Lia Finocchiaro claims ‘record levels’ of interest in buying homes in the NT

After launching the ‘most generous home build scheme in the country’, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has claimed there is ‘record levels’ of interest from people wanting to buy and build in the Territory. Read what she said.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, Marie-Clare Boothby at a residence in Zuccoli. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

As her government’s new home owner grants program officially went live, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro claimed the Northern Territory’s housing market was experiencing “record levels of interest”.

On Tuesday, the NT Government’s HomeGrown Territory program, considered the most generous housing grant scheme in Australia, was launched, with aspiring first-home buyers now free to cash in on grants of up to $50,000.

Ms Finocchiaro claimed there was a buzz among those eyeing off the housing market.

“Since we announced this scheme, there has been record levels of interest in people wanting to build a new home and secure home ownership for themselves and their families,” she said.

“And we’re giving first home buyers 50,000 reasons to stay here in the Territory for the long haul.”

As of Tuesday, Territorians can apply for the NT Government’s HomeGrown Territory program.

The HomeGrown Territory program includes a grant of $50,000 for first home buyers to purchase or build a new home or $10,000 to purchase an established home.

Those who have owned a home previously can access up to $30,000 to build or purchase a new home.

Beare Homes managing director Richard Dickinson maintained the scheme had bolstered the housing industry.

“The weekend just gone, we had over 20 people come in that were interested in the first home buyers grant,” he said.

“So we’re just waiting for the settlement and then it should all go ahead.”

Mr Dickinson said the clients had been counting down to October.

“They were all waiting for (October 1),” he said.

“I expect to get a lot of emails today.”

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro, Richard Dickinson, Managing Director and Builder at Beare Homes and Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, Marie-Clare Boothby at a residence in Zuccoli. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin.

For curious home shoppers, Mr Dickinson said there remained sufficient real estate across the greater Darwin area.

“There’s a lot of land still around, there’s a lot more getting developed which will be ready in the next six months.”

Ms Finocchiaro said the grant could go towards an applicant’s deposit, supporting those on a slim budget.

“We’ve been able to develop and make sure this first homeowners scheme not only gives people the opportunity to secure home ownership, but importantly we have worked with the banks to make sure that this grant funding can go towards their deposit, alleviating cost-of-living pressures on people finding it too hard to save up for that all important deposit to secure their first home.”