Slashing stamp duty among recommendations for politicians ahead of federal election
Sarah Petty, Property Journalist
First published 03 February 2025, 12:00 PM
The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) unveiled seven recommendations for political parties and independent candidates ahead of this year’s federal election to tackle the nation’s housing crisis.
Phasing out stamp duty as well as revising lending criteria and taxes frameworks are some of the proposals from one of the nation’s largest real estate bodies.
REIA president Leanne Pilkington said their recommendations came at a time when housing affordability was at its lowest point since 1996.
“The housing crisis in Australia demands urgent and effective action,” she said.
“With mortgage repayments consuming a significant portion of household income and rental stress rising, REIA’s strategy aims to address these issues head-on.”
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Ms Pilkington said for Aussies aged 65-plus looking to downsize, they were most likely not going to be getting the money they spent on stamp duty back if they sold their current home.
“I’ve had plenty of conversations with people who said the cost of transacting is what’s really stopping them, particularly for that last move,” she said.
“I don’t think there’s any reason why we shouldn’t look at no stamp duty (for their next property purchase) for older Australians who are downsizing.”
REIA would also like to see the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) revise its lending criteria to help more first-home buyers enter the property market, and were calling for an inquiry into the impacts of state and territory property tax frameworks.
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| Breakdown | Amount |
| Stamp duty on property | |
| Transfer fee | |
| Mortgage registration fee |
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Home Buyer Concession Scheme
From 1 July 2019, the FHOG ACT has been replaced with exemptions on stamp duty. The stamp duty exemption is applicable to all properties in ACT, including vacant residential land and both new and established homes at any price. As this is still to aid first home buyers, to be eligible at least one buyer must live in the home for at least 12 months, starting within 12 months of settlement or completion of construction.
To be eligible, first homeowners in the ACT must have a household income below $160,000. This number increases up to $176,650 depending on the number of children you may have.
Click here for more information on the ACT First home Owner Grant.
Stamp duty concessions in NSW
From 1 August 2020, the NSW government has announced that stamp duty will not be applicable to first home buyers for properties valued up to $800,000 and vacant land valued up to $400,000. This stamp duty exemption will be in place for 12 months to 31 July 2021, in which the stamp duty exemptions will revert back to $650,000 for homes and $350,000 for land.
Additionally, a concessional rate of duty will apply to homes valued more than $800,000 but less than $1,000,000 and vacant blocks of land valued more than $400,000 and less than $500,000
How much is the First Home Owners Grant NSW?
The FHOG in NSW is worth $10,000 however conditions apply. To be eligible, your first home must have a total value below $600,000, and be either newly constructed or ‘substantially renovated’. A home is substantially renovated when most or all of the original house was removed or replaced, and it’s the first time the place has been sold, and lived in, after the renovations were completed.
If you plan to build a new home from scratch, you can still be eligible for the FHOG in NSW as long as your land plus the home you build have a combined value of less than $750,000.
Click here for more information on the NSW First Home Owner Grant.
How much is the First Home Owners Grant in the NT?
The First Home Owner Grant in NT is $10,000. Your income and the price of your home don’t affect the FHOG NT, and the grant is available if you buy or build a new house, apartment, duplex or townhouse.
As of 30 June 2021, there are currently no stamp duty concessions for first home buyers in NT.
Previously the Territory’s First Home Owner Discount was in place from 8 February 2019 to 30 June 2021. It let you save up to a maximum of $18,601 on the cost of stamp duty. The savings were available whether you purchased a new or established home as long as the home was valued under $650,000.
Click here for more information on the NT First home Owner Grant.
How much is the First Home Owners Grant QLD?
As a first home buyer in Queensland you could be entitled to the $30,000 First Home Owner Grant. To be eligible, you need to buy a brand new home or build a home from scratch with the total value (including the land) below $750,000. You may also be eligible if you buy off the plan or an established home that’s been substantially renovated.
As a guide, substantial renovations include replacing or altering foundations or replacing or altering floors. Cosmetic work such as painting the walls or sanding floors doesn’t add up to a substantial renovation when it comes to the FHOG in QLD.
Stamp duty concessions
If you’re buying vacant land to build your first home, you pay zero stamp duty as long as you pay $250,000 or less for your block. Concessions are available for vacant land valued above $250,000 and up to $400,000. Whereas if your first home is valued up to $500,000, you pay zero stamp duty. That’s a saving of $7,175 which is the maximum stamp duty rebate available to first home buyers in QLD.
Additionally, savings on stamp duty may still be available if you pay between $500,000 and $550,000 for your first home. As a guide, if your first home is worth $530,000, you pay stamp duty of $6,300 a saving of $3,500. These savings cut out altogether if your first home costs $550,000 or more.
Click here for more information on the QLD First home Owner Grant.
How much is the First Home Owners Grant SA?
There are currently no specific stamp duty concessions available for first home buyers in SA.
The $15,000 FHOG in South Australia is only available to first home owners who buy a new home. You can choose from a house, apartment, townhouse or villa.
You will only be able to claim the FHOG SA if you pay below the following amounts for your home:
Before 14 June 2023: $575,000
After 15 June 2023: $650,000
You can also claim the First Home Owner Grant in South Australia when you buy a block of vacant land to build your first home on. However, the end value of your building plus land must be no more than $575,000.
Click here for more information on the SA First home Owner Grant.
Stamp duty concessions in TAS
If you buy an established home, you are not eligible for the FHOG in Tasmania but you may be able to claim savings on stamp duty. If you’re home is valued at
$400,000 or less, you will receive a 50% discount on the property transfer duty (stamp duty).
How much is the First Home Owners Grant TAS?
The FHOG Tasmania is worth $30,000 until 30 June 2022 but only when you buy or build a new home. Off the plan purchases are also eligible. In Tasmania, there is no limit on the purchase price of the property, and the FHOG is not means tested.
Click here for more information on the TAS First home Owner Grant.
Stamp duty concessions in VIC
First home owners in Victoria don’t pay stamp duty at all on their first home as long as the property is valued below $600,000. You may still be eligible for savings on stamp duty if you pay between $600,000 and $750,000 for your first home. The stamp duty concessions available in Victoria apply to both established and new homes.
How much is the First Home Owners Grant VIC?
The FHOG Victoria is only available if you buy a newly built home or if you choose to build a home from scratch. The FHOG is worth $10,000 if you build/buy in Victoria.
Your first home can be a house, townhouse, apartment, or unit but it must be valued at $750,000 or less, and it must be a new home – being sold as a home for the first time, and less than five years old.
Click here for more information on the VIC First home Owner Grant.
Stamp duty concessions in WA
If you buy vacant land to build your first home, you’re exempt from paying stamp duty as long as you don’t pay more than $300,000. If you pay between $300,000 and $400,000 you will be entitled to a reduced rate of duty.
From 09 May 2024, if you buy a home costing up to $450,000, no stamp duty is payable at all. If the value of your home is between $450,000 and $600,000, you’ll be entitled to a reduced rate of stamp duty.
There are no additional concessions for homes valued above $600,000 and land valued above $400,000.
How much is the First Home Owners Grant WA?
The FHOG WA is worth $10,000 when you buy or build a brand new home. There are limits on what you can pay for your first home to be eligible for the FHOG in Western Australia.
If you’re located south of the 26th parallel, which basically covers all the Perth metropolitan area, you can claim the FHOG WA if your new home is worth up to $750,000 – this includes the value of the land plus buildings.
If you buy or build a home north of the 26th parallel, the property must be valued up to or below $1 million to be eligible for the FHOG WA.
The First Home Owner Grant in Western Australia is no longer available if you buy an established home however you may be able to claim stamp duty savings.
Click here for more information on the WA First home Owner Grant.
State / Territorial Revenue Web Sites
Ms Pilkington said land taxes and other measures in Victoria caused property investors to flee the market.
This comes as nearly 42% of low-income houses that received Commonwealth Rent Assistance in 2023-2024 were paying more than 30% of their income on rent, placing them in housing stress, the latest Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services revealed.
Everybody’s Home spokeswoman Maiy Azize said the fact that more than two in five people who received rent assistance were still in rental stress highlighted the extreme cost of rents and the low rate of JobSeeker payments.
“The federal government must raise the rate of Centrelink payments like JobSeeker, and fix the problems with Commonwealth Rent Assistance. This would give a badly needed reprieve to the renters doing it the toughest,” Ms Azize said.
“The housing crisis is still smashing so many Australians. It’s time for the federal government to deliver meaningful solutions.”
Victoria has the lowest proportion of social housing in Australia at just 2.9% — below the national average of 3.9% — the report also revealed.
And Community Housing Industry Association Victoria (CHIA Vic) chief executive Sarah Toohey said that figure was on track to decline even further over the next decade.
“To ease the housing crisis in Victoria we need the state’s proportion of public and community housing to rise from 2.9% to at least 4.8% in the next decade,” Ms Toohey said.
She called on the federal government to increase the Housing Australia Future Fund from $10bn to $50bn and the Victorian government to boots its Social Housing Growth Fund by an extra $6bn.
This article first appeared on realestate.com.au and has been republished with permission.
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