What is the Queensland Boost to Buy scheme and what changed in the 2026 Budget?

Boost to Buy is a Queensland Government shared-equity scheme: the Government contributes up to 30% of the price of a new home (25% for an existing home) in exchange for an equity share, so you can buy with as little as a 2% deposit. Property price is capped at $1 million, income caps are $150,000 for a single and $225,000 for a couple or a single with dependants. The 2026-27 Budget expanded the program to $330 million, supporting up to 2,000 buyers. As at June 2026 the South East Queensland round was fully allocated, with places still available in regional Queensland through Unity Bank.

Does the $30,000 Queensland grant help the typical new-build buyer?

Often not, because of the $750,000 cap. Most new house-and-land packages in Queensland sit above $750,000, which rules the grant out. For the typical Queensland new-build buyer the real saving is structural: $0 stamp duty (now permanent) and no Lenders Mortgage Insurance under the 5% Deposit Scheme. That combination is what brings a $1,000,000 new build down to roughly $54,500 to get into, versus about $122,000 for an established home.

Can I combine the Queensland Budget measures with the federal 5% Deposit Scheme?

Yes for most of them. The $0 stamp duty saving and the FHOG (where you're under the cap) stack with the federal 5% Deposit Scheme (First Home Guarantee), which lets you buy with a 5% deposit and no LMI. Boost to Buy is a shared-equity scheme and generally is not combined with the 5% guarantee — it's an alternative path for buyers whose blocker is borrowing capacity rather than the deposit.

What the 2026-27 Queensland Budget Means for First Home Buyers • Low Deposit Homes

Q: Is the $30,000 Queensland First Home Owner Grant still available after 30 June 2026?

Yes. The 2026-27 Queensland Budget (handed down 23 June 2026) extended the boosted $30,000 First Home Owner Grant for four more years. It was due to drop back to $15,000 on 30 June 2026, but the Government has funded the full $30,000 grant ($72 million) for eligible new-build contracts signed from 1 July 2026 onward, which runs through to around mid-2030. The home and land value must be under $750,000 and it applies to new builds only.

Q: Did the Queensland Budget change stamp duty for first home buyers?

The 2026-27 Budget locked the existing relief into law, making it permanent. First home buyers who buy or build a new home in Queensland pay $0 transfer (stamp) duty, with no price cap. The relief has been in place since 1 May 2025; writing it into legislation means it can no longer be quietly wound back.

June 23, 2026

What the 2026-27 Queensland Budget Means for First Home Buyers

The 2026-27 Queensland Budget extended the $30,000 First Home Owner Grant for four more years, locked $0 stamp duty on new builds into law, and expanded Boost to Buy to $330 million. Here's what actually changes for first home buyers.

By Chaice Paterson, Founder, Low Deposit Homes

Short version: the 2026-27 Queensland Budget, handed down on 23 June 2026, was a good one for first home buyers. Three things you actually care about all moved in your favour — the $30,000 grant got a four-year extension, $0 stamp duty on new builds became permanent law, and the Boost to Buy shared-equity scheme was doubled to $330 million. Below is what each one really means, with the honest catches, so you know which levers apply to you.

1. The $30,000 First Home Owner Grant — extended four more years

This is the headline. The boosted $30,000 First Home Owner Grant was due to expire on 30 June 2026 and drop back to $15,000. The Budget scrapped that cliff: it funds the full $30,000 grant for another four years (a $72 million commitment), for eligible new-build contracts signed from 1 July 2026 onward — which carries it through to roughly mid-2030.

The rules are unchanged. It’s for new builds only, and the combined value of the home and land must be under $750,000.

The honest catch: that $750,000 cap is the sticking point for most Queensland buyers. New house-and-land packages around Brisbane’s growth corridors typically sit above it, so a lot of buyers won’t actually qualify for the grant. That’s not a reason to be glum — as you’ll see below, the bigger Queensland saving isn’t the grant at all. But if you’re buying genuinely under $750,000, the $30,000 is now locked in for years, not weeks.

2. $0 stamp duty on new builds — now permanent law

Since 1 May 2025, eligible first home buyers in Queensland have paid no stamp duty when they buy or build a new home, with no price cap. The 2026-27 Budget took that a step further and wrote it into legislation, making it permanent rather than a concession that could be wound back at the next budget.

For a buyer, this is the quietly enormous one. On a $1,000,000 new build, the stamp duty you’re not paying is worth around $30,850 (owner-occupier rate). Combine that with no Lenders Mortgage Insurance under the federal 5% Deposit Scheme, and you have the real reason a $1,000,000 Queensland new build needs about $54,500 of cash to get into — versus roughly $122,000 for an established home at the same price. Same 5% deposit on both sides; the gap is the LMI and stamp duty a new build avoids.

So while everyone talks about the grant, the structural saving — $0 stamp duty plus no LMI — is what actually moves the needle for the typical buyer. And it’s now permanent.

3. Boost to Buy — doubled to $330 million

Boost to Buy is Queensland’s shared-equity scheme. The Government chips in up to 30% of the price of a new home (25% for an existing home) in exchange for an equity share, which means you can buy with as little as a 2% deposit. You don’t pay interest on the Government’s share; you buy it back later when you sell or refinance.

The headline numbers:

Property price cap: $1,000,000
Deposit: from 2% (your deposit plus the Government’s contribution must total at least 20%)
Income caps: $150,000 for a single; $225,000 for a couple, or a single with dependants
Scale: the Budget expanded the program to $330 million, supporting up to 2,000 buyers over three years

The honest catch: as at June 2026 the South East Queensland round is fully allocated — places are only available in regional Queensland right now, through the scheme’s approved lender, Unity Bank. It’s also a different path from the 5% Deposit Scheme rather than something you stack on top. If your blocker is borrowing capacity rather than the deposit, it’s worth a serious look; if you’re in SEQ, you may be waiting for a future round.

What this means for you, in one minute

Ask one question: what’s actually stopping you?

You can make the repayments but can’t save the deposit. Your anchor is the federal 5% Deposit Scheme, and on a new build the now-permanent $0 stamp duty and no LMI are what bring a $1,000,000 Queensland home down to about $54,500 to get into. If you’re under $750,000, add the $30,000 grant.
The bank says you can’t borrow enough. Boost to Buy (if you’re buying in regional Queensland) shrinks the loan you have to service via the Government’s equity share — worth exploring.
You’re still building the deposit. The First Home Super Saver lets you pull up to $50,000 of voluntary super toward it, effectively saving with pre-tax income.

The schemes are most powerful stacked, and which ones apply depends entirely on your price, your state and your timing. We’ve broken every scheme down side by side in our first home buyer schemes compared guide, and the full Queensland picture lives in our Queensland first home buyer guide.

See your real numbers

The fastest way to know which combination fits you is to run your own situation. Use our free grant eligibility calculator and borrowing power calculator, or book a free 15-minute call and we’ll map the exact stack for your price, state and timing.

Low Deposit Homes is free to you — we’re paid by builders, not buyers. We’re not a lender or mortgage broker; we line up the scheme stack and the right package, and connect you with licensed professionals for the finance.

Frequently asked questions

Is the $30,000 Queensland First Home Owner Grant still available after 30 June 2026?

Yes. The 2026-27 Queensland Budget extended the boosted $30,000 grant for four more years. It was due to drop to $15,000 on 30 June 2026, but the Government has funded the full $30,000 grant ($72 million) for eligible new-build contracts signed from 1 July 2026 onward — running through to around mid-2030. The home and land value must be under $750,000, and it applies to new builds only.

Did the Queensland Budget change stamp duty for first home buyers?

It made the existing relief permanent by locking it into law. First home buyers who buy or build a new home in Queensland pay $0 stamp duty, with no price cap. The relief has applied since 1 May 2025; writing it into legislation means it can’t be quietly removed.

What is Boost to Buy and what changed in the 2026 Budget?

Boost to Buy is a Queensland shared-equity scheme — the Government contributes up to 30% of a new home’s price (25% existing) for an equity share, so you can buy with a 2% deposit. Price cap $1 million; income caps $150,000 single / $225,000 couple or single with dependants. The Budget expanded it to $330 million for up to 2,000 buyers. As at June 2026 the SEQ round was full, with regional Queensland places still available via Unity Bank.

Does the $30,000 grant help the typical new-build buyer?

Often not, because of the $750,000 cap — most new packages sit above it. The real Queensland saving is structural: $0 stamp duty (now permanent) plus no LMI under the 5% Deposit Scheme. That’s what brings a $1,000,000 new build down to about $54,500 to get into, versus about $122,000 established.

Can I combine the Budget measures with the federal 5% Deposit Scheme?

Mostly yes. The $0 stamp duty saving and the FHOG (where you’re under the cap) stack with the 5% Deposit Scheme (First Home Guarantee), which gives you a 5% deposit and no LMI. Boost to Buy is generally an alternative to the 5% guarantee rather than an add-on — it’s the path for buyers whose blocker is borrowing capacity, not the deposit.

General information only — not financial or credit advice. Eligibility, caps and dates vary by individual circumstances and can change; figures current as at 23 June 2026, following the 2026-27 Queensland Budget. Finance is arranged through licensed mortgage brokers and lenders. Low Deposit Homes is not a lender or mortgage broker, and is free to buyers.