FIRST HOME BENEFITS
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FIRST HOME BUYERS ASSISTANCE SCHEME
The First Home Buyers Assistance scheme is a NSW Government initiative which provides exemptions or concessions on Stamp Duty for eligible NSW first home buyers. This includes vacant land on which you intend to build your first home.
First home buyers can apply to receive:-
- Exemptions from Stamp Duty on new and existing homes up to $800,000
- Concessions on Stamp Duty for new and existing homes between $800,000 and $1,000,000
- Eligible purchasers buying a vacant block of residential land to build their home on will pay no Stamp Duty on vacant land valued up to $350,000, and will receive concessions on duty for vacant land valued between $350,000 and $450,000.
To qualify for First Home Buyers Assistance, you must meet the criteria listed below:
- The contract and the transfer must be for the purchase of the whole of the property.
- All purchasers must be ‘eligible purchasers’. An ‘eligible purchaser’ is a natural person (i.e. not a company or trust) at least 18 years of age who has not, and whose spouse/de facto has not:
- at any time owned (either solely or with someone else) residential property in Australia other than property owned solely as trustee or executor
- previously received an exemption or concession under First Home—New Home.
- At least 1 eligible purchaser must occupy the home as their principal place of residence for a continuous period of 12 months, commencing within 12 months of completion of the agreement. (Where an eligible purchaser was a member of the permanent forces of the Australian Defence Force and all purchasers were enrolled on the NSW electoral roll, as at the transaction date, then all purchasers are exempt from the residence requirement).
First Home Owners Grant (New Homes)
First home buyers building a new property may be entitled to a $10,000 grant on homes worth up to $750,000.
First home buyers purchasing a brand new property worth up to $600,000 may be entitled to a $10,000 grant.
The criteria to be eligible for the First Home Owner Grant are:-
- at least one buyer must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- the agreement must be for the purchase of the whole property
- you must be a natural person (not a company or trust)
- you must be over 18
- the home is a brand new home
- you or your partner have not previously owned property in any form in Australia
- at least one purchaser must occupy the home within 12 months and needs to live in the home for a continuous period of at least 12 months
- you have not previously received a First Home Owners Grant in any State or Territory.
First Home Super Saver Scheme
From 1 July 2017, those eligible to participate in the first home super saver (FHSS) scheme have been able to make voluntary concessional (before-tax) and non-concessional (after-tax) contributions into their super fund to save for their first home.
Existing superannuation contribution caps still apply to those participating in the scheme.
For example, the annual financial year cap on concessional contributions remains at $25,000.
To qualify for the scheme, people must:
- Not have previously owned property in Australia, including an investment property.
- Not have previously released FHSS scheme funds.
- Either live or intend to live in the premises they are buying as soon as practicable.
- Intended to live in the property for at least six months of the first 12 months they own it, after it is practical to move in.
In certain circumstances the commissioner of the taxation may determine that someone has suffered a financial hardship (as specified by regulations) and make an exception to the qualification criteria.
From July 1 2018, participants in the scheme can apply to have their FHSS scheme contributions, along with associated investments earnings, released to assist with purchasing their first home.
Participants, who must be 18 years or older, can apply for the release of voluntary contributions up to maximum on $15,000 from any one financial year and $30,000 in total across all years. The released funds will be taxed at the individual’s marginal tax rates less a 30 per cent offset.
If a couple buy a house together, both can take advantage of the scheme, thereby potentially amassing up to $60,000 between them to put towards the purchase of their first home.
Once the funds are released, participates have up to 12 months to sign Contract to purchase or
build a home.
The federal government believes that “most first home buyers will be able to accelerate their savings by at least 30 per cent using the scheme”.
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If you would like to know more about these benefits, please contact the Office of State Revenue or our office.
You can read more about first home benefits at https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/first-home-buyers
The Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS)
The Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) is an Australian Government initiative to support eligible home buyers to purchase a home sooner. The Scheme is administered by the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) on behalf of the Australian Government. The Federal Budget has confirmed that the
eligibility criteria of the First Home Guarantee and Regional First Home Guarantee Schemes is to be extended. From 1 July next eligibility will be extended to include any 2 eligible borrowers (currently restricted to married and de facto couples), and non-first home buyers who have not owned a property in Australia in the preceding 10 years. Further, the requirement for the applicant to be an Australian
citizen will be extended to include Australian Permanent Residents.
The HGS includes:
The First Home Guarantee (FHBG) – to support eligible first home buyers to buy their first home sooner, with a deposit as little as 5%. 35,000 places are available each financial year.
The Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee (RFHBG) - to support eligible regional first home buyers to buy a home in a regional area. From 1 October 2022, 10,000 places are available each financial year to 30 June 2025.
The Family Home Guarantee (FHG) – to support eligible single parents with at least one dependent child to buy a home, with a deposit as little as 2%. 5,000 places are available each financial year to 30 June 2025.
Under the HGS, part of an eligible home buyer’s home loan from a Participating Lender is guaranteed by NHFIC.
This enables an eligible home buyer to purchase a home with a deposit between 2-5% (depending on which Guarantee they obtain) without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance. The Guarantee is not a cash payment or a deposit for a home loan.
NHFIC has authorised a panel of 32 Participating Lenders to offer the HGS to home buyers.
more information can be founds here: https://www.nhfic.gov.au/support-buy-home