First Home Buyer Schemes Victoria 2026 | Grants & Stamp Duty Savings

First Home Buyer Schemes Victoria 2026 | Grants & Stamp Duty Savings

Discover all first home buyer schemes in Victoria for 2026, including FHOG, stamp duty exemptions, Help to Buy, and off‑the‑plan concessions. Learn how to save thousands.

Buying your first home in Victoria can feel overwhelming, but the good news is that there are multiple Victorian and Australian Government schemes designed to reduce upfront costs and help you enter the property market sooner. This SEO‑friendly guide breaks down every major first home buyer scheme in Victoria, who qualifies, how much you can save, and where to apply.

🎁 First Home Owner Grant Victoria (FHOG)

The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is one of the most popular incentives for first home buyers in Victoria. Eligible buyers purchasing or building a new home valued up to $750,000 can receive a $10,000 grant.

Key FHOG eligibility criteria:

• The home must be new (never lived in or sold as a residence).
• Applies to houses, townhouses, apartments, and off‑the‑plan properties.
• You must live in the property for at least 12 months.

📌 Official link: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/fhog

🏷️ Stamp Duty Exemptions & Concessions for First Home Buyers

Stamp duty is one of the biggest upfront costs when buying property in Victoria — but first home buyers can access significant savings.

Current Victorian stamp duty benefits:

• No stamp duty for homes valued up to $600,000
• Discounted stamp duty for homes valued between $600,000 and $750,000
• Off‑the‑plan concessions that reduce duty based on construction stage

These concessions apply to both new and established homes.

📌 Official link: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/land-transfer-duty

🏘️ Help to Buy Shared Equity Scheme

With the Victorian Homebuyer Fund now closed, first home buyers can access the Australian Government’s Help to Buy scheme. This shared equity program allows the government to contribute up to 40% of the purchase price for new homes and 30% for existing homes, reducing your mortgage and deposit requirements.

Why Help to Buy matters:

• Lower deposit needed
• Smaller mortgage repayments
• Government becomes a co‑owner until you buy back their share

📌 Official link: https://www.housingaustralia.gov.au/help-buy

🏗️ Off‑the‑Plan Stamp Duty Concessions

Buying off‑the‑plan can significantly reduce your stamp duty because duty is calculated on the property’s value at contract signing — often before construction begins.

Benefits include:

• Lower dutiable value
• Potential savings of tens of thousands of dollars
• Applies to apartments, townhouses, and house‑and‑land packages

📌 Official link: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/offtheplan

🏡 Principal Place of Residence (PPR) Concession

The PPR concession reduces stamp duty for buyers who intend to live in the property as their main residence.

Eligibility:

• Home valued up to $550,000
• Must move in within 12 months
• Can be combined with other first home buyer benefits

📌 Official link: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/pprocc

🪖 Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme (DHOAS)

For ADF members and their families, DHOAS provides home loan subsidies to make buying a home more affordable.

📌 Official link: https://www.dhoas.gov.au

🧭 Victorian First Home Buyer Guide

The Victorian Government’s official guide covers everything from budgeting to settlement, including detailed explanations of grants and concessions.

📌 Official link: https://www.vic.gov.au/first-home-buyer-guide