Buying a home in Queensland

QLD at a glance

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Stamp duty

What it's called

Transfer duty (the revenue office writes it as transfer (stamp) duty) Source

Official calculator

Transfer duty estimator, Queensland Revenue Office Source

How the rate works

Sliding scale on the whole price for a buyer who will not live in the home: nil under $5,000; 1.5% to $75,000; $1,050 plus $3.50 per $100 to $540,000; $17,325 plus $4.50 per $100 over $540,000 to $1,000,000; $38,025 plus $5.75 per $100 above $1,000,000. A buyer who will live in the home pays the home concession rate instead: $1 per $100 on the first $350,000, then the general rates on the balance (a saving of up to $7,175). Source

When the bands change

Not indexed each year: the current rates apply to transactions dated on or after 21 September 2012; earlier rates are in the revenue office's previous-rates PDF Source

First home, established

No duty to $700,000; concession phasing out to $800,000 (contracts from 9 June 2024) Source

Concession: minimum age

At least 18 years old; a minor must apply first so the Queensland Revenue Office can decide whether to make an exception. Source

Concession: vacant land

Build and move in within 2 years of settlement. The deadline cannot be extended, and duty is reassessed if it is missed. Source

First home, new or off the plan

No duty at any value on a new or substantially renovated home (contracts dated 1 May 2025 or later) Source

First home, vacant land

No duty at any value on residential vacant land (contracts from 1 May 2025); a capped concession applied to land under $500,000 from 9 June 2024 to 30 April 2025 Source

Other concessions

Home concession for any eligible owner-occupier, first home or not: the concession rate on the first $350,000, the general rate on the balance; move in within 1 year of settlement Source

Residency condition

For contracts from 1 August 2026 every home concession requires an Australian citizen, permanent resident or specified foreign retiree; earlier contracts are unaffected Source

Cooling-off and contracts

Cooling-off period

5 business days from the day the buyer receives a copy of the contract signed by both parties; written notice by 5pm on the fifth day Source

Cost of using it

The seller may deduct up to 0.25% of the purchase price from the deposit and must refund the rest within 14 days Source

When it does not apply

Auction purchases, and a private treaty contract signed within 2 business days of an unsuccessful auction where the buyer was a registered bidder Source

Waiving or shortening it

The buyer can waive or shorten the period; it must be put in writing Source

What the seller must disclose

A seller disclosure statement (Form 2) and prescribed certificates before the buyer signs, from 1 August 2025 under the Property Law Act 2023; the buyer may be able to terminate if the seller does not comply Source

Deposit

No set amount; a small deposit on signing and the balance once the contract is unconditional is common Source

Settlement

Usually 4 to 6 weeks after the contract is finalised, and negotiable with the seller; almost all settle within 30 to 90 days. The REIQ contract fixes settlement by 4pm AEST on the settlement date. Source

Grants and schemes

First Home Owner Grant

$30,000 on a new home under $750,000 for eligible contracts signed on or after 20 November 2023; the government has said it continues for contracts from 1 July 2026 Source

Grant: residence rule

Live in the home as your principal place of residence for a continuous 6 months, starting within 12 months of completion. The $30,000 grant continues for eligible contracts signed from 1 July 2026. Source

State schemes open

Boost to Buy shared equity: up to 30% of a new home or 25% of an existing home, price up to $1 million, 2% deposit, income caps; round 2 open at check with SEQ places allocated Source

Closed or ended

The $15,000 grant rate applied to contracts before 20 November 2023; the capped first-home vacant land concession (9 June 2024 to 30 April 2025) was replaced by full relief Source

5% Deposit Scheme

Unlimited places, no income cap and higher price caps from October 2025; Queensland's current price caps were not confirmed from this environment Source

Help to Buy

Federal shared equity (30% existing, 40% new), applications from 5 December 2025; Queensland's enabling legislation and price caps were not confirmed from this environment Source

Auctions and price guides

Price guides

Illegal for a seller or agent to give a price guide for an auction property; the listing carries a prescribed no-guide statement instead Source

Underquoting

No stand-alone underquoting offence was seen; a false or misleading price representation is an offence under the Australian Consumer Law, enforced by the Office of Fair Trading Source

Reforms in train

None on the Office of Fair Trading's auction industry pages: the only changes listed are annual CPD for agents and auctioneers from 6 June 2025 and minor Regulation amendments for online auctions; nothing on price guides or auction conduct Source

Vendor bids

Allowed only up to the reserve and must be announced as the seller's bid; a seller's bid above the reserve is a false bid, and dummy bids are illegal Source

Bidder registration

Compulsory: name, address and proof of identity to the auctioneer before bidding; only registered bidders' bids are accepted; the register is kept for 5 years Source

Cooling-off at auction

None; the successful bidder signs the contract immediately, and none on a private treaty contract within 2 business days of a failed auction if the buyer was a registered bidder Source

The buying process

Licence check

Fair Trading Licensing Register: a free online search of licensed property agents, salespeople and corporations kept by the Office of Fair Trading Source

Who can do the conveyancing

Official guidance names solicitors and the Queensland Law Society, and buyers may do their own; whether a non-lawyer conveyancer may act for a fee was not confirmed Source

Electronic settlement

eConveyancing mandate since 20 February 2023 for required instruments unless exempt; two approved operators, PEXA and Sympli Source

Complaints

Office of Fair Trading: raise it with the agent first, then REIQ if the agent is a member, then a formal complaint; a claim fund covers some losses caused by an agent; QCAT hears disputes Source