Victorian government offers bigger carrot to first-home buyers: Government housing incentives in 2013
Greater financial incentives are being offered to first-home buyers in Victoria following the raising of the stamp duty discount for homes priced under $600,000 from 20% to 30%.
The higher discount kicked in on January 1, 2013, and applies to both existing homes and new homes, delivering first-home buyers additional savings starting from $600 to a maximum of just over $3,000 on a house price at $600,000.
First-home buyers can work out their stamp duty savings using this table provided the Victorian government’s State Revenue Office.
Maximum stamp duty savings are now over $9,000. Combined with the existing first-home owners' grant of $7,000 there is nearly $16,000 in savings for those first-home buyers who are willing to venture into the property market in 2013.
The stamp duty discount will rise to 40% on January 1, 2014, and to 50% on September 1, 2014.
To qualify for the stamp duty discount, first-home buyers must also qualify for the $7,000 first-home owners’ grant.
All added up it means Victorian first-home buyers purchasing an existing home receive the highest amount of financial support from their state government.
South Australia, NSW and Queensland all offer higher total incentives and savings, but these are restricted to buying or building a new home.
This is what the other states are offering first-home buyers in 2013:
NSW
A first-home buyer who purchases a $550,000 new home will get $35,240 in assistance.
This includes a $15,000 grant for first-home owners who purchase or build a new home valued at up to $650,000. The grant is available until December 31, 2013, reducing to $10,000 from January 1, 2014.
Non-first-home buyers who buy a new home are eligible for $5,000 whether the new home is off the plan or newly built with a value up to $650,000, The $5,000 grant is also available to buyers of vacant land that is intended to be the site of a new home valued up to $450,000.
First-home owners are also eligible for a maximum stamp duty saving of $20,240 for homes up to a value of $550,000, with duty concessions for new homes valued between $550,000 and $650,000. The transfer duty exemption cap on vacant land is $350,000, with duty concessions for vacant land valued between $350,000 and $450,000.
Queensland
A $15,000 first-home owner construction grant (FHOCG) is available. The FHOCG applies to new property bought or built at a value under $750,000.
First-home buyers also pay no duty on purchases up to $500,000, with a phasing-out rebate applicable for values up to $600,000.
For non-first-home buyers, the Queensland government offers a concessional stamp duty rate of 1% up to a value of $350,000, with stamp duty charged at normal rates for the remaining value of the home purchase. The buyer must occupy the home for a period of 12 months – an applicant may lose the concession if he sells or leases part or all of the home before moving in or within a year of moving in.
South Australia
South Australian first-home buyers have the chance to secure $23,500 from the state government, provided they build a new home.
The $23,500 handout comprises a doubled first-home owner grant of $15,000 for contracts entered into on or after October 15 and up to a value of $575,000, plus a further $8,500 housing construction grant (HCG). The housing construction grant replaces the $8,000 first-home bonus grant.
The HCG is available to all builders of new homes for properties valued up to $400,000, phasing out for properties valued up to $450,000 where contracts are entered into between October 15, 2012, and June 30, 2013, inclusive.
Concessions could rise to $39,830 if first-tome buyers buy an apartment off the plan in the Adelaide CBD under $400,000, where a stamp duty concession of $16,330 applies.
This part of a new stamp duty concession scheme available on the transfer of a new CBD apartment or a "substantially refurbished apartment" for a contract entered into from May 31, 2012, to June 30, 2014, capped at stamp duty payable on a $500,000 apartment of $21,330.
An example where a $39,830 saving would be available to a first-home buyer is Aria on Gouger Street being developed by Brock Urban Projects, where two-bedroom apartments are priced from $335,750.
Up until June 30 2014, South Australian first-home buyers of established homes are entitled to a $5,000 grant. From July 1, 2014, no first-home owner grant is available to purchasers of established homes.
WA
A $7,000 first-home owner grant remains in place for a newly constructed or established home. It does not apply to vacant land purchased to build a new home. The total value of the home must not exceed $750,000 if the property is located south of the 26th parallel of South Latitude, or $1 million if located north of the 26th parallel of South Latitude. First-home buyers eligible for the $7,000 grant pay no stamp duty on homes valued up to $500,000 and up to $300,000 for vacant land.
ACT
A $7,000 first-home owner grant remains in place for both existing and new homes where the price of the property or construction of the home does not exceed $750,000.
Tasmania
A $7,000 first-home owner grant remains in place for both existing and new homes, with no cap on the value.
Tasmanian first-home buyers buying or building a new home (including off-the-plan) are eligible for an additional $8,000 under the First Home Builder Boost Scheme, which applies from January 1 2013 to June 30 2014 if the qualify for the first-home owner grant.
Northern Territory
A $7,000 first-home owner grant remains in place for both existing and new homes where the price of the property or construction of the home does not exceed $750,000.
The NT government also offers first-home owners stamp duty concession of up to $26,730 (the duty owed on the first $540,000 value of a property).