Natbat

Does anyone know if first time buyers still get the 7 grand grant from the government when purchasing your first home in Oz?

Cheers

Grayling

I had heard that this was to be withdrawn as it was not really intended for migrants in the first place.
Can't remember where I read it though.

Someone else will probably know better.

G

TOB

As far as I am aware you do.

I was only on a real estate website the other day (either lj hooker or ray white) and there was an article on their webpage. If you have a look there were links to the application forms for each state.

TOB

Natbat

Oh good, was hoping they still did it.

Lets hope by the time I get ove (in June) that we can apply for one and hope to match it too!

Cheers

Teresa

link for WA

http://www.dtf.wa.gov.au/cms/osr_content.asp?ID=344

peppi

Useful little link Ta....

Pollyana

Certainly still available in Queensland at present; not really aimed at migrants, its more to just enable to buy Aussies their first home and get a start on the ladder.

owieb

Certainly is in WA; we put our application in last week for it.

renth

Get in quick because I can't see it lasting much longer, at least not for new migrants.

dracupg

On the plus side, new migrants qualify for the $7000 first time homebuyers grant, but on the minus side, new migrants get stung for the “Lifetime Health Cover� charge.

The LHC is an additional charge on your premiums that you pay to your private health company based solely on your age that you started the cover. 2% each year after the age 30 i.e.

Age 30 - 2%
Age 31 - 4%
Age 32 - 6%
Age 33 - 8%
Age 34 - 10%
Age 35 - 12%
Age 36 - 14%
Age 37 - 16%
Age 38 - 18%
Etc

Some you win, some you lose.

Ceri

yes it's still available. You can only apply for it if you have PR or you are a citizen.

They have tightened up their checks recently.. I remember Kiwipaul (I think)saying his friend got one and he was not PR or citizen, doubt if he could do this now. I recently put in my application for 10 thou (I'm entitled to the extra 3 thou as I signed contracts before the cut off date) , filled out the forms, followed the instructions of what to send with my application, and sent them off. I received them back in the mail asking for a photocopy of my PR or citizenship (which was not in the instructions) - so they're double checking people now, probably due to the high amount of people who claimed it and were not eligible for it.


There is talk of it becoming means tested in the future, but for now, yes it's still available for all PR's and citizens.
I wouldn't get too excited about it though - you'll find that taxes and stamp duty eat up that grant (that's what it was there for in the first place - to help with the GST)

cheers

owieb

Interesting you say that Ceri, we've just received a letter back yesterday asking for the same thing. What's annoying is I lodged my application in person and the girl behind the counter sighted everything and took photocopies of what was required. Passport, contract etc, but not a copy of the visa as it wasn't required, they only had to see it and fill in the details on the form.

Like you say they must be double-checking everything.

Thomaz

Still available although they tightened up recently - one of the changes is you now have to live in the property for a period of time (to stop non-first time buyers from cheating the system e.g. claiming the grant in their Childs name).

I enquired about when they pay it out and was told you still receive the money once you have exchanged contracts (or whatever it's called here) but have to pay it back if you do not reside in it for at least 6 months.

They would have to find me first

renth

Excellent point.

It's a good idea go get your private health cover as soon as you can.

I was told when applying for private health that the 2% a year loading was being challenged legally when applied to new migrants. I don't know if there has been any progress or result.

OK, just looked it up here:

http://www.health.gov.au/privateheal...ers/affect.htm

"The Minister recently announced a number of reforms to private health that include changes to Lifetime Health Cover. The Government is aware that some migrants have, until now been liable for the additional premiums required by Lifetime Health Cover. This will no longer be the case and in the future new migrants will have twelve months from the day they become eligible for Medicare in which to purchase private health insurance without incurring the Lifetime Health Cover loadings.

These changes are subject to the passage of legislation."

I wonder if we'll get a rebate?

Ceri

So it isn't just me then. Myself and hubby sat down with the forms went carefully through them to the letter . We sent originals of everything .. but the tax office returned them saying we need a copy of your PR/Citizenship - checked through the forms and nowhere does it say that you need to do this. Yes they are definitely being thorough these days. Probably due to the high amount of scammers

cheers