What is the First Home Owner Grant in VIC?
The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a one-off, tax-free grant available to eligible first-home buyers in Victoria. It’s designed to help first-time homeowners cover some of the considerable costs involved in purchasing a property in Victoria, but strict limits and eligibility criteria apply.
How much is the First Home Owner Grant in VIC?
The First Home Owner Grant in Victoria is $10,000 for eligible first-home buyers to buy or build a new home. It’s on the lower scale of grants available in Australia. To be eligible under the program, properties must be valued below $750,000, including:
- A new house, townhouse, apartment or unit
- Off-the-plan properties
- Substantially renovated homes (when all or most of the structural or non-structural elements are renovated or demolished)
VIC First Home Owner Grant eligibility criteria
- Applicants must be 18+ years of age
- You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident (or applying with someone who is)
- You must be a first-home buyer who has not owned a property or received the grant previously
- You must be buying or building a new home in Victoria
- You must move into your new property within a year of buying and live there for at least 12 months (Australian Defence Force personnel are exempt from this residency requirement)
- The grant is not available to property investors, or properties purchased through a trust or company
VIC FHOG savings analysis on a $600,000 home loan
Loan amount | |
With $10,000 VIC FHOG | $600,000 (reduced to $590,000) |
Without VIC FHOG | $600,000 |
Interest rate | |
With $10,000 VIC FHOG | 6.00% p.a. |
Without VIC FHOG | 6.00% p.a. |
Monthly repayments | |
With $10,000 VIC FHOG | $3,537.35 (save $59.95) |
Without VIC FHOG | $3,597.30 |
Total to repay | |
With $10,000 VIC FHOG | $1,273,445 (save $21,584) |
Without VIC FHOG | $1,295,029 |
Total interest payable | |
With $10,000 VIC FHOG | $683,445 (save $11,584) |
Without VIC FHOG | $695,029 |
| With $10,000 VIC FHOG | Without VIC FHOG | |
|---|---|---|
Loan amount | $600,000 (reduced to $590,000) | $600,000 |
Interest rate | 6.00% p.a. | 6.00% p.a. |
Monthly repayments | $3,537.35 (save $59.95) | $3,597.30 |
Total to repay | $1,273,445 (save $21,584) | $1,295,029 |
Total interest payable | $683,445 (save $11,584) | $695,029 |
See First Home Owner Grants in each state & territory
Do you need to show genuine savings when using a grant?
Mansour Soltani , Money's home loan expert
“When you apply for a home loan, lenders still want to see at least 5% of the loan amount in genuine savings in addition to any grants you may be using. They will generally ask you to submit three months of bank statements as part of your loan application to check your savings history and expenses. Some lenders will take rental payments as genuine savings if you can provide a rental ledger.”
Mansour Soltani , Money's home loan expert
How to apply for the VIC First Home Owner Grant
You can apply for the First Home Owner Grant through your lender (who will also manage the application) or directly with Victoria's State Revenue Office (SRO).
If you apply via your lender
Complete the First Home Owner Grant application form and submit it to your lender with the supporting documents of the property purchase. You’ll also be asked to provide 100 points of Australian or state-issued documents that the lender can use for your home loan application. The lender will lodge your FHOG application on your behalf.
If you’re approved for the FHOG, you’ll usually receive the payment at settlement if you’re buying a newly-established home or at the first drawdown of funds for contracts to build a new home. If you’re building a home as an owner-builder, you’ll receive the grant when the final inspection certificate is issued.
If you apply via the State Revenue Office
You can lodge your grant application online and upload your supporting documents via the State Revenue Office Online Application Portal. Your application will be reviewed within 10 working days, and if approved, the grant will be paid into your nominated bank account after that.
How to fill out the VIC First Home Owner Grant application form
1
Complete the eligibility checklist
Verify your eligibility for the First Home Owner Grant. Tick the relevant box for questions 1 to 7.
2
Enter your personal details
Each applicant must fill out their personal information and contact details. If you’re applying with a spouse, they must enter their details in the ‘Applicant 2’ section. There’s a separate section for spouses not party to the grant application.
3
Provide your property and transaction details
Enter the details of the property you’re buying, including the street address or a lot number if a street number is not allocated (e.g. new housing estates or developments). You’ll also be asked to provide transaction details, such as if you have a contract to buy an established home, off-the-plan, build a new home, or buy a substantially renovated home.
4
Provide your bank account details
If you’re applying directly through SRO, you will need to nominate the bank account you’d like the grant paid into. If you’re applying through your lender, the grant will be paid to them in accordance with your agreement.
5
Sign the declaration
Each applicant must agree to and sign the declaration to confirm that all information provided is true and correct, and that they’ve read and understood all the details completed on the application form.
Other support for first-home buyers in VIC
Home Guarantee Scheme
The First Home Guarantee (FHBG) is a nationwide program that helps eligible first-home buyers purchase a property with a deposit as low as 5%, including in regional areas under the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee (RFHBG). Housing Australia guarantees up to 15% of the value of a first home, meaning you’d avoid lender’s mortgage insurance (LMI).
In Victoria, the FHBG price cap is $800,000 for homes in capital cities and regional centres and $650,000 for the rest of the state.
There’s also the Family Home Guarantee (FHG) to help eligible single parents or guardians buy a property with a deposit as low as 2%, with Housing Australia guaranteeing up to 18% of the property’s value.
Can you combine the VIC first-home buyer grant and First Home Guarantee?
Yes, it’s possible to use both the $10,000 VIC first-home buyer grant and FHBG if you qualify, according to Housing Australia. However, the FHOG is typically available only at settlement (i.e. after the completion of your property transaction), so it can’t directly be put towards the minimum 5% deposit for the FHBG.
Can you use the VIC First Home Owner Grant as part of your home loan deposit?
Mortgage brokers we spoke to said in certain situations lenders might consider including your FHOG as part of your deposit, most commonly with off-the-plan property transactions.
Even if a lender does not accept FHOG funds as part of your deposit, being eligible for it may still help you when applying for a loan. For example, lenders may factor in the one-time payment when assessing your borrowing capacity, pending grant approval, according to ANZ.
First-home buyer VIC stamp duty exemption
First-home buyers may be eligible for an exemption on stamp duty in Victoria for properties valued under $600,000. That’s a potential saving of up to $31,070. Concessional rates then apply for properties valued up to $750,000.
