First Home Owner Grant in the Whitsundays — what you need to know for 2025

Queensland's First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is one of the most valuable financial tools available to first home buyers — and it's particularly useful for people building a new home in the Whitsunday region. Here's what you need to know for 2025.

How much is the grant?

The Queensland First Home Owner Grant is worth $30,000 for eligible applicants building or buying a new home. This was increased from $15,000 in November 2023 and remains at $30,000 as of early 2025.

Key pointThe $30,000 FHOG only applies to new homes — either building a new home from scratch (like a Whitsunday Homes build) or buying a newly constructed home that has never been lived in. It does not apply to established homes.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for the Queensland FHOG, you must:

Be at least 18 years of age
Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident (at least one applicant)
Be buying or building your first home — neither you nor your spouse/partner can have previously owned residential property in Australia
Intend to live in the home as your principal place of residence within 1 year of completion
The home must be valued at $750,000 or less (total home and land value)

Does a new build qualify?

Yes — building a new home is one of the primary qualifying scenarios for the FHOG. Specifically, you're eligible when you enter a contract to build a new home on land you already own, or as part of a house and land package.

Our builds at Whitsunday Homes are eligible for the FHOG provided the total package (land + build) is valued at $750,000 or less. Our starter designs — The Shute ($258,000) and The Proserpine ($299,000) — combined with affordable Cannonvale or Proserpine land sit well within this threshold for most buyers.

When is the grant paid?

For new builds, the $30,000 grant is typically paid at the first progress payment stage — usually after the slab has been poured and the first payment is drawn from your construction loan. This means the money arrives early in your build, which can help manage cash flow.

How to apply

Most buyers apply for the FHOG through their lender (bank or mortgage broker) when applying for their construction or home loan. Your lender submits the application to the Queensland Revenue Office on your behalf. The key steps are:

Confirm you meet all eligibility requirements
Apply through your lender at the same time as your home loan application
Provide supporting documents: ID, signed building contract, land contract
Grant is paid directly to your lender at the first drawdown stage

Is there a stamp duty concession too?

Yes — separate to the FHOG, first home buyers in Queensland may also be eligible for a stamp duty concession. For new homes valued under $550,000, no stamp duty is payable at all. For homes valued between $550,000 and $750,000, a partial concession applies.

On a $450,000 combined house and land package, this stamp duty saving alone could be worth $8,000–$15,000 on top of the $30,000 FHOG.

Get advice from a professionalFHOG eligibility rules can be complex, particularly if you or your partner have previously owned investment property, received gifts of property, or have overseas property interests. Always confirm your eligibility with your lender, solicitor, or a mortgage broker before proceeding.

Our most popular first home buyer designs

If you're building your first home in the Whitsundays and want to maximise FHOG eligibility, our most popular options are:

The Proserpine — 3 bed, 2 bath, 178m², from $299,000 to build. With Proserpine land at $120,000–$180,000, well within FHOG threshold.
The Coral — 4 bed, 2 bath, 218m², from $385,000 to build. On a Cannonvale block, typically within threshold.
The Shute — 3 bed, 1 bath, 158m², from $258,000. Our most affordable design, ideal for smaller blocks or tight budgets.

We're happy to run through the numbers with you to help you understand whether a particular design and land combination puts you within FHOG range. Just get in touch.