South Australia first home owner grant and stamp duty
Last checked
As at Next checkSouth Australia helps first home buyers of new homes with a grant and full stamp duty relief, with no property value cap.
- Grant: up to $15,000, new homes only
- No property value cap for contracts from 6 June 2024
- Stamp duty on a new home or land to build on: full relief
- Established homes: no grant and no first home stamp duty relief
The SA grant now
The first home owner grant is a one-off payment of up to $15,000. It is for eligible buyers buying or building a new home they will live in.[1] The grant cannot be more than the price paid for the home or its construction.[3]
For contracts from 6 June 2024 there is no property value cap. For contracts from 15 June 2023 to 5 June 2024, the cap was $650,000.[2] The grant covers a new home, an off-the-plan apartment, a substantially renovated home bought from a developer, or a contract to build. Vacant land alone does not qualify, but a contract to build on it can.[2]
Each applicant must be 18 or over. At least one must be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen living permanently in Australia on a Special Category visa.[1] All applicants must live in the home as their main home for at least 6 continuous months. They must move in within 12 months of settlement, or of the build finishing.[1]
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| First home owner grant # | Up to $15,000, new homes only | [1][3] |
| Grant value cap # | None, for contracts from 6 June 2024 | [2] |
| Stamp duty: new home or off-the-plan apartment # | Full relief, regardless of value (contracts from 13 February 2025) | [4][5] |
| Stamp duty: vacant land to build on # | Full relief, regardless of value (contracts from 13 February 2025) | [4][5] |
| Stamp duty: established home # | No first home relief | [5] |
| Living in the home # | 6 continuous months, starting within 12 months of settlement on a new home | [1][6] |
SA stamp duty relief for first home buyers
For contracts from 13 February 2025, eligible first home buyers get full stamp duty relief, regardless of the property's value.[4] It covers a new home, an off-the-plan apartment, or vacant land to build a new home on. It does not cover an established home, an investment property or a knock-down rebuild.[5]
The relief is not applied to the foreign ownership surcharge. If one buyer is not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, the surcharge may still be payable.[4] Relief is not means tested. You cannot get it if you or your partner have already received stamp duty relief in Australia.[7]
All applicants must live in the home for at least 6 continuous months. On a new home, that starts within 12 months of settlement. On vacant land, it starts by the earlier of 12 months after the home can lawfully be lived in, or 36 months from settlement.[6]
To estimate the duty on a particular price, use RevenueSA's official Calculate stamp duty.[8] We do not run our own duty calculator: the official one is maintained by the office that sets the rules.
Worked examples at $650,000 and $550,000
Take first home buyers in Adelaide who meet the rules, with a contract signed on or after 13 February 2025.
- A new home at $650,000: the grant of up to $15,000 may apply, as there is no value cap. Full stamp duty relief applies, whatever the value.[2][4] The price is under the $900,000 federal cap for Adelaide, but over the $500,000 cap elsewhere in SA.[9][10] A 5% deposit is $32,500; Help to Buy's minimum 2% deposit is $13,000.
- An established home at $550,000: no grant and no first home stamp duty relief, because the home is not new.[2][5] Stamp duty is payable, and RevenueSA's calculator gives the amount. The price is under the Adelaide federal cap but over the $500,000 cap elsewhere in SA.[9][10]
This applies the published rules to stated prices. It is not a prediction of your result: eligibility depends on your circumstances and is decided by RevenueSA and the lender.
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How South Australian support sits beside the 5% Deposit Scheme and Help to Buy
The federal 5% Deposit Scheme and Help to Buy each set a property price cap by location. In South Australia the higher cap covers Adelaide. Housing Australia lists no regional centres in South Australia. The rest of the state has a lower cap.[9][10] Housing Australia says Help to Buy can be used together with state stamp duty concessions and grants.[11]
In South Australia both federal schemes set the same caps: $900,000 for Adelaide and $500,000 for the rest of the state. SA's grant and stamp duty relief have no value cap. So outside Adelaide, a new home above $500,000 can still get the state's help. But it is over both federal caps.
Help to Buy in South Australia
The Help to Buy price cap in South Australia is $900,000 for Adelaide, and $500,000 elsewhere in the state.[9]
5% Deposit Scheme in South Australia
The 5% Deposit Scheme price cap in South Australia is $900,000 for Adelaide, and $500,000 elsewhere in the state. These are the same as the Help to Buy caps. The minimum deposit is 5%, or 2% for eligible single parents.[10]
Caps apply by suburb and postcode; Housing Australia's postcode search confirms the cap for a particular address.[9]
How to apply, and who pays it
You apply for the grant and for stamp duty relief separately. If you do not qualify for the grant, you may still qualify for the relief.[1] You can lodge a grant application with most financial institutions, or directly with RevenueSA. To have the grant paid at settlement or with a first progress payment, lodge it through your financial institution.[1] Lodge it within 12 months of settlement, or of the build finishing.[1]
Check before you rely on it. Grant and duty rules are administered by RevenueSA and change from time to time. General information only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs, and it is not a recommendation to enter into any credit contract. Eligibility is decided by the scheme administrator and the lender.
Compare South Australia with every other state and territory in our first home buyer tracker. Or read how Help to Buy and the 5% Deposit Scheme work.
What changed
- : Grant property value cap removed for contracts from this date. It was $650,000.[2]
- : Full stamp duty relief on new homes and land to build on, regardless of value, for contracts from this date.[4]
Page history: every figure re-checked against the official pages listed below on .
Buying in South Australia?
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Sources
- RevenueSA, First Home Owner Grant. Retrieved .
- RevenueSA, Eligible properties (First Home Owner Grant). Retrieved .
- RevenueSA, Grant details (First Home Owner Grant). Retrieved .
- RevenueSA, Stamp duty relief available. Retrieved .
- RevenueSA, Properties eligible for stamp duty relief. Retrieved .
- RevenueSA, Residence requirement (stamp duty relief). Retrieved .
- RevenueSA, Eligible applicants (stamp duty relief). Retrieved .
- RevenueSA, Calculate stamp duty. Retrieved .
- Housing Australia (firsthomebuyers.gov.au), Help to Buy property price caps. Retrieved .
- Housing Australia (firsthomebuyers.gov.au), Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme fact sheet (headed 1 July 2026). Retrieved .
- Housing Australia (firsthomebuyers.gov.au), Help to Buy: frequently asked questions. Retrieved .
Common questions
How much is the first home owner grant in SA?
Up to $15,000, for a new home, an off-the-plan apartment or a home you build. For contracts from 6 June 2024 there is no property value cap.
Do first home buyers pay stamp duty in South Australia?
Not on a new home, an off-the-plan apartment or vacant land to build on, for contracts from 13 February 2025. Full relief applies regardless of value. Established homes do not get first home relief.
Can I get the SA grant on an established home?
No. The grant and the stamp duty relief are for new homes, off-the-plan apartments and homes you build. A substantially renovated home bought from a developer can qualify for the grant.
Does SA stamp duty relief cover the foreign ownership surcharge?
Not for contracts from 13 February 2025. If one buyer is not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, the surcharge may still be payable.
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