First home buyer grants in the Casey-Cardinia growth corridor
How much can a first home buyer save in the Casey-Cardinia growth corridor? The $10,000 First Home Owner Grant and stamp duty exemption, explained.
Why the growth corridor suits first home buyers
Berwick sits at the entrance to the Casey-Cardinia growth corridor — new housing development running from Beaconsfield through Officer, Clyde, Clyde North, Cranbourne, and Narre Warren to Pakenham. New-build and off-the-plan prices in this corridor sit far more often within Victoria’s first-home-buyer grant and stamp duty thresholds than established inner-Melbourne homes do, which means buyers here are genuinely well placed to access government support most other buyers can’t.
The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)
If you’re buying or building a new home valued at $750,000 or less, you may be eligible for a $10,000 First Home Owner Grant from the Victorian Government. To qualify, you (and your partner, if applicable) generally need to:
- Be at least 18 years old, an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- Not have previously owned residential property in Australia
- Move into the property within 12 months of settlement and live there for at least 12 continuous months
The grant applies to new homes, off-the-plan apartments, and substantially renovated properties — exactly the kind of purchase common across the growth corridor.
Stamp duty exemption and concession
On top of the grant, eligible first home buyers pay no stamp duty on properties up to $600,000, and a reduced (sliding-scale) rate of duty on properties between $600,001 and $750,000. To qualify, you generally need to be purchasing as your principal place of residence, have never owned residential property in Australia before, and move in within 12 months of settlement.
Combined with the First Home Owner Grant, that’s real, meaningful savings on a growth-corridor purchase — see our deposit calculator to work out what you’ll need to save.
First home buyer grant FAQs
Common questions from first home buyers in the growth corridor.
Can I get the First Home Owner Grant and the stamp duty exemption together?
Yes — they’re separate schemes with their own eligibility criteria, and many first home buyers purchasing a new property under $750,000 qualify for both. Whether you actually do depends on your specific situation, so it’s worth checking against your circumstances.
Does the First Home Owner Grant apply to established homes?
No. The $10,000 FHOG applies to new homes, off-the-plan purchases, and substantially renovated homes — not to established (previously lived-in) properties. The stamp duty exemption/concession, by contrast, can apply to both new and established homes.
What suburbs are in the Casey-Cardinia growth corridor?
The corridor runs along the Princes Highway from Beaconsfield through Berwick, Officer, Clyde, Clyde North, Cranbourne, and Narre Warren to Pakenham — one of Melbourne’s most actively developing growth areas.
Talk to a local broker
Grant and concession rules change, and eligibility depends on your specific circumstances — get in touch with Domain Finance to check what you actually qualify for before you buy.
This page is general information only, correct as at the time of writing, and doesn’t take your personal circumstances into account. Confirm current thresholds and eligibility at sro.vic.gov.au and vic.gov.au. Domain Finance Australia — Credit Representative 571799, authorised under Purple Circle Financial Services Pty Ltd, Australian Credit Licence 486112.