As of the 1 of January 2020, the Federal Government launched the 2020 First Home Loan Deposit Scheme (Deposit Scheme) to assist first home buyers to enter the property market.
To initiate the Deposit Scheme the Federal Government released 10,000 scheme places for the current financial year ending 30 June 2020. The Federal Government has also confirmed that as of the 1 July 2020 another 10,000 scheme places will be released to eligible first home buyers.
KEY TAKE OUTS
- Are you a first home buyer looking to Purchase?
- Are you struggling to save 20% to purchase your first home?
- Are you eligible to any deposit benefits?
The Deposit Scheme allows eligible first home buyers to purchase a property with as little as a 5% deposit, without the requirement to take out lenders mortgage insurance. Without the Deposit Scheme buyers are required to have 20% saved and without the same, a buyer is then required to obtain lenders mortgage insurance.
Under the Deposit Scheme, the Federal Government guarantees the difference between what the first home buyer has saved and the 20% threshold with the lenders.
Unfortunately, not all lenders are parties to the Deposit Scheme, therefore depending on the lender you may not be able to apply for the Deposit Scheme. Both Commonwealth Bank of Australia and National Bank of Australia have been selected as the two major lenders to participate in the scheme with a total allocation of 5,000 places shared between both lenders. The remaining 5,000 places will be shared amongst other smaller lenders.
In addition to the limited places available, the Federal Government has released a criteria each applicant needs to meet to be able to apply and be eligible for the Deposit Scheme.
The criteria includes but are not limited to the following:
- Income
- Individuals must have earned less than $125,000 in the last financial
year - Couples must have earned less than $200,000 in the last financial year.
Couples must be married or in a de-facto relationship to be eligible.
- Property ownership
- All applicants must be first home buyers and must not have owned or had an interest in property in the past or currently
- Minimum age & Citizenship
- All applicants must be at least 18 years old year
- All applicants must be Australian Citizen
- Deposit requirement
- . Applicants must have saved a deposit between 5% and 20% of the property’s value
- Owner-occupier requirement
- . The Deposit Scheme is only applicable to properties being purchased for owner-occupier, not for investment purposes
- Applicants when purchasing the property will need to:
- move into the property the later of, six months from the date of settlement or six months from the date an occupation certificate is issued, and;
- continue to live in that property for as long as the loan forms part of the Deposit Scheme.
In addition to the above criteria an applicant needs to meet to be eligible for the Deposit Scheme, the Federal Government has also applied thresholds to the value of the properties being purchased. Depending on the location and state of your property different thresholds will apply.
Therefore, as of the 1 July 2020 the Federal Government will release an additional 10,000 places for the deposit scheme. The places are limited and subject to strict criteria for both applicants and the property. If you are a first home buyer, looking to purchase your first home and enter the property market, now is the time to do so.
For further information please don’t hesitate to contact:
This blog is merely general and non-specific information on the subject matter and is not and should not be considered or relied on as legal advice. Coutts is not responsible for any cost, expense, loss or liability whatsoever in relation to this blog, including all or any reliance on this blog or use or application of this blog by you.
