First home scheme a big hit with buyers
THE Gunner Government’s first homeowner scheme has seen builders and real estate agents inundated with queries from people keen to enter the property market.
The scheme sees first homeowners handed up to $50,601 in stamp duty concessions, building bonuses and white good grants and is designed to help people put down roots in the Territory as well as see the struggling residential building sector through its lull.
Abode homes director Justin Gill said inquiries had tripled since the scheme was announced just over a week ago. “We have definitely noticed an increase in interest – since the announcement we have had around 60 groups walk through,” Mr Gill said.
Habitat Homes director Paul Winter said inquiries with his company had doubled.
“There is most certainly an increase in interest,” he said.
Killarney Homes executive director Damien Moriarty said the impact of the grant scheme had been felt almost instantly.
“We’ve gone from the Sahara Desert to struggling to keeping up with the inquires,” he said.
He said traffic to his company’s website had doubled in the past week.
Sotheby’s Realty sales director James Pollock said more people were showing up at open homes.
“We’ve not seen a jump in numbers like it. It’s a massive increase, just phenomenal,” he said. Chief Minister Michael Gunner said interest in the scheme – which is the most generous in Australia – promised better times ahead for the business sector and the economy.