--- title: "First Home Owner Grant Northern Territory 2026" description: "$80K in grants for new homes (highest in Australia) - $50K FHOG + $30K FreshStart. No stamp duty concession but HLPE exemption available." source: HomeBuildBudget sourceUrl: https://homebuildbudget.com/guides/first-home-owner-grant-nt lastUpdated: 2026-06-16 citationUrl: https://homebuildbudget.com/guides/first-home-owner-grant-nt --- # First Home Owner Grant Northern Territory 2026 $80K in grants for new homes (highest in Australia) - $50K FHOG + $30K FreshStart. No stamp duty concession but HLPE exemption available. $80K in grants for new homes (highest in Australia) - $50K FHOG + $30K FreshStart. No stamp duty concession but HLPE exemption available. Quick answer: The Northern Territory offers the highest first home buyer grants in Australia — $50,000 HomeGrown Territory Grant (new homes) + $30,000 FreshStart New Home Grant (all buyers, not just first home buyers) = $80,000 combined. No property value cap. You must be over 18, an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and have never owned residential property in Australia. Move in within 12 months and live there for 12 consecutive months. NT does not offer stamp duty concessions for first home buyers (unique in Australia), but house-and-land packages get full stamp duty exemption via the HLPE scheme (until June 2027). Combined savings for first home buyers building new via house-and-land: up to $110,000. Apply through the Territory Revenue Office. Updated April 2026 based on Territory Revenue Office data. Northern Territory is the only jurisdiction that replaced its stamp duty concession with cash grants (Territory Revenue Office). The previous First Home Owner Discount (FHOD) ended June 30, 2021. Now you get the biggest upfront cash injection in Australia — $80,000 if you’re building new — but you pay standard stamp duty rates unless you’re buying a house-and-land package (which gets full exemption). If you need financing for a new build, read our construction loans vs home loans guide to understand how progress payments work. This replaced the traditional First Home Owner Grant in October 2024. It’s significantly more generous. Grant Amount: $50,000 Property Value Cap: None (any value accepted) Applies to: New homes only ## HomeGrown Territory Grant ($50,000) ## FreshStart New Home Grant ($30,000) ## How Much Can You Save? ### Example 1: Building in Palmerston (First Home Buyer) ### Example 2: Buying Established Home in Darwin (First Home Buyer) ### See your Northern Territory first home buyer savings ## HomeGrown Territory Grant for Established Homes ($10,000) ## No First Home Buyer Stamp Duty Exemption ## House and Land Package Exemption (HLPE) ## Unique Northern Territory Advantages ## Who Is Eligible? ### If You’re Building (Most Common) ### If You’re Buying a New or Established Home ### Why doesn’t NT offer stamp duty concessions for first home buyers? ### Can I get both the HomeGrown Territory Grant and FreshStart Grant? ## Key Points - A home you build yourself (owner-builder) - A home built for you by a builder (contract to build) - A brand new home that has never been lived in (buying off-the-plan or from a developer) - A substantially renovated home (full gut-reno level, not just a new kitchen) - Established/existing homes (separate $10K grant available—see below) - Investment properties - Vacant land on its own (you get the grant when you build, not when you buy land) - Not restricted to first home buyers (all buyers) - New homes, off-the-plan, or owner-builder - Must occupy as principal place of residence for 12 months within first year ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Who Is Eligible? Tick every box or you don’t qualify: ### Why doesn’t NT offer stamp duty concessions for first home buyers? Policy decision. From October 1, 2024, NT replaced the First Home Owner Discount (FHOD) with higher cash grants instead. The HomeGrown Territory Grant ($50K) is significantly more generous than the old FHOD, which only saved ~$7K–$15K in stamp duty. ### Can I get both the HomeGrown Territory Grant and FreshStart Grant? Yes, and you should. They’re separate schemes. If you’re a first home buyer building new in Darwin, you get: ### What if I’m buying a house-and-land package? Total savings for first home buyers: $100K–$110K. ### Can I use the grants as part of my deposit? Usually no. The grants are applied at settlement or during construction (against progress payments). Most lenders won’t let you count them toward your 5–10% deposit because the money doesn’t hit your account until later. However, some lenders factor the grants into your borrowing capacity. ### How long do I have to live in the property? HomeGrown Territory Grant: 12 consecutive months as principal place of residence FreshStart Grant: 12 months within the first year (doesn’t need to be consecutive) ### Can I rent out the property after 12 months? Yes. Once you’ve done your 12 consecutive months living there, the place is yours to do what you want. Plenty of first home buyers move out and rent it after that. It’s a way to start building equity while you rent somewhere that suits your lifestyle better. ### What if my partner has owned a home before? You don’t qualify for the HomeGrown Territory Grant ($50K). The “never owned property in Australia” rule applies to all applicants. If your partner owned a property 5 years ago and sold it, neither of you qualifies for the $50K grant—even if only your name is going on the new title. ### How does NT compare to other states? First home buyer grants: ### What about established homes? If you’re buying an established home in NT as a first home buyer, you get: --- *Source: [HomeBuildBudget](https://homebuildbudget.com/guides/first-home-owner-grant-nt)*