The 25k HomeBuilder Grant explained

Have you heard of the $25,000 HomeBuilder Grant? Well if you have, you’ve probably got some questions about it. And if you’ve got questions about it, you’re not alone. We’ve received so many questions about the grant recently.

So, let’s clear up the confusion and look at what the grant is, who it’s for, how to apply for it and answer a couple of the most frequently asked HomeBuilder grant questions.

What is the $25k HomeBuilder Grant

The Homebuilder Grant is a $688 million dollar scheme that’s part of the Australian government’s COVID-19 stimulus package. It’s designed to provide a $25,000 grant to build a new home or substantially renovate your exisiting home.

There are no caps on the number of grants available, however there is a time limit. The time limits apply to when contracts for the build are signed and when the work starts.

Who’s the HomeBuilder Grant for (and who’s it not for)

The grant is for owner occupiers. So that means the property you’re building or renovating needs to be for you to live in.

It’s available to but not limited to first home buyers. Lot’s of the current government grants and schemes are only available to first home buyers. However, HomeBuilder is available to you no matter how many properties you have or haven’t previously owned. 

You need to be a natural person to apply for a grant. This just means that you can’t apply for the grant as a company or trust.

All those industrious Gen Z kids, will need to hold their horses and wait to build a home until they’re a wee bit older if they want to access the grant because you also need to be over 18 years of age to apply. 

Income caps apply to the grant:

• You need to have earned $125,000 per annum or less for individuals, or
• $200,00 or less per annum for couples

The income is based on your 2018 – 2019 tax return or later.

If you want to access the grant for a new build [you want to build a house] the property value, including land, needs to be under $750,000.

If you want to access it for a renovation, the renovation contract needs to be between $150,000 and $750,000. And the value of your existing property must not exceed $1.5 million.

So who is the grant not for?

It’s not for owner builders, and it’s not for investment properties only either. It’s only for owner occupiers.

The grant can’t before are things like swimming pools, tennis courts, outdoor bars, saunas and sheds or garages that aren’t connected to the property. If you want to use the grant for home renovations, the renovation works must be to improve the accessibility, safety and liveability of the property.

How to apply for the HomeBuilder Grant

Alright, so you think you might be eligible for the HomeBuilder grant? Let’s take a look at how to apply for it.

You need to apply through your relevant state or territory body. To make life nice and easy for your here’s a list of the relevant state and territory bodies and their preferred contact details [you’re welcome]:

Frequently asked HomeBuilder Grant questions

Will the HomeBuilder Grant be paid in addition to the First Home Owners Grant and the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme?

Yes, if you’re eligible for the First Home Owners Grant and/or First Home Loan Deposit Scheme they’ll be paid in addition to the HomeBuilder Grant.

Can you use HomeBuilder towards you home loan deposit?

Banks and lenders are still refining and finalising their HomeBuilder related lending policies. So, unfortunately at the moment, there’s no definitive answer to this question. Whether or not the HomeBuilder Grant can be used towards your deposit really depends on the individual lender or bank’s  lending policy.

I recommend you speak to your mortgage broker and work with them to create your deposit strategy based on your individual circumstances.

If you’d like to have a chat with Violeta Finance’s Mortgage Broker Carl, you can book a free phone consultation with him here.