HomeBuilder and BuildBonus applications surge in the Territory in December

THERE has been a surge in the number of Territorians looking to build their own home, with a significant portion heading to a particular Palmerston suburb new data has revealed.

THERE has been a surge in the number of Territorians looking to build their own home, with a significant portion heading to the Palmerston suburb of Zuccoli new data has revealed.

Amid the ongoing housing boom in Darwin, three sets of home building data points revealed the NT’s residential construction industry rose in December against the backdrop of a particularly strong November.

There were 84 applications to the federal government’s HomeBuilder scheme in December, the highest monthly record since the stimulus program designed to spur new home construction or major renovations came online.

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Kate Johnson, 21, was a beneficiary of the NT Government's Build Bonus program, buying her first house in Zuccoli, Darwin. She is pictured here with her two dogs Ollie and Bentley three weeks after moving in to her new home. Picture: Che Chorley

There was also a surge in applications for the NT government’s BuildBonus scheme, which provides grants of up to $12,000 to Territorians looking to buy or build a new home.

A total of 91 applications for the grant scheme were received in December, the second highest monthly figure behind November’s 127.

Data from the BuildBonus scheme also shows the most popular suburbs for first home builders were Zuccoli (353 applications), Northcrest in Berrimah (98), Muirhead (95), Humpty Doo (32) and Durack (26).

Master Builders NT chief executive Dave Malone said building activity had more than tripled in December 2020 compared to the same month in 2019. A total of 65 fidelity fund certificates, the NT’s answer to home warranty insurance, were issued in December compared to just 16 in December 2019.

Master Builders NT anticipates the economic impact of those works will be $23m.

“We expect demand to continue to grow over the coming months, with both BuildBonus and HomeBuilder extended until the end of March,” Mr Malone said.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the rise in the number of homeowners was “exciting”, particularly for the economy and local jobs.