There’s good news for first home buyers and owner-occupiers! On June 3 the federal government announced a $700 million housing package for Aussies to access $25,000 grants to build a new home or start a major renovation.
What does that mean for you?
As a first home buyer or owner-occupier, understanding what federal grants, incentives and discounts that are available to you can be a nightmare.
We’ve cut through the headlines and jargon and created a snapshot of the HomeBuilder Grant.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is the HomeBuilder Grant?
- $25,000 grant to build a new home or start a major renovation
- Available to eligible first home buyers and owner-occupiers
- Must be entering into building contract between 4 June 2020 and 31 December 2020
- Construction must be with a licensed builder, and start within 3-months of the contract date
- Available to anybody who successfully applies
Who’s eligible?
- you are a natural person (not a company or trust);
- you are aged 18 years or older;
- you are an Australian citizen;
- you meet one of the following two income caps:
- $125,000 per annum for an individual applicant based on your 2018-19 tax return or later;
- or $200,000 per annum for a couple based on both 2018-19 tax returns or later;
- you enter into a building contract between 4 June 2020 and 31 December 2020 to either:
- build a new home as a principal place of residence, where the property value does not exceed $750,000; or
- substantially renovate your existing home as a principal place of residence, where the renovation contract is between $150,000 and $750,000, and where the value of your existing property does not exceed $1.5 million;
- construction must commence within three months of the contract date.
What’s considered a ‘renovation’?
If you are thinking about a renovation, to receive HomeBuilder the works must improve the accessibility, safety and liveability of the dwelling.
Additions to the property such as swimming pools, tennis courts, outdoor spas and saunas, sheds or garages aren’t allowed (unconnected to the property).
What does a licensed builder mean?
Renovations or building work must be undertaken by a registered or licenced building service ‘contractor’ (depending on the state or territory you live in) and named as a builder on the building licence or permit.
How can a LJ Hooker Home Loans lending specialist help you?
- If you’re thinking of a applying for a building loan, we can discuss how this works and how to proceed
- If you’re a first home buyer there’s lots working in your favour! The HomeBuilder Grant works with the existing grants available (stamp duty concessions, state and territory First Home Buyer Grants, along with the national Commonwealth First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and First Home Super Saver Scheme). It’s worth a conversation so we can run the numbers for you
- Our 5 Star Home Loan comes with a low deposit option which may allow you to borrow up to 98% of the total build and land price
Related Post: Find out about low deposit building loan options
Case Studies
The Government Treasury have put these case study scenarios together to help everyone understand what Home Builder allows under different scenarios.
Case Study #1
First home buyers Emma and Liam decide to purchase a house and land package
Emma and Liam enter into a house and land contract for $550,000 on 25 September 2020. Emma and Liam’s lender applies on the couple’s behalf to the relevant State or Territory revenue office to receive the HomeBuilder $25,000 grant.
The revenue office conducts the eligibility checks and reviews the couple’s documentation and confirms that both Emma and Liam are Australian citizens, over the age of 18, have a combined taxable income under $200,000 based on their 2018-19 tax return and the value of the contract is under the $750,000 contract price cap.
As the couple are both first home buyers, Emma and Liam may also be entitled to their State’s First Home Owner Grant and stamp duty concessions as well as the Commonwealth’s First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and First Home Super Saver Scheme.
Case Study #2
Owner-occupier Cassidy decides to substantially renovate her home
Cassidy enters into a contract to substantially renovate her home on 31 December 2020, with renovations valued at $400,000. The value of her home is $900,000 (this includes the value of the house and the land).
Cassidy pays the builder $10,000 to commence renovation of her home on 2 February 2021. Cassidy then applies directly to her State or Territory revenue office to receive the $25,000 HomeBuilder grant.
The revenue office conducts the eligibility checks and confirms that Cassidy owns the property, is an Australian citizen, over the age of 18, and has a taxable income under $125,000 based on her 2019-20 tax return. The revenue office also confirms the value of the renovations is between $150,000 and $750,000, and the value of her home is less than $1.5 million and Cassidy has made the first progress payment on the renovations. The revenue office approves the application.
As Cassidy already owns her own home, she is not eligible for the First Home Owner Grant, the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme or the First Home Super Saver Scheme.
Case Study #3
First home buyer Rebecca decides to purchase an off-the-plan apartment
First home buyer Rebecca enters into a contract to purchase an off-the-plan apartment valued at $550,000 on 6 October 2020.
Rebecca’s lender applies on her behalf to the relevant State or Territory revenue office to receive the HomeBuilder $25,000 grant. The revenue office conducts the eligibility checks and reviews Rebecca’s application documentation. The revenue office confirms that Rebecca is an Australian citizen, over the age of 18, has a taxable income under $125,000 based on her 2018-19 tax return and the value of the off-the-plan apartment is under the $750,000 contract price cap.
As Rebecca is a first home buyer, she may also be entitled to their State’s First Home Owner Grant and stamp duty concessions as well as the Commonwealth’s First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and First Home Super Saver Scheme.
Case Study #4
Owner occupiers Jacqui and Henry decide to knock down and rebuild their existing home
Jacqui and Henry enter into a building contract to knockdown and rebuild their existing home on 24 August 2020, with the knockdown and rebuild contract valued at $400,000. The value of the property is $800,000 (including the current value of the dwelling and land).
The couple pay the builder $15,000 to commence the knockdown and rebuild on 14 September. Jacqui and Henry’s lender applies on the couple’s behalf to the relevant State or Territory revenue office to receive the HomeBuilder $25,000 grant.
The revenue office conducts the eligibility checks and confirms that the couple own the property, are Australian citizens, over the age of 18, have a combined taxable income under $200,000 based on their 2018-19 tax return, and the value of their existing home and land pre-renovation is less than $1.5 million. The building contract is also within the HomeBuilder renovations price range (between $150,000 and $750,000) and the couple have made the first progress payment on the renovations. The revenue office approves the application.
As Jacqui and Henry already own their own home, they are not eligible for the First Home Owner Grant, the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme or the First Home Super Saver Scheme.
Case Study #5
Owner-occupiers Carla and Andrew decide to build a new home on a vacant block
Carla and Andrew decide to build a new home on a vacant block of land that they already own. The value of the vacant block is $400,000 and the building contract that Carla and Andrew sign is for $300,000.
Carla and Andrew enter into the building contract on 4 July 2020 and make the first progress payment when construction commences on 2 August 2020.
The State that Carla and Andrew live in signs the HomeBuilder National Partnership Agreement on 23 August 2020 and starts to receive HomeBuilder applications through the revenue office on 27 August.
Carla and Andrew apply for HomeBuilder via the relevant revenue office which conducts the eligibility checks and confirms that both Carla and Andrew are Australian citizens, over the age of 18, have a taxable income under $200,000 based on their 2018-19 tax returns, the value of the property (house and land) is less than $750,000, the contract was signed on or after 4 June 2020 and before 31 December 2020, and they have made the first progress payment. The revenue office approves the application.
As Carla and Andrew are not first home buyers, they are not eligible for the First Home Owner Grant, the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme or the First Home Super Saver Scheme.
Your LJ Hooker Home Loans lending specialist offers a no obligation planning session.
We’ll discuss how HomeBuilder applies to your personal situation, and how we can help you with a tailored home loan pre-approval.
Our lending specialists help make everything simple. Working with you and your builder, we’ll take care of all the paperwork, and help you focus on the important design aspects of your new home.
Check out our First Home Buyer difference
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This article is prepared based on general information. It does not take into account individual financial objectives or needs and is not financial product advice.