Victorian property buyers are often entitled to substantial savings through government grants and stamp duty concessions and just as often miss them. The most well-known is the First Home Owner Grant of $10,000 for newly constructed homes, but the larger savings usually come from stamp duty — the principal place of residence concession, off-the-plan concession, pensioner concession, and the family law exemption can each be worth tens of thousands of dollars.
The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)
$10,000 grant for first home buyers purchasing or building a new home valued up to $750,000 in metropolitan Melbourne (with higher caps in regional Victoria). The home must be your principal place of residence for at least 12 months continuously, commenced within 12 months of settlement. Conditions on prior ownership and prior FHOG receipt apply.
Stamp duty concessions
The principal place of residence concession reduces stamp duty for homes you will live in (under $550,000 generally, with the threshold periodically updated). The off-the-plan concession can substantially reduce stamp duty on apartments and units purchased before construction completion. The pensioner concession applies for eligible pensioners purchasing a home up to a certain value. And, importantly for many of my family law clients, the family law exemption removes stamp duty entirely on transfers of real property between spouses or former spouses pursuant to a family law settlement.
First Home Buyer Duty Reduction
Eligible first home buyers in Victoria pay no stamp duty on properties up to $600,000 and receive a tapered concession up to $750,000. Combined with the FHOG, the total saving for a first home buyer can easily exceed $40,000.
How I handle a grants & stamp duty matter
- 1Review of all available grants and concessions for your circumstances
- 2Application and documentation
- 3Coordination with the State Revenue Office Victoria
- 4Your settlement statement showing the savings applied
Frequently asked questions
Can I get the First Home Owner Grant on an existing home?
Generally no. The FHOG applies to newly constructed homes, including substantially renovated homes that meet specific criteria. Existing homes are not eligible for the FHOG but may still attract first home buyer stamp duty concessions.
What if I owned property overseas before?
The FHOG and the first home buyer duty concession have residency and prior-ownership criteria. Prior overseas ownership may disqualify you from the FHOG but not necessarily from all duty concessions. The specifics matter.
Reviewed by Elisa Rothschild BA/LLB — Principal Lawyer, Fogarty Oliver Rothschild. Admitted to legal practice in Victoria. Last reviewed 2026-05-22.
This page is general legal information about grants & stamp duty in Victoria, Australia. It is not legal advice for your specific situation. For advice on your matter, book a free initial consultation.