First home buyer Victoria: guide to FHOG and more

First home buyer Victoria: your guide to FHOG / first home buyers grant, stamp duty concessions/exemptions, and more.

First home buyer concessions in Victoria: everything you need to know

First home buyers in Victoria face a tough market, with a median house price of $760,000 - among the highest in the nation. In Melbourne, which consistently ranks among the most livable cities in the world, the median increases to nearly $1 million.

With these prices, it takes almost 14 years for first home buyers to save a 20% deposit, according to ANZ and CoreLogic research.

State and federal governments offer several concessions to help first home buyers with rising property costs. Here’s everything you need to know about first home buyer concessions in Victoria.

Victoria's first home buyer grants and concessions include the following:

  • A $10,000 First Home Owner Grant when building a new home valued under $750k
  • stamp duty exemptions for properties valued less than $600k
  • Concessional stamp duty rates on properties valued at $600-750k
  • Access to shared equity and 5% deposits through the Victorian Homebuyers Fund (VHF)
  • Federal schemes, including the Home Guarantee Scheme, Help to Buy, and First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS)

Victoria FHOG (First Home Owner Grant)

In VIC, a $10,000 FHOG is available when you buy or build a new home for the first time. The property’s contract price cannot exceed $750,000. Eligible recipients must meet the below criteria:

  • You and your partner/spouse must not have owned or part-owned a home in Australia before 1 July 2000
  • Be an Australian citizen/permanent resident aged 18 years and above.
  • You (or one applicant) must occupy the home as your Principle Place of Residence (PPR) for at least 12 months within 12 months of settlement/construction.
  • The home must not have been sold or occupied before, including for short-term occupancies like Airbnb.

The Victoria First Home Owner Grant is a scheme co-funded by the Victorian and Federal governments designed to promote homeownership for first-home buyers.

Australian Defence Force (ADF) members—including members of the Australian Army, Air Force, or Navy—are exempt from the occupancy requirements provided they are enrolled to vote in Victoria.

A UNO broker will help determine your eligibility for the FHOG grant.

Victoria Stamp Duty Exemptions or Concessions

Victorian home buyers are eligible for stamp duty (duty) concessions or exemptions provided they bought their home after 1 July 2017.

Properties valued at less than $600,000 are eligible for a first home buyer exemption, while those valued at $600-750,000 qualify for a first home buyer duty concession.

The first home buyer duty concession is a rate based on the value of your property. The more expensive your property, the less discount you will receive.


Victorian First Home Buyer Duty Concession discounts

first home buyer vicoria

To be eligible for an exemption/concession, purchases must meet the same criteria as the FHOG grant. However, the property does not need to be new.

Additionally, there is a duty discount for properties within the City of Melbourne local government area (LGA) valued at up to $1 million. Contracts need to have been entered between 2021-2022.

Victorian Homebuyer Fund Shared Equity Scheme

The Victorian Homebuyers Fund (VHF) is a shared equity scheme where the Victorian Government contributes to the cost of a property in exchange for a stake in it.

Eligible individuals must have a single or combined income below $208k and $130k, respectively. Assess your eligibility here.

Under the scheme, the government will buy a share of up to 25% in your property provided you have a genuine savings deposit of at least 5%.

No interest is payable on the government’s share, but they will take a percentage of the profits when you sell it. You can pay back the government’s share in the property over time.


Regional First Home Owner Grant / FHOG

The regional FHOG was a $20,000 grant for first home buyers who purchased a property in regional Victori between July 2017 and 2021. It ended in 2021.


A step-by-step guide to buying your first home in Victoria

  1. Estimate how much you can with the UNO Plans tool. This will give you a budget for your property.
  2. Find the best deal - A UNO broker can help you compare rates from over 20 lenders to find the best deal.
  3. Seek pre-approval - Submit documents, including payslips, for pre-approval.
  4. Search for a property - Look for the perfect property within your budget.
  5. Make an offer on your property and settle within 45 days.


Federal first home buyer schemes

5 stars for our service reviews from clients

Book Call Now

UNO home loans

November 6, 2024
Try Plans, by UNO
Mortgage calculators completely reimagined
Get Started
Considering a purchase or refinance?

Try Plans by UNO

Mortgage calculators completely reimagined
Get Started
☎️ 🚫 No cold call promise

Related Articles

TESTIMONIALS

What our customers are saying

Kathryn Cretney
November 14, 2024
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
Paul helped us from day one before we even arrived in Australia so we knew exactly what we needed to prepare. He’s got a tonne of knowledge and was really lovely and supportive to deal with. Helpful and easy going. Would highly recommend - now in our first Aussie home and Paul made the process all very easy!
Read more
Sean O'Neill
November 14, 2024
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
We received excellent service and a tailored solution to our home loan requirements from Uno. Paul kept us informed at all milestone stages and throughout the process he demonstrated a ‘can do’ attitude that ultimately allowed us to get over the line and meet our deadline. We’re most grateful and very impressed. Highly recommend
Read more
Crush Huston
November 8, 2024
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
Paul is an amazing broker. Communicative, responsive and knows his stuff! Highly recommend
Read more
Amanda Pearce
November 7, 2024
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
After just four months in Australia, our New Zealand home sold, prompting us to stop renting and invest locally. We found Paul through a Kiwi Facebook group, and his exceptional service exceeded our expectations. From initial contact, Paul provided clear explanations, friendly communication, and prompt responses to our queries, making our mortgage process remarkably smooth. We highly recommend him.
Read more
Dom Saric
November 3, 2024
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
Mike Parsons went above and beyond to ensure that our refinancing journey was painless and successful. He was communicative, accessible (even working while on holidays!), and his knowledge of the systems at play meant that he picked up on things that other brokers missed. Would 100% recommend Mike, and will definitely be back next time we need a broker.
Read more
Ashleigh Breaden
October 31, 2024
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
Mike Parsons handled our refinance of our home loan with ease and a depth of knowledge that ensured we got the best deal possible for our situation. We didn't have an easy one to solve for with my husband being self employed and we were consolidating finances as well for a car loan. But Mike handled it all for us and once we had provided him with all the documents we literally didn't have to do a thing after that, it was so easy and so quick we are super happy with the experience! Top notch! Highly recommend!!
Read more
Kyle Richards
October 10, 2024
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
Absolute legend, helped me through the first home buyers scheme, explained everything in a way that made sense, was very knowledgeable and a joy to work with.
Read more
Chloe S
October 8, 2024
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
Mike Parsons made it possible for us and the in laws to get 2 pretty complicated home loans. He helped us through everything and we'd be happy to use Mike and the team again for anything we needed. Thanks again!
Read more
Sam Rezai
October 2, 2024
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
I have gone through 6 different mortgage brokers prior to meeting Andrew Wyers. He is the most patient mortgage broker I’ve encountered and also the most knowledgable about the bank’s lending process and products available. It took me 1 year to find a house I was happy with and Andrew was always there to assist with any issues or questions I had; he always return my phone call, even on the weekends or when his away on holidays. The loan process was smooth and I had no complications. The process with Andrew was again nice and easy, he took the time to find and put together the right package that was suited to my situation. I have recommended Andrew to my family & friends and everyone have been grateful and completely satisfied with his service.
Read more
S Wilko
September 23, 2024
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
I had not dealt with Scott or UNO before finding them on the internet. Even as an Australian citizen living and working overseas, I knew obtaining a loan would be difficult. However, Scott went above and beyond what I expected from a mortgage broker. I genuinely don’t think you could find another company that works as hard as they did to get my home loan approved. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Everyone I dealt with at UNO were extremely professional and helpful. If you are looking for a broker, you would be mad not to give them a go. Thanks to Scott Wilkinson, Dalby Bajwa, Jena Lasquite and Andrew Pacini. Shaun.
Read more
Shan Liao
September 3, 2024
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
I had an outstanding experience with Tian Liu. He was incredibly professional and attentive, going above and beyond to meet my needs. His expertise and dedication made the entire process smooth and stress-free. Tian's deep knowledge of the market and commitment to finding the best solutions for his clients truly sets him apart. He was always available to answer my questions and provided invaluable guidance throughout. I highly recommend Tian Liu to anyone in need of a reliable and skilled broker!"
Read more
Nathanael Chin
September 3, 2024
5 stars for our service reviews from clients
Tian Liu provided exceptional service throughout the entire process. His professionalism and keen attention to detail were evident from the start. Tian consistently kept us informed and offered insightful advice that made us feel confident in our decisions. He truly cares about his clients and works tirelessly to ensure the best possible outcome. We couldn't be happier with his assistance and highly recommend Tian to anyone looking for a trustworthy and knowledgeable broker.
Read more