Are you a first home buyer in Victoria confused by the number of grants, schemes, and exemptions on offer, and unsure which ones you actually qualify for?

First home buyer grants Victoria wide have expanded significantly in recent years, creating a landscape where eligible buyers can combine multiple forms of government assistance to dramatically reduce the cost of entering the property market. The challenge is understanding how each scheme works, what conditions apply, and how to stack them effectively.

According to State Revenue Office Victoria first home buyers purchasing new builds below certain price thresholds can access both the First Home Owner Grant and stamp duty concessions simultaneously, representing a meaningful reduction in upfront costs.

At Nexus Developments our house and land packages at Armstrong Grove and Allemore are priced and structured to align with the thresholds of Victoria’s most valuable first home buyer schemes, making government assistance genuinely accessible rather than theoretical.

This guide covers every major scheme available to first home buyers in Victoria in 2026, what each one delivers, and how to approach combining them strategically.

The First Home Owner Grant: What It Is and Who Qualifies

The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a one-off payment from the Victorian Government to eligible first home buyers purchasing or building a new home. It is not a loan and does not need to be repaid.

To be eligible for the FHOG in Victoria, buyers must generally:

• New property requirement: Purchase a newly built home, substantially renovated home, or a home built on vacant land, not an established property.
• Price cap: The property must fall below the applicable price threshold set by the State Revenue Office.
• Residency intention: At least one buyer must intend to live in the property as their principal place of residence for a continuous period after settlement.
• First home requirement: Neither applicant can have previously owned residential property in Australia.
• Citizenship or residency: At least one buyer must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

The FHOG is most powerful when combined with other available schemes, particularly stamp duty concessions, which operate independently but can be accessed simultaneously.

Stamp Duty Concessions for First Home Buyers in Victoria

Stamp duty is one of the largest upfront costs in any property purchase. Victoria offers significant concessions for first home buyers on properties below certain price thresholds, with full exemptions available at the lower end of the market.

Key points about stamp duty concessions:

• Full exemption: Available on properties below the lower price threshold, meaning no stamp duty is payable at all.
• Concession taper: For properties priced between the lower and upper thresholds, a partial concession applies on a sliding scale.
• New builds advantage: First home buyers purchasing new builds may access more favourable thresholds than those purchasing established homes, depending on current policy settings.
• Principal place of residence: The concession applies to properties intended as your main home, not investment properties.

For current threshold figures, buyers should consult the State Revenue Office Victoria directly, as these amounts are periodically reviewed and updated by the state government.

Help to Buy: The Federal Shared Equity Scheme

Help to Buy is a federal government shared equity scheme that allows eligible first home buyers to purchase a home with a smaller deposit by having the Commonwealth Government co-purchase a portion of the property.

How Help to Buy works in practice:

• Government equity contribution: The federal government contributes an equity share in the property, reducing the amount the buyer needs to borrow.
• Smaller deposit required: Buyers may be eligible to purchase with a deposit lower than the standard threshold, reducing the time needed to save.
• No rent on government share: Buyers do not pay rent on the government’s equity portion, reducing ongoing housing costs.
• Buyback over time: Homeowners can progressively buy back the government’s equity share as their financial position allows.
• New builds prioritised: Help to Buy is structured to prioritise new construction, making it highly compatible with house and land packages.

Armstrong Creek house and land packages from Nexus Developments are priced within Help to Buy eligible thresholds, allowing first home buyers to combine federal shared equity support with the Victorian FHOG and stamp duty concessions.

The First Home Guarantee: Buying with a Low Deposit

The First Home Guarantee, administered by Housing Australia allows eligible first home buyers to purchase a property with a deposit as low as five per cent without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

Under this scheme, the government guarantees the gap between the buyer’s deposit and the standard twenty per cent threshold, reducing the upfront financial barrier to entry significantly. LMI premiums on low-deposit loans can be substantial, so eliminating this cost represents genuine savings for first home buyers.

Key eligibility considerations:

• Income caps apply: Eligible buyers must fall below the annual income thresholds set under the scheme.
• Property price caps: Properties must fall below the regional price caps applicable to the area of purchase.
• Owner-occupier intent: The scheme is for buyers intending to live in the property, not investors.
• Limited places per year: The guarantee operates with a finite number of places released annually, meaning timing matters.

Stacking Schemes: How to Maximise Government Assistance

The most effective approach for first home buyers in Victoria is to understand which schemes can be used together, and to purchase a property that qualifies across multiple programs simultaneously.

A typical combination for a new build in a growth corridor like Armstrong Creek:

• First Home Owner Grant: Applied at settlement on a qualifying new build.
• Stamp duty exemption or concession: Applied automatically on properties below the relevant threshold.
• Help to Buy or First Home Guarantee: Reduces deposit requirements and borrowing costs.
• 7-8 star energy efficiency: Reduces ongoing utility costs from day one, extending effective purchasing power.

The combined effect of these schemes can meaningfully shift affordability, particularly in growth corridors where purchase prices sit within eligible thresholds. Inner Melbourne properties frequently exceed these thresholds, which is one reason growth corridor purchases deliver better scheme compatibility alongside stronger capital growth.

Why New Builds in Growth Corridors Optimise First Home Buyer Outcomes

First home buyer grants and schemes in Victoria are specifically designed to favour new construction. This policy intent reflects the government’s goal of adding housing supply whilst making ownership more accessible.

New builds in growth corridors like Armstrong Creek align with this intent across multiple dimensions:

• Price compatibility: Growth corridor pricing is more likely to fall within FHOG and stamp duty exemption thresholds than inner suburban stock.
• Energy efficiency: New builds deliver lower running costs from the outset, extending the effective value of government assistance.
• Capital growth potential: Infrastructure-driven growth corridors have demonstrated stronger appreciation patterns than established suburbs during active development cycles.
• Community liveability: Masterplanned estates provide amenity, green space, and community infrastructure suited to first home buyers establishing long-term roots.

Explore Armstrong Grove and Allemore at Armstrong Creek to see how Nexus Developments positions first home buyers for scheme compatibility and long-term value simultaneously.

Ready to use first home buyer grants in Victoria to enter the property market? Explore Nexus Developments house and land packages priced within FHOG and Help to Buy thresholds. Nexus also offers Project Management services and Land Lease options for flexible property solutions. Contact info@nexusdevelopments.com.au or call +61 3 9460 1865.

Note: Grant amounts, eligibility thresholds, and scheme conditions are subject to change by state and federal governments. All information is provided for general guidance only. Buyers should verify current eligibility criteria with the State Revenue Office Victoria, Housing Australia, and a qualified mortgage broker before making purchasing decisions.