HomeBuilder help to build first house comes just in time

THE Coalition Government’s HomeBuilder grants to encourage the start of new home builds and renovations has come just in time for one happy home builder in Highton.

Liv Niewand was going to sign on the dotted line for land in Villawood Properties’ Wandana estate on June 6 when the $25,000 grants were announced on June 4.

Ms Niewand, who studied nursing in Geelong and now works as a nurse in Werribee, was delighted to have the help.

“It’s very nice. It’s all just very good timing for us,” she said, adding that she and her partner hoped their new home would be finished by early 2021.

I feel like building always takes longer than what you anticipate, but we want to get onto it.”

Villawood executive director Rory Costelloe said Ms Niewand, like many home buyers on the market, would also be eligible for the stamp duty exemption and first home owners’ grant from the state government.

“We’ve been finding a number of buyers had been holding back, waiting on rumours of an assistance package, so we’re really pleased it’s been announced and look forward to the extra demand it will create.

“This encourages jobs in the construction industry, which is the biggest employer in this state and the single biggest generator of tax revenue for the government.”

Ms Niewand said she and her partner (who also works in Melbourne) liked the Highton area, and Wandana had a lot to offer.

“The park here was a huge thing, and we’re close to the highway, it’s easy to get to the beach – it’s just a very good location.”

Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson said the HomeBuilder grant would help Ms Niewand and her partner realise their dream.

The grants have been broadly welcomed by the construction and real estate industry, and have spurred many home buyers to step up their plans.

Ben Stewart, estate manager at Warralily in Armstrong Creek, said Warralily had seen an immediate surge in enquiry and deposits taken.

“We’ve had more than 70 enquiries, walk-ins increased by 150 per cent and we’ve sold 13 blocks of land since the announcement.

“Due to the scale of the Warralily estate and the fact that we have multiple precincts, we have ample supply of HomeBuilder applicable land – which is land that has titled already or will be titling in the next few months.

“It’s exciting to see people jumping at the opportunity to secure their dream home.  For first home buyers particularly, the chance to secure a $45,000 new home grant is life altering.”