LEARN ABOUT THE ASSISTANCE
The Australian Capital Territory First Home Owner Grant (ACT FHOG) is a ACT government initiative to help first home owners to get their ‘new’ first home sooner. It is an amount of money paid by the ACT government to eligible first home owners.
Learn more about the ACT FHOG as well as other ACT government assistance for first home buyers below.
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How much is the Australian Capital Territory First Home Owner Grant (ACT FHOG)?
The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is currently not available in the ACT. The FHOG payments are not available for applicants entering into a transaction to buy/build a new house from 30 June 2019.
Important Tip: Grants and Concessions tend to change at short notice, therefore please double check with your state government what is available in your area before buying your first home!
What is the ACT FHOG Eligibility Criteria?
First home buyers are generally eligible if they meet the following criteria:
- The home is a ‘new’ home
- The FHOG Application must also be lodged within one year of the purchase of the property
- For payment to be available at settlement or first draw down/progress payment you must lodge your application with an approved agent
- A FHOG cap applies to eligible transactions that commence on or after 1 January 2011. The cap limits the total value of eligible properties (i.e. total value of home and land) to $750,000 or less.
- The applicant, or an applicant’s partner, must not have received an earlier grant. However an applicant may be eligible if the FHOG was paid but later paid back, either under the conditions on which the grant was made, or together with any penalties and/or interest that may have been imposed
- One of the applicants must be over 18 and be Australian citizen or permanent resident
- The applicant(s) must be natural persons
- Each applicant must occupy the home as their principal place of residence for a continuous period of at least twelve months, commencing within twelve months of completion of the transaction
What is considered a 'new' home?
According to the ACT Revenue Office a ‘new’ or ‘substantially renovated’ property is:
- a home that has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence; or
- a substantially renovated home that, as renovated, has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence; or
- a property which is subject to an ‘off the plan’ purchase agreement
Please note, substantially renovated properties are eligible for the FHOG but not the stamp duty concessions outlined later in this guide.
As Australia’s premier first home buyer organisation we have access to hundred’s of FHOG eligible homes – enquire today to start your search with the assistance of an FHBA Coach!
Are there any other entitlements I might be eligible for?
The Home Buyer Concession Scheme (HBCS) assist first home buyers in purchasing land, new and established properties, by charging duty at a concessional (discount) rate.
All home and land purchase thresholds (applicable from 01 July 2023):
- $1,000,000 (or less) – $0 duty payable
- $1,000,000 – $1,455,000 – $6.40 for every $100, or part of $100, by which the dutiable value exceeds $1,000,000
- $1,455,000 (+) – a flat rate of $4.54 is applied her $100 to the dutiable value, minus an amount of $34,504
In addition, to be eligible for a duty concession, the total Gross Income Test must be satisfied. The combined total gross income of all applicants over the full financial year prior to the transaction date, must be less than or equal to the relevant income threshold as follows:
- 0 dependent children = income threshold of $170,000
- 1 dependent children = income threshold of $173,330
- 2 dependent children = income threshold of $176,660
- 3 dependent children = income threshold of $179,990
- 4 dependent children = income threshold of $183,320
- 5 dependent children = income threshold of $186,650
For full details on these transfer duty concessions (including eligibility criteria) please ask your Mortgage Broker or visit the ACT Revenue Office website.
How can I apply?
Applying for the FHOG and / or various duty concessions can be a little tricky. While you can check eligibility and apply online by yourself, we recommend you apply through the assistance of one of our FHBA Mortgage Brokers.
Our FHBA Mortgage Brokers are not only experts at finance matters such as home loans and the FHOG, but they are also experienced in helping first home buyers everyday. Our service is free of charge (should you proceed with a home loan option through us). We can check your eligibility, apply on your behalf and be with you every step, providing you with peace of mind that you haven’t missed a thing.
- To learn more about our FHBA Mortgage Broking service and have one of our experts assist you with your application, please visit our FHBA Mortgages home page.
- To apply online by yourself visit the ACT Government website and follow their instructions carefully.
Where can I find FHOG eligible homes?
As Australia’s premier first home buyer organisation we have access to hundred’s of FHOG eligible homes, from house & land packages, to townhouses, apartments and more. Called FHBA New Homes, our new homes search service involves us connecting you with leading property developers, builders and real estate experts, to help you find and secure your first home. Meanwhile, your FHBA Coach stay’s by your side every step of the way.
Plus, if you purchase your FHOG eligible home through our FHBA New Homes service you could be eligible for the FHBA 50 Rebate (in addition to any government entitlements you may be eligible for such as the FHOG!).
If you haven’t been introduced to FHBA Coach yet send us an email (enquiries@fhba.com.au) or complete the enquiry form and one of our friendly FHBA Coaches will be in touch to provide you with a free Discovery Session.
What if I want to buy an established home?
If you are thinking of purchasing an existing home then unfortunately you will not be eligible for the ACT FHOG or transfer duty concessions, as one of the requirements is that it must be a ‘new‘ home.
If you would like some help with purchasing an established home (such as financing assistance; search assistance or negotiating assistance) we recommend you book in a free Discovery Session with an FHBA Coach.
CHECK ELIGIBILITY FOR GOVERNMENT INCENTIVES
FHBA’s new & innovative Eligibility Estimator allows you to self-estimate how your savings are tracking and whether you have enough saved to qualify for a home loan. Upon completion, we will instantly send you a complimentary Australian Property Monitors Postcode Report (Valued at $39.95)
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Disclaimer: The FHBA Eligibility Estimator is intended as an approximate guide only. It uses a mixture of the data you input, median property prices from APM PriceFinder and estimated purchasing costs. You should not rely on the results of the Eligibility Estimator. Please contact an FHBA Coach who can arrange a more comprehensive estimate and advice based on your personal circumstances from a licensed professional.
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