From 13 February 2025, changes to eligibility criteria for the first home owner grant have come into effect.
On this page
This page provides an overview about the first home owner grant.
Introduction
The first home owner grant is a one-off payment of up to $15,000 for eligible first home owners by the State Government. It is intended for eligible applicants who are buying or building a new residential property which will be used as a principal place of residence in South Australia.
From 13 February 2025, changes to the eligibility criteria regarding previous and current property ownership came into effect.
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Am I eligible for the First Home Owner Grant in South Australia?
This video is intended as a guide only. We recommend you seek independent advice about state revenue matters and how they impact you and your circumstances.
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In this video, we’ll outline the eligibility requirements for a first home owner grant of up to $15,000 in South Australia.
Is the first home owner grant available, when buying or building a new home?
You may qualify if you’re building a new home, or buying one, that hasn’t been lived in before.
This includes the purchase or construction of a new home, an off-the-plan apartment, a substantially renovated home, a comprehensive building contract or a contract to build a home and an owner builder.
The first home owner grant does not apply to the purchase of vacant land.
However, once you enter into a comprehensive building contract or contract to build a home, you may be eligible for the first home owner grant.
Is the value of the property taken into consideration?
If you signed a contract on, or after the 6 June 2024, no property value cap applies. This means, there is no limit to the market value for the property you are purchasing.
But contracts signed on or before the 5 of June 2024 are subject to a property value cap. This means, a grant is only available for property purchases up to a certain market value.
See our website for more details.
Who can apply for the first home owner grant?
To apply for the first home owner grant, you must be a natural person and at least 18 years old.
At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident of Australia or a New Zealand citizen permanently residing in Australia who holds a Special Category visa.
Is ownership of other residential property in Australia considered?
To be eligible for a grant, you, or your spouse or domestic partner, cannot own, or have previously owned residential property in Australia.
However, if you entered into your contract before the 13 February 2025, you may still be eligible for the grant if you, or your spouse or domestic partner, purchased the residential property after the 1 July 2000, and did not reside in the residential property for 6 months or longer.
See our website for more details.
What are the residence requirements?
Your new home, must be the principal place of residence for all applicants, for at least 6 continuous months.
When building a home, all applicants must move in, within 12 months of completion of building.
Or, if you have purchased a new home, within 12 months of settlement.
This means, each applicant, must live in the home full-time, with their personal belongings.
How do I apply for the first home owner grant?
To apply, you can lodge your application with most financial institutions. If you need to receive the grant payment for settlement or a first progress payment, you must lodge your application with your financial institution. Alternatively, you can lodge directly with RevenueSA.
Our website contains details on how to apply, including information and supporting documentation required for both yourself and your spouse or domestic partner, and time frames for applying.
You can lodge your application for the first home owner grant once you have entered into a contract to build or purchase your new home. Your application must be lodged within 12 months of: Completion of the building, if you are building a new home; or Settlement, if you are purchasing a new home.
Is there any stamp duty relief for first home buyers?
As a first home buyer, you might also be eligible for stamp duty relief.
Information on stamp duty relief for eligible first home buyers can be found on RevenueSA's website.
That wraps up our video on the first home owner grant.
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More information can be found on the RevenueSA website.
[on screen no audio] www.revenuesa.sa.gov.au/FHOG
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The eligibility criteria for the first home owner grant is similar to stamp duty relief for eligible first home buyers, but you must apply for each separately. If you don't qualify for the first home owner grant, you may still qualify for stamp duty relief.
Applications for the first home owner grant can be made at any time from the commencement of the eligible transaction 
but must be made within 12 months of completion of the eligible transaction . The date you will be paid the grant depends on whether you are building or buying, whether you lodge your application through an approved agent or you lodge your application yourself to RevenueSA, and when your application is approved.
Eligible properties
The first home owner grant applies to:
- the purchase or construction of a new home
- an off-the-plan apartment
- a substantially renovated home
- a comprehensive building contract or a contract to build a home
- owner builders
- knock-down rebuild projects (for contracts entered into prior to 13 February 2025)
Conditions and eligibility criteria apply. Property value caps may apply, depending on when you enter or entered into your contract.
Eligible applicants
The first home owner grant may be available where each applicant is both:
- at least 18 years of age at the time of making an application
- a natural person.
In addition, at least one of the applicants must be either:
- an Australian citizen or a permanent resident of Australia
- a New Zealand citizen permanently residing in Australia who holds a Special Category visa.
Other criteria regarding eligible applicants apply.
Important: You must include your spouse or domestic partner's details on your application as their circumstances may affect your eligibility. This applies even if they are not an applicant and will not own (hold a relevant interest ) in the home.
Property ownership
If you entered into your contract on or after 13 February 2025:
- you will not be eligible for the first home owner grant if you or your spouse or domestic partner own or have previously owned (hold or held a relevant interest in) an Australian residential property.
If you entered into your contract before 13 February 2025:
- you may be eligible for the first home owner grant if you if you or your spouse or domestic partner owned or had previously owned (hold or held a relevant interest in) an Australian residential property after 1 July 2000 and did not reside in the residential property for 6 months or longer.
- You will not be eligible for the first home owner grant if you or your spouse or domestic partner own or have owned (hold or held a relevant interest in) an Australian residential property and that property was purchased or acquired before 1 July 2000, regardless of whether you lived in the home or not.
Other criteria regarding property ownership apply.
Residence requirement
All applicants must reside in the home as their principal place of residence for a continuous period of at least 6 months commencing within 12 months after completion of the eligible transaction.
If you are unable to meet your 6 month residence requirement because of a change in circumstances, you must tell us in writing within 14 days of the change. Penalties may apply if you receive the first home owner grant and are not eligible for it.
Grant details
A one-off payment of up to $15,000 is available to assist eligible applicants to buy or build a new residential property.
Only one grant is available per eligible transaction to purchase or build a residential home.
The time at which you will receive the grant depends on whether you lodge your application with an approved agent or with RevenueSA.
How to apply
In most cases, your financial institution will lodge your first home owner grant application for you if it is an approved agent but you can lodge your application by yourself through RevenueSA.
Important: If you require the grant payment for settlement or a first progress payment, you must lodge your application with an approved agent.
You will need to provide supporting documentation for both yourself and your spouse or domestic partner, even if they are not an applicant for the first home owner grant.
Legislation
First home owner grant in South Australia is administered under the following legislation:
- First Home and Housing Construction Grants Act 2000
- First Home and Housing Construction Grants Regulations 2015.
Contact us
When contacting us please provide your first home owner grant unique identification number (UIN).
| fhog.support@sa.gov.au | |
| phone | (08) 8226 3750 |
| fax | (08) 8226 3737 |
| post | RevenueSA Kaurna Country GPO Box 1353 ADELAIDE SA 5001 |
You can reach us during business hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm (South Australian time), Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
Do you want to provide feedback or lodge a complaint?
You can do so via our feedback and complaints page.