Available Homebuilder & Homebuyer Grants, Schemes & Concessions For Every State In Australia
Article by Michelle Leftwich
What grants, rebates and schemes are available to you?
Whether you are in the market to buy your first, second or third property, there are potential savings to be had no matter what state you live in. From the First Home Owners Grant, to the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme, to the newly launched HomeBuilders Grant or Stamp Duty concessions. The rules and benefits change from state to state, so it’s important to check eligibility criteria before you start factoring these incentives into your budget.
Not sure where to start? For your convenience, we’ve compiled all the information for you, right here in this article.
Nationally Available Incentives
First Home Owners Grant (FHOG)
Visit the link for more information on the First Home Owners Grant in your state or territory.
First Home Loans Deposit Scheme (FHLDS)
This scheme was put in place to allow first home buyers the opportunity to get into the property market sooner. It allows First Home Buyers to purchase their first home with a deposit of as little as 5%. The Government guarantees the remaining 15% allowing first home buyers to avoid mortgage insurance. The Scheme was launched at the beginning of this year and has proved to be very popular. Only 10,000 places have been made available for the FIN 20/21.
Read our article What is the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme for more information on FHLDS and who is eligible to apply. You can also take a look at the Australian Government’s fact sheet for further details.
First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS)
Allows first home buyers to make up to $30,000 in voluntary contributions to their superannuation fund to save for a home, with a limit of 15,000 per financial year. According to the Treasury’s website, the scheme could boost the savings most people can put towards a deposit by at least 30% compared to saving through a standard savings account.
For more information on this scheme visit the Treasury website.
The HomeBuilder’s Grant
The newly launched HomeBuilders Grant is available to Australian citizens who meet the eligibility criteria. The $25k grant is available up until the 31st of December this year and has been offered on top of existing grants and schemes (state and federal). It can be used for both newly built properties or new renovations to existing dwellings.
Read our article for more information on the HomeBuilder Grant and who is eligible.
Please note: the Morrison government recently extended the HomeBuilder Grant for a further 3 months. Those applying for the HomeBuilder Grant between the 1st Jan until the 31st March 2021 will be eligible for a lesser payment of $15,000. However, the property caps have been raised in VIC and NSW.
Stamp Duty Concessions (also known as Transfer Duty)
Buyers may also be eligible for various stamp duty rebates and concessions, some apply to First Home Buyers and Seniors holding concession cards only. There are also Stamp Duty concessions for anyone purchasing off-the-plan properties in some states. Check your local state or territory revenue office website for further details on Stamp Duty rebates and savings.
Another good place to start is to use an online Stamp Duty Calculator.
How do the states add up?
The range of benefits available varies from state to state. Western Australians come out on top (at the moment) with the choice of incentives available to homebuyers, with first home buyers being the biggest winners. Below is a list of the grants and schemes offered by both the state and federal governments by state (excluding stamp duty exemptions & concessions).
Please note that each of these incentives is bound by eligibility criteria. To see if you qualify for any of the available incentives offered in your state of residence, make sure you check with the relevant state or territory revenue office.
Here is a list of all State and Territory websites:
VIC, NSW, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, ACT, NT
Western Australian Homebuyers - Up to $55,000 |
|
|
First Home Owners Grant |
$10,000 |
|
$20,000 |
|
|
HomeBuilder Grant |
$25,000 |
|
75% Stamp Duty Rebate (for off-the-plan apartments only) |
Up to $50,000 rebatable |
|
Other Stamp Duty Concessions |
$0 for properties valued up to $430,000 (First Home Buyers of new or established homes) Refer to the State Revenue Office’s calculator and website for more information. |
Victorian Homebuyers - Up to $45,000 |
|
|
First Home Owners Grant |
$10,000 |
|
First Home Owners Grant (regional areas) |
$20,000 |
|
HomeBuilder Grant |
$25,000 |
|
First Home Buyer Duty Exemption, Concession or Reduction |
$600,000 or less to receive the first home buyer duty exemption.
Check the State Revenue Office’s website for more details. |
|
Principal Place of Residence Concession |
Available on properties valued $550,000 or less. Save up to $3,100. Visit the State Revenue Office’s website for more details. |
|
Varies. Check the State Revenue Office’s website for more details. |
|
Tasmanian Homebuyers - Up to $45,000 |
|
|
First Home Owners Grant |
$20,000 |
|
HomeBuilder Grant |
$25,000 |
|
Duty concession for first home buyers of established homes |
50% concession on property transfer duty for first home buyers of established homes with a property value of $400,000 or lower. |
|
Duty concession for pensioners downsizing to a new home |
50% property transfer duty concession to eligible pensioners who sell their former home in Tasmania and downsize to a new home in Tasmania valued at $400,000 or lower. |
Queensland Homebuyers - Up to $40,000 |
|
|
First Home Owners Grant |
$15,000 |
|
HomeBuilder Grant |
$25,000 |
|
Home concession (Non-First Home Buyers) |
The home concession rate applies to the first $350,000 of the consideration or value of the residence, and the general transfer duty rates then apply to the balance. Save up to $7,175. For more information check the QLD Government’s website. |
|
First home concession (in conjunction with FHOG to eligible applicants) |
The first home concession only applies to a home valued under $550,000 and can save you up to $15,925. For more information check the QLD Government’s website. |
|
The first home vacant land concession only applies to vacant land valued under $400,000 and can save you up to $7,175. For more information check the QLD Government’s website. |
|
South Australians Homebuyers - up to $40,000 |
|
|
First Home Owners Grant |
$15,000 |
|
HomeBuilder Grant |
$25,000 |
New South Wales Homebuyers - Up to $35,000 |
|
|
First Home Owners Grant |
$10,000 |
|
HomeBuilders Grant |
$25,000 |
|
If your home is valued at less than $650,000, you can apply for a full exemption so that you don’t have to pay transfer duty. If the value of your home is between $650,000 and $800,000, you can apply for a concessional rate of transfer duty. The amount you’ll have to pay will be based on the value of your home. For more information visit the NSW Revenue office website. |
|
Northern Territory Homebuyers - Up to $30,000 |
|
|
First Home Buyer Grant |
$10,000 |
|
BuildBonus Grant (limited to 600 applicants) |
$20,000 |
|
If you are buying an established home, a new home or land to build a new home in the Northern Territory (NT), you may be able to get up to $18,601 off stamp duty. |
|
ACT Homebuyers - $25,000 |
|
|
HomeBuilder Grant |
$25,000 |
|
First-home buyers in the ACT pay $0 stamp duty on any property purchase (new or established) provided their annual household income is less than $160,000. The threshold lifts marginally if you have children. For more information visit the ACT Revenue Office |
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Looking for a list of Homebuilder eligible projects in your area? Check out our list of HomeBuilder eligible projects for new homebuyers.
Looking to buy a new property and take advantage of one or more of the buyer incentives on offer in your state?
Now is a perfect time - don’t delay. Get in touch with one of our new property experts to discuss your options.
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