• Queensland’s peak real estate body has called on the state government to expand the First Home Owner grant which could be “damaging” to some regional markets.

The grant – which applies only to newly built properties – increased from $15,000 to $20,000 as part of June’s state budget, but could now encourage more building in regions with a surplus of housing, according to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland.

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The First Home Owner grant should expand beyond new homes, the REIQ says. Photo: Erin Jonasson