Grants & Assistance

If you’re saving hard for a deposit for your first home make sure you familiarise yourself with the grants and assistance available from the Government which may give you an extra cash injection and help you make your purchase that little bit sooner.

FIRST HOME OWNER GRANT (FHOG)

The FHOG is one of the best known grants available and has been highly beneficial in helping Australians buy their first home.

A first home buyer can make the application for the grant themselves or can enlist the help of their mortgage provider.

Eligibility Criteria – Federal

While the First Home Buyers Grant eligibility criteria may vary in the different states, there are some broad based components that apply at a federal level:

  • The application must be made within 12 months of completion of construction or settlement of the home
  • You or a joint applicant must be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident. Requirements vary among states and territories regarding the number of applicants who must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident and age of the applicant
  • You must be buying or building your first home as a person, not as a company or trust
  • You or your spouse must not have previously owned an interest in land in Australia that had a residence on it prior to July 1, 2000
  • You or your spouse must not have owned and occupied a home after July 1, 2000
  • If you have purchased an investment property after 1 July 2000 as long as you have never owned property before 1 July 2000 and have never lived in the investment property, you should eligible
  • Neither you or your spouse must have claimed this grant previously
  • Entering into a building, in the case of owner-builders, must have occurred on or after July 1, 2000
  • An eligible home must be located in Australia and be a new or established house, home unit, flat or other type of self-contained fixed dwelling that lawfully can be used as a place of residence
  • An eligible home must be occupied by you as your principal place of residence within 12 months of construction of the home. There are minimum periods of occupancy required by each state or territory
  • Joint applicants are restricted to a single application for a single property and only one payment is made

State Grants and Stamp Duty Concessions

Apart from the First Home Buyers Grant, there are a number of state based first home buyer benefits that include grants, rebates and stamp duty concessions. Your entitlements and the application process will vary in the different states and territories dependant on your state’s legislation.

The State Revenue Office (SRO) www.sro.vic.gov.au

The First Home Owners Bonus

First home buyers who qualify for the First Home Owner Grant (the grant) may also be eligible for an additional payment known as the First Home Bonus (the bonus). To be eligible to receive the bonus, the value of the property must not exceed $500,000 (for contracts entered into up to 30 June 2009). For contracts entered into between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2011, the value of the property must not exceed $600,000.

For more information see visit: State Revenue Office

Special Needs

People with special needs, disabilities, on low income or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders may be entitled to assistance from State Government housing and welfare agencies. It’s worthwhile visiting your State Government website to see what’s available to you, or to ask your mortgage provider.

Disclaimer: This document is for information purposes only, and must not be relied upon as a substitute for professional services or legal advice.

Realestate Realestate
Realestate Realestate
Realestate Realestate
Realestate Realestate