alongside the First Home Concession on transfer duty under the Duties Act 2001.
When purchasing vacant land to construct a home, first home buyers pay zero transfer duty on land valued up to $350,000, with concessional rates applying up to $500,000. On a $350,000 land purchase, this saves over $10,000 in stamp duty. Combined with the $30,000 grant, first home buyers secure over $40,000 in direct government concessions. Consult our BARTA Property finance specialists to coordinate your grant application.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum purchase price to get the $30k QLD grant?
Under Queensland law, the total combined value of the land contract and building contract must be strictly under $750,000 to qualify for the $30,000 grant.
When is the $30,000 grant actually paid out on a house and land build?
On a build contract, the grant is disbursed upon completion of the foundation stage (when the concrete slab is poured), not at initial land deposit signing.
Do first home buyers pay stamp duty on vacant land in Queensland?
No. First home buyers pay zero transfer duty on vacant residential land valued up to $350,000 under the Queensland First Home Vacant Land Concession.
Can permanent residents claim the $30,000 QLD First Home Owner Grant?
Yes. At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, aged 18 or older, and have never owned residential property in Australia before.
Jayden Barta
BARTA Property • Gold Coast & Brisbane
Specialising in prestige developments, off-the-plan apartments, and residential projects across South East Queensland.
