Am I eligible for the First Home Owner Grant in Victoria?

Yes if you're building a new home valued under $750,000, are 18+, an Australian citizen or PR, and neither you nor your partner has previously owned a residential property in Australia. The FHOG is $10,000 for new builds in metro Melbourne, $20,000 for regional Victoria.

What stamp duty concessions apply to Melbourne first home buyers?

PPR concession + First Home Buyer Duty Exemption: full exemption on properties up to $600,000; sliding-scale concession up to $750,000; zero benefit above $750,000. On a $550,000 property the saving is ~$28,000. This is on top of the FHOG.

What's the difference between HomeBuilder and FHOG in Victoria?

HomeBuilder was a federal stimulus grant that ended in 2021. It's NOT available in 2026. The Victorian First Home Owner Grant + FHB duty exemption are the current live programs. Don't confuse older articles referring to HomeBuilder as still-active.

How much deposit do I need to build in Melbourne as a first home buyer?

Standard construction loans: 20% deposit ($120,000 on a $600,000 build). First Home Guarantee (FHG): 5% deposit with government-guaranteed LMI ($30,000 on a $600,000 build). Family Home Guarantee for single parents: 2% deposit. Book with your lender BEFORE tendering to builders.

Is buying land + building cheaper than an existing home in Melbourne?

On a like-for-like comparison in the same suburb: build is usually 8-15% more expensive but delivers a 7-star energy home with 6-year structural warranty. In growth corridors (Wyndham, Melton, Casey) H&L packages are often cheaper than a comparable-age existing home due to seller expectations catching up to slower market.

Can I use my superannuation for a first-home deposit?

Via the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) you can voluntarily contribute up to $50,000 to super, then withdraw those contributions + earnings for a first-home deposit. Tax-effective but takes 12-24 months to build up meaningfully. Not a shortcut for a build starting in 3 months.

H&L package or build on my own block as a first home buyer in Melbourne?

H&L packages simplify: one contract, fixed price, faster approval, easier finance. Own-block builds give you more control and often better locations but more moving parts. 80% of Melbourne first home buyers go H&L. If you inherit or already own land, own-block is the obvious path.

Which Melbourne growth corridors suit a first-home budget?

Wyndham (Werribee, Point Cook, Truganina) - $580k-$720k H&L. Casey (Cranbourne, Clyde) - $560k-$700k. Whittlesea (Mernda, Doreen) - $600k-$740k. Melton (Fraser Rise, Weir Views) - $520k-$680k. Prices are 2026 averages for 4-bed builds.

Should I use a mortgage broker or go direct to a bank?

A construction loan is more complex than a standard mortgage. A specialist construction-loan broker will save you 0.15-0.35% on rate + navigate progress-draw releases. Fee-free brokers exist (paid by lender). Direct-to-bank works if you already have an established relationship.

What "hidden costs" hit Melbourne first home buyers?

GAIC ($6,000-$50,000 on growth-corridor blocks), council-crossing fee ($850-$1,600), utility connections ($3,500-$7,000), landscape ($15k-$40k), fencing ($4k-$8k), and 3-6 months rent during build. Total hidden costs often $50k-$100k on top of the H&L sticker.

Should I fix or float my construction loan interest rate?

Construction loans are typically variable during the build (12-18 months) then convert to standard mortgage. You cannot fix during the build phase because progress draws happen against variable balances. Fix at conversion if long-term rates are attractive.

What builder inclusions matter most for first home buyers?

Ducted heating/cooling (not split-only), 2.6m ceilings not 2.4m, 40mm stone benchtops not laminate, tiles-to-ceiling in wet areas, 900mm cooktop, tempered fencing, LED downlights throughout, decent carpet ($60/m² minimum). Ask each builder to quote these separately if not in base.

Should I get an independent building inspector as a first home buyer?

Absolutely yes. $2,500-$4,500 for full-build 3-inspection package (frame, waterproofing, PC) is the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy. They catch defects builders would otherwise hand you at PC. Independent means not-related-to-builder.

How long from signing land contract to keys?

Standard Melbourne H&L: 14-22 months from land settlement to move-in. Titled land + volume builder = 12-14 months. Untitled land = add 4-8 months for developer registration. Rental / bridging plan should assume the longer end.

When do I need pre-approval finalised?

Full lender approval (not just pre-approval) needs to be in place BEFORE unconditional exchange on land, and before builder signs contract. Otherwise you risk losing your 10% deposit if finance falls through.

What does "unconditional" mean on a Melbourne land contract?

Standard land contracts are conditional on finance approval and satisfactory soil / title report. "Unconditional" means all these conditions are removed and the contract is binding. Never go unconditional without fully approved finance in writing.

How is GAIC calculated on my Melbourne block?

GAIC (Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution) applies to greenfield land in designated Melbourne growth areas. Rate is per m² of land, indexed annually. Typical impact: $6,000-$50,000 depending on block size. Payable at land contract settlement.

Do I pay stamp duty on land AND on the build separately?

On H&L: stamp duty is charged on the land component only (not the build) because the build hasn't happened yet at contract date. On an existing home: stamp duty on the full purchase. This is why H&L packages are so tax-effective for first home buyers.

When do progress payments hit my construction loan?

Standard 5-stage progression: deposit / base / frame / lockup / fixing / PC. Each stage the builder invoices, the lender inspects, and releases funds directly to the builder. You pay interest-only on the drawn balance during construction.

What can I claim on tax after a first-home build?

If you're the owner-occupier: nothing directly (PPR isn't deductible). If you rent it out later, keep every invoice - construction cost forms the cost base for capital works deductions and future CGT calculations. Talk to a specialist accountant BEFORE moving in.

First Home Buyer Melbourne: Grants, Costs and the Portals You Actually Need in 2026

Name: BuildPilot Adelaide Building Industry Dataset
Creator: BuildPilot
License: https://buildpilot.com.au/terms

A curator's guide to the FHOG, the Victorian stamp duty concession and the Homebuyer Fund. We do not print dollar amounts here because they move every Budget - we point you at the official pages that update in real time.

See VIC grants explainer

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The 3-minute version

3 min read

1The Victorian First Home Owner Grant is $10,000 for a new home up to $750,000. Regional Victoria gets the same amount.
2Stamp duty is waived for first home buyers on homes up to $600,000 and discounted to $750,000, with a temporary off-the-plan concession for all buyers.
3The federal Home Guarantee Scheme allows a 5% deposit without lender's mortgage insurance, subject to price caps and places.
4Growth-corridor house-and-land packages (Wyndham, Melton, Casey, Whittlesea) are where most first builds land. Budget 10-15% over the advertised price.
5Apply through the State Revenue Office, usually via your lender, after the build contract is signed.

Bottom line: Victoria's help is smaller than SA's and capped, so the price cap decides which suburb and package you can realistically use it on.

Grant scheme

FHOG

first home owner grant

Regulator

SRO

State Revenue Office

Contracts

CAV

Consumer Affairs Victoria

Live packages

Melbourne + regional VIC

The three Victorian entitlements to check first

Victoria offers three distinct first home buyer entitlements. They stack differently depending on your contract price, the home's age and whether it is your principal place of residence. Understanding which one applies before you start comparing builder quotes saves you the "I thought I had X" phone call after your loan is drawn.

The three are the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG), the first home buyer stamp duty concession, and the Homebuyer Fund shared-equity scheme. They are administered by two different Victorian Government bodies, and every dollar amount changes with each State Budget - so BuildPilot never prints figures on this page. Open the SRO before you sign a contract.

FHOG applies to new builds and off-the-plan contracts up to the current state cap
The stamp duty concession applies to any home, new or established, under a separate threshold
Homebuyer Fund is a shared-equity scheme with capped intake slots each year
None of the three is retroactive - eligibility is set at contract date

What a real Melbourne build costs a first home buyer in 2026

The most useful number for a Melbourne first home buyer is the all-in figure: land + build + statutory costs, not the "from" price a display village prints on a floor plan. In 2026 in Melbourne's growth corridors (Wyndham, Melton, Hume, Whittlesea, Casey) the all-in figure for a turn-key three or four bedroom H&L package sits meaningfully above the equivalent Adelaide number - land is more, site costs are usually more, and Victorian statutory levies (foreign purchaser, growth areas, planning contribution) add line items that South Australia does not have.

BuildPilot's live Victorian package feed carries the current listing across those five growth corridors plus Geelong and regional Victoria. Beds, baths and land at a glance; full price and floor plan inside the app.

Contract stage: what Consumer Affairs Victoria requires

A Victorian domestic building contract has to comply with the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995. Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) publishes the current rules on cooling-off periods, deposit caps, progress payment schedules and mandatory warranties. Before you sign, read their "Building contracts" and "Deposits and progress payments" pages - both linked below.

BuildPilot is not licensed to give legal or financial advice. If a clause looks off, our One on One Support will read it with you and flag what to raise with your solicitor; we do not replace one.

Official Victorian sources referenced

The First Home Buyers Grant is ending… What other grants are there?

16m 28s

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The First Home Buyers Grant is ending… What other grants are there?

With the First Home Buyers Grant winding down, what help is still available? We break down the key grants and schemes you can still access, including shared equity options, stamp duty concessions, and home guarantee programs across Australia.

Watch full episode

Frequently asked

Is the First Home Owner Grant $10,000 in Melbourne?+

The current FHOG amount and cap for Victoria live on the State Revenue Office site. It has been $10,000 for new builds under a state cap in recent years, but the exact figure and eligibility threshold move with State Budgets. Always check the SRO page linked below before assuming.

Can I use both the FHOG and the stamp duty concession together?+

In many cases yes, provided your contract price meets both the FHOG cap and the separate stamp duty concession threshold. The SRO calculator will run both against your exact contract figures in under a minute.

What is the Victorian Homebuyer Fund and how is it different from the FHOG?+

The Homebuyer Fund is a shared-equity scheme administered by Homes Victoria. The state co-invests a percentage of the purchase price in exchange for a proportional share of the property. It is separate from the FHOG and has its own eligibility test plus a capped intake each year.

Do I need a Melbourne builder or can I use any Victorian builder?+

Any Victorian builder with an active VBA registration in the right practitioner category. The Victorian Building Authority runs the public register, free of charge. Search by name or licence number before you sign anything.

Can BuildPilot match me with a Melbourne builder now?+

Yes. BuildPilot's builder matching is live across Melbourne and Victoria. Tell us your build type, budget and block and we'll match you with vetted Victorian builders suited to your brief - start the matcher above.

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