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WA first-home buyer grants and duty in 2026

Western Australia’s first home buyer concession and grant structure is layered across state duty, state FHOG, and regional modifiers. Compared to eastern states, WA’s thresholds are lower, but so are property prices in most of Perth. The structure matches the market.

WA stamp duty for first home buyers

Established dwellings:

  • Up to $430,000: nil duty
  • $430,001 to $530,000: tapering concession
  • Above $530,000: full duty applies (no first home concession)

New or substantially renovated dwellings:

  • Up to $450,000: nil duty
  • $450,001 to $600,000: tapering
  • Above $600,000: full duty

Vacant land (with intention to build):

  • Up to $300,000: nil duty
  • $300,001 to $400,000: tapering

WA FHOG

$10,000 for the purchase of a new or substantially renovated home up to $750,000 in metropolitan Perth, or up to $1,000,000 in regional WA. Not available for established property.

The interlock: why the “new build” route is heavily incentivised

A first home buyer purchasing a new Perth apartment at $580,000:

  • Stamp duty: nil (within $600k new-build cap) - saving ~$24k
  • FHOG: $10k

Total uplift: $34k.

The same buyer purchasing an established Perth house at $580,000:

  • Stamp duty: full duty (established cap $530k), cost ~$24k
  • FHOG: zero (not available for established)

The gap is approximately $58k ($34k benefit vs $24k cost). This is a strong policy nudge toward new construction.

Regional WA

Regional first home buyers have the same duty thresholds but the FHOG cap extends to $1,000,000. In regional centres like Bunbury, Geraldton, and Albany where new-build houses in the $500k-$700k range are common, first home buyers can typically capture both the duty concession (if under $600k on new) and the full $10k FHOG.

Income test

WA does not apply an income test on the duty concession or FHOG. The test is the property price.

Residence requirement

You must occupy the property as principal place of residence for at least 6 months, starting within 12 months of settlement. Shorter than QLD’s 12-month requirement, easier to satisfy.

Where WA first home buyers go wrong

1. Buying at $535k established, just above the $530k cap. Cost: ~$24k in duty. Either push the negotiation below $530k or accept the duty and move on.

2. Assuming old 2019 rules still apply. WA has updated thresholds twice since 2019. Always confirm current thresholds with the WA State Revenue Office before budgeting.

3. Missing off-the-plan timing. Off-the-plan purchases attract duty based on land value at contract date, not completed property value. If structured correctly, this can reduce duty on an off-the-plan apartment meaningfully beyond the headline concessional thresholds.

The Perth package for a qualifying first home buyer

At the $580k new-apartment entry point:

  • WA duty concession: $24k saved
  • WA FHOG: $10k
  • Federal First Home Guarantee: saves LMI $15k-$20k
  • FHSSS: super access $30k-$50k

Combined benefit: $80k-$100k on a $580k purchase. This is among the most favourable first-home packages in Australia.