The Eligible FHOG Applicant

The first home owner grant (FHOG) entitles first-time homebuyers to a $10,000 grant for newly-built homes, whose value must not exceed $750,000 (homes located below the 26th parallel, including Perth). Anyone can apply for the FHOG, provided he or she meets the following requirements stated by the FHOG Act of 2000:

Individual 18 Years or Older

Section 8 and 8A of the Act state that an eligible person must be an individual 18 years old or older. Additionally, the individual must not be a trustee unless the buyer has a legal disability. The Commissioner, however, can exempt a person from the age requirement if the person has a valid reason.

Australian Citizen

Aside from being born to Australian parents in Australia, there are other ways to become full-fledged citizens. This will be discussed another time.

Must Not Have Received FHOG Previously

The FHOG is a one-time financial assistance package. In fact, Section 10 of the Act states that an applicant who was eligible for a FHOG but didn’t push through with the application can be declared ineligible. Those who paid the grants back before January 1, 2011 due to certain conditions, however, can still apply for a FHOG.

No Previous Relevant Interest

According to Section 11, an applicant that had relevant interest in residential property before July 1, 2000 is ineligible for a FHOG. Relevant interest can mean that the applicant had a home in the past under the applicant and applicant’s ex-spouse’s names.