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Press Release : First Home Owners

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Budget boon for first home owners and construction industry

Queensland first home buyers and the construction industry will benefit from the Newman Government’s first State Budget, which more than doubles the grant for new first home buyers.

Premier Campbell Newman said first home buyers would receive $15,000 – up from $7,000 – when purchasing a newly constructed home or property off the plan, under the re-shaped First Home Owner Construction Grant (formerly First Home Owner Grant).

“This great initiative will entice more people into the property market and make home ownership more affordable,” Mr Newman said.

“This is now the most generous ongoing first home owner grant in Australia.

“We want to see more Queenslanders buying their first home and this grant will certainly give home buyers a great head start,” he said.

Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the First Home Owner Construction Grant would also provide a much needed confidence boost to the construction sector.

“The property and construction sector is one of the four pillars of the Queensland economy, and one the Newman Government is supporting through real and direct action,” Mr Nicholls said.

“We’ve already wiped up to $7,000 off the cost of buying the family home by reinstating the principal place of residence transfer duty concession.

“The First Home Owner Construction Grant is another component of our positive plan for this vital sector, which creates jobs for Queenslanders.”

Mr Newman said the Government had responded to industry concerns in making changes to the original First Home Owner Grant.

“The Master Builders Association has lobbied on behalf of the sector for changes to the grant and the Government has responded in a constructive way,” he said.

“This First Home Owner Construction Grant will provide a targeted and sustainable injection of confidence to the construction sector.

“The previous Labor government’s Building Boost scheme was a short-term sugar hit which benefited property investors outside of Queensland.

“The Government’s First Home Owner Construction Grant will help more Queenslanders buy their first home and provide a much needed lift to Queensland’s property and construction industry.”

Beware the Wolf in Sheeps Clothing

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With budgets tight, prices on the rise, people getting  laid off  we see a lot of  consumers looking to stretch their  dollar further.  In a tight economy we always see a proliferation of  companies, suppliers who are offering  deals  that seem to good to be true…But beware of the  Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing.

Recently we’ve noticed  a lot of companies popping up in the market claiming to be experts in the field of  building and or designing. Their advertising is often glossy and expensive, their marketing  aggressive and the prices they’re offering are  below true market prices today.  But when one  digs just below the surface all is not  what it seems. Some of these  ”building companies” are no more than sales  offices who subcontract out all the work and  add inflated commissions to the end product.

How to avoid  falling for the disguise?

  •  Ask for the company’s current BSA license to either carry our  design work or building contracting.
  • Ask for examples of previous work.
  • Does the company carry the appropriate  insurance cover?
  • What are the qualifications of the salesperson you are dealing with?
  • Has the company director (s) been bankrupt previously.
  • Where are the registered offices of the company?
  • Who is actually building  your new home?
  • Building a new home is the  largest investment  you’ll ever make. Why would anyone want to  entrust such an important and expensive investment to anyone  who is not qualified just to save a few dollars up front?

Currently the design team at SCDD are working on a new range of  Sustainable Homes. With a focus on budget and energy efficiency.

Energy Efficiency Saves $$$$$

Most Building Codes and planning schemes  require a minimum of a 5 star energy efficiency for Class 1 dwellings. (A House) Our new range of  homes will have a minimum energy rating  of  8 Stars* (subject to siting and correct orientation)

With each energy efficiency star equating to approximately $2000 in heating and cooling costs thats a massive saving for the home owner every year in the vicinity of $6000.

With the advent of  the carbon tax and  a lot of talk also about carbon trading  in the future and investment in an energy efficient home will  certainly pay dividends and is also an investment in our planet’s future.

At Southern cross Design and Drafting we continue  ”designing for a sustainable future”.

$10K Queensland Building Boost Extended

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Australia’s largest building industry association HIA has welcomed Treasurer Andrew Fraser’s three months extension to the $10,000 Building Boost.

HIA Queensland Executive Director Warwick Temby said “the extension of the Boost will help the home building industry to gather some momentum and build on the early signs of recovery late last year.

“The Boost had played a part in rekindling interest in building a home. Combined with the lift in affordability from lower interest rates and fierce competition among builders, the Boost has made it a great time for building a new home.

“This timely announcement will help to set the scene for a much needed lift in activity from the thirty year lows the industry experienced in 2011.

“HIA had been concerned that the Christmas and New Year break was making it difficult for builders to finalise contracts to meet the previous end January deadline. The three month extension has removed this problem for the industry.

“HIA is very pleased that the Government has been able to respond to its call for extending the operation of the Boost. The home building industry is a crucial component of the Queensland economy”, Mr Temby concluded.

– Sourced from the HIA