QLD's $30,000 First Home Buyer Grant Expires June 30: A Checklist

Queensland’s $30,000 First Home Owner Grant ends June 30 2026. That’s 52 days from today. And the trigger for grant eligibility is the contract signing date, not the funding milestones, not settlement, not construction start. Which is why what’s in your builder tender suddenly matters more than ever.

What the QLD First Home Owner Grant covers

The Queensland $30,000 First Home Owner Grant is paid to eligible first home buyers who buy or build a brand new home in Queensland. Key conditions:

• New home only. Existing homes don’t qualify. House and land packages, off-the-plan apartments, and full builds on land you already own all count.
• Contract value cap of $750,000. Total of land + build (or off-the-plan price) must be under $750,000.
• Owner-occupied. You must move in within 12 months and live there for at least 6 continuous months.
• First home only. You and your co-applicants can’t have previously owned residential property in Australia.

The deadline: June 30 2026 (52 days)

The Queensland Government has confirmed the boosted $30,000 grant ends on June 30 2026. After that date, the grant reverts to its base amount of $15,000, meaning if you sign on July 1, you lose $15,000 of grant funding you would have qualified for the day before.

What “signed contract” means in this context

For house and land packages and full builds, “signed contract” means the HIA / Master Builders / fixed price building contract, not the land contract on its own, and not just a tender acceptance. That’s the document that says you’ve committed to a build at a specific price, with specific terms, and a specific builder. Once you sign it, you’re locked in. Before you sign it, you can still walk away.

Which is exactly why this deadline creates risk: 52 days is enough pressure to make first home buyers sign contracts they haven’t had time to check properly.

Why your builder tender should be ready early

Here’s the timeline you’re actually working with. Each of these has to happen before June 30:

1. Builder finalises your tender.
2. Tender is reviewed (by you, by an independent party, or by BuildScore™).
3. Variations and clarifications get exchanged with the builder.
4. Final contract is drafted.
5. You read it, your solicitor reviews it.
6. Contract is signed.

That’s typically a 3 to 6 week process if everything goes smoothly. Which gives you a hard deadline of around mid-May to early June to have your tender locked in. Cutting it closer than that means you’ll be signing a contract you haven’t had time to properly check.

What to check before you sign

Whatever tender you’re holding right now, here’s the five-point check before you put pen to paper:

• Site costs: are they a fixed amount or a provisional sum? Provisional sums can vary substantially between estimate and final invoice.
• Contract type: fixed price, cost-plus, or hybrid? Check the specific terms with your conveyancer. Fixed price definitions vary by contract.
• Rise & Fall contract terms. These contract terms exist in some quotes and tenders. Your conveyancer can explain their specific impact on your contract.
• Inclusions: driveway, fencing, flooring, landscaping, colour selections. Are these included, an allowance, or excluded?
• Build timeline terms and any liquidated damages terms. Your conveyancer can explain the implications for your contract.

Why a second pair of eyes matters

We say it on every page of this site, but it’s especially true right now: your builder has done this 200 times. You’ve done it once. The contract you’re about to sign is the most expensive document you’ll ever sign. With 52 days on the clock and $30,000 on the line, this is exactly the moment to get a second independent set of eyes on your tender before it becomes a contract.

This article is a general guide only and does not constitute legal, financial or construction advice. Grant amounts, eligibility and deadlines may change. Confirm current details on the Queensland Government website. Always seek independent legal and financial advice before signing a building contract.