f you’ve been considering building a new home or taking on a substantial renovation, you might have heard about the Federal Government’s HomeBuilder program — a one-off national grant designed to boost the construction industry and support Australians wanting to improve their living situation.

While the program was only available for a limited time, many people still come across it when researching grants or old incentives. So here’s a clear, simple overview of how HomeBuilder worked and who it applied to.

How the HomeBuilder program worked

The HomeBuilder grant offered $25,000 to eligible owner-occupiers who built a new home or carried out a significant renovation. Key requirements included:

• Contracts needed to be signed between 4 June 2020 and 31 December 2020
• Construction had to begin within three months of signing the contract
• Applicants were means-tested
• The property needed to be the applicant’s principal place of residence
• Renovations had to be substantial and meet value caps — luxury additions like tennis courts, pools or standalone structures weren’t eligible

How it worked with other incentives

For first home buyers, HomeBuilder could be used alongside other government support, including:

• First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)
• State and territory stamp duty concessions
• First Home Loan Deposit Scheme (now known as the Home Guarantee Scheme)
• First Home Super Saver Scheme

These combined incentives helped many buyers enter the market sooner or upgrade their homes with less financial pressure.

Need help understanding current grants?

While HomeBuilder has now closed, there are still many other grants, concessions and schemes available — and they change regularly. If you’d like help working through what you may be eligible for today, I’m here to walk you through your options and make sure you’re getting the support available to you.

Just reach out anytime.