Home Ownership

Aboriginal Home Buyer Saver


 

Financial grants available to help you become a homeowner sooner

 

Starting out on the home ownership journey can be both exciting and daunting. You might even be unsure about whether it is something you can achieve right now. For others, you might have already purchased land and be looking to finance your build.

No matter where you are on your home ownership journey, our friendly team is here to help simplify the process and help you access our financial grants.

The Aboriginal Home Buyer Saver offers financial support for Aboriginal people who are ready to take the next step towards home ownership. The scheme consists of 3 grants that eligible Aboriginal people can apply for to access a one-off financial boost.

 

Available Grants

 

Home Buyer Booster Grant

A financial grant to help with home ownership expenses such as legal & administrative costs

 

Funding available

The maximum available is $2,500.
 
This grant can be used toward:

  • Legal fees including the administrative costs of buying a property, and preparing a will
  • Property valuations
  • Home and contents insurance
  • Surveying costs
  • Pest control
  • Stamp duty (for non-housing tenants. The Aboriginal people living in social housing are exempt from Stamp Duty as per Section 278 of the Duties Act 1997 (NSW).

 

Who can apply for this grant?

This grant is open to Aboriginal people who are social housing tenants or private tenants and who have saved up at least $1,000 towards their deposit and are in the process of purchasing a home to assist with some of the expenses in buying a property.


 

Deadly Deposit Grant

A financial grant that can match people's savings towards their deposit

 

Funding available

This grant matches people's existing deposit savings on a dollar-for-dollar ($1:$1) basis up to a maximum of $10,000.
Deposit savings may be made up of money in the bank, cash, and other sources including inheritance.
 

Who can apply for this grant?

This grant is open to Aboriginal people who have saved up at least $1,000 towards their deposit and that are in the process of building or buying their home.


 

AHO Tenancy Plus Grant

A financial grant that rewards eligible long-term AHO tenants with a higher rate of co-contribution

 

Funding available

Up to a maximum of $20,000. The grant provides higher rates of co-contribution against AHO tenants' existing savings deposit.
Deposit savings may be made up of money in the bank, cash, and other sources including inheritance.

The higher rates of co-contribution are:

  • Over   5 years tenancy - $1 : $1.25
  • Over 10 years tenancy - $1 : $1.50
  • Over 15 years tenancy - $1 : $1.75
  • Over 20 years tenancy - $1 : $2.00

 

The grant considers the number of years spent in an AHO property matched against your tenancy history for a higher rate of Deposit Co-contribution.

Who can apply for this grant?

This grant is open to AHO tenants who have at least five years of strong tenancy history and who have saved up $1,000 towards their deposit and are in the process of buying their AHO home.
 

The AHO tenant must also have:

  • Been listed as head tenant for five years or more
  • Not had rental or water arrears over $500 within the last five years
  • Taken care of the property
  • Not had a negative result from the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT)
  • Not been responsible for any confirmed anti-social behaviour incidents.

 

Grant Combinations

You may also be eligible for a combination of grants, as per the below:

  • Home Buyer Booster Grant and Deadly Deposit Grant; Or
  • Home Buyer Booster Grant and the AHO Tenancy Plus Grant.
     

Your eligibility for all combinations will be assessed in your application.


 

Eligibility Criteria:

 

All Applicants:

  • Are currently living in NSW
  • The property being considered for purchase is a residential property in NSW
  • Do not currently own a residential property 
  • Individual or combined incomes must not exceed $200,000
  • Applicant(s) saved at least $1,000 (combined) towards your deposit
  • Have not qualified for Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) Remote Indigenous Home Loan package

 

Main Applicant:

  • Must own at least 25% of the property being purchased
  • Is of Aboriginal descent, Torres Strait Islander descent or both.

 

How does the grant payment work?

 

If your application is successful, the AHO will pay the grant to your Solicitor’s or Conveyancer’s trust account prior to settlement of the property. The money will be held in trust until settlement when it can then be used toward the expenses. The final amount of the deposit will be confirmed on exchange and may be adjusted if the final deposit saved is lower than the amount quoted on the application form.

 

How do I apply?

 

 Due to the overwhelming demand for our Home Ownership grants, we have exhausted our 'allocation' for private applicants for the 2023/2024 financial year. However, if you are an AHO Tenant looking to buy your own home or wish to have a general discussion about Home Ownership, please feel free to contact one of our Regional Project Officers (see below).

 

Contact us

 

Do you have questions? Need advice or help starting your application?

Email us at: [email protected]

 

AHO Region Map

 

 

 

 


 

   

  • acknowledge

We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we work and pay our respects to the Elders, both past and present.

Apology to the Stolen Generations