Which documents are needed for FHOG?

Any general questions you might have in regards to loans and finance.
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acheng
Posts: 55
Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 1:15 pm

Which documents are needed for FHOG?

Post by acheng »

Hi I am a first home buyer and I wish to apply for the grant. Which documents will I need to submit for this?

acheng
Posts: 55
Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 1:15 pm

Re: Which documents are needed for FHOG?

Post by acheng »

FYI, I am earning $60,000 a year working as a graphic designer and I have about $60,000 in savings. I am planning to buy a single apartment in this complex located on Robertson Street, QLD. It’s currently priced at $510,000 and I really like the location and the facilities.

Much thanks :)

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Otto Dargan
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Re: Which documents are needed for FHOG?

Post by Otto Dargan »

Hi and welcome to the forums acheng,

When applying for your FHOG (First Home Owner’s Grant) you will have to submit a contract of sale along with the proper identification documents.

The contract of sale needs to be certified if you are buying in VIC, ACT or NSW. You can get copy of your contract of sale from your conveyancer or your settlement agent.

As for identification, you will need to submit your birth certificate, your citizenship certificate or your passport if you are an Australian (passports are not accepted in NSW if you were born here). New Zealand citizens must submit their passport however they have to be living in Australia. Foreigners must submit their current passport along with their visa or any proof which confirms that they have permission to live in Australia as a Permanent Resident (non-residents who do not have Permanent Residency cannot apply for FHOG).

Sometimes you will also need any of the following documents depending on your marital status:
  • Married – Marriage certificate
  • Divorced – Divorce certificate
  • Widowed – Death certificate of your spouse / partner
  • Separated – Statutory declaration containing your partner’s name, the date of birth, the date you were married or started your domestic relationship, the date you separated, your former spouse’s current address and a statement which mentions that you do not live together
You must also submit a copy of your name certificate if you have changed your name legally. All of the above must also be certified.

You can apply for FHOG via your banker or mortgage broker.

Cheers,
Otto
Otto Dargan
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P | 1300 889 743
Home Loan Experts

acheng
Posts: 55
Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 1:15 pm

Re: Which documents are needed for FHOG?

Post by acheng »

How can I get my documents certified? Can I take it to any person in authority or should I go for a specific person like a lawyer or a judge?

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Otto Dargan
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Re: Which documents are needed for FHOG?

Post by Otto Dargan »

Hi acheng,

You should get your documents certified by an authorized person such as a justice of the peace, solicitor or a police officer.

Sometimes they may not know how to certify a document properly so make sure that your certification includes the following:
  • Certifier’s full name
  • Designation or qualification
  • Registration number (if any)
  • Their signature
  • The date the document was signed
  • Certifier’s clause
Your certification should include the statement:
“I certify that I have sighted the original document and that this is a true copy of it.”

OR

“I certify that this is a true copy of the document shown and reported to me as the original.”

OR

“I certify that this and the following twelve (12) pages are a true copy of the document shown and reported to me as the original.”
The last one is for multiple page documents – the first page should be signed and the remaining pages should be initialed.

Cheers,
Otto
Otto Dargan
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P | 1300 889 743
Home Loan Experts

gleeson
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Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2009 12:15 pm

Re: Which documents are needed for FHOG?

Post by gleeson »

Hi

My partner and I are also planning to buy our first home and we were a bit confused about applying for FHOG as well. We have been living in a rented unit where we pay $280 every week but we want to buy our own house now.

How much is the FHOG usually like?

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Otto Dargan
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Re: Which documents are needed for FHOG?

Post by Otto Dargan »

Hi gleeson,

The amount you can get in your FHOG depends on the state you are buying in. Some states can also give you additional grants or benefits such as stamp duty exemption. Nonetheless, you can try our First Home Owner’s Grant Calculator to see how much you could get.

At the same time each state also has different eligibility criteria for the FHOG so you need to check if you are eligible or not.

You can still refer to the following criteria although these are generic:
  • You must be a natural person and not a company or trust
  • You must be a Permanent Resident or an Australian citizen or your partner must be one
  • You need to be over 18 years of age
  • The property you are buying should not be over the state-specified maximum
  • You have not received this grant before
  • You must occupy the property as your primary place of residence for 6 months starting from 12 months from the loan settlement
  • You should not have owned a residential property in Australia before 1 July, 2000
  • You should not have owned a residential property and occupied it for six months after 1 July, 2000
  • You should have entered into a contract to buy a home or build a home dated after 1 July, 2000
Please keep in mind that the results from our calculator should only be taken as a guide and you should contact your state government’s office directly to get the most updated information.

You can contact your state government’s office on the following numbers:
  • NSW Office Of State Revenue Ph: 1300 130 624
  • QLD Office Of State Revenue Ph: 1300 300 734
  • State Revenue Office Victoria Ph: 13 21 61
  • ACT Revenue Office Ph: (02) 6207 0028
  • WA Department Of Finance Ph: 1300 363 211
  • Revenue SA Ph: (08) 8226 3750
  • NT Revenue Office Ph: 1300 305 353
  • TAS Department Of Treasury & Finance Ph: (03) 6233 2927
In any case your FHOG will help you cover most of the other costs such as stamp duty, registration fees, transfer fees.

Cheers,
Otto
Otto Dargan
Mortgage Broker
P | 1300 889 743
Home Loan Experts

gleeson
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Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2009 12:15 pm

Re: Which documents are needed for FHOG?

Post by gleeson »

How much will these other costs come out to? Just asking in case I wont be able to get my FHOG and I have to get more money.

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Otto Dargan
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Re: Which documents are needed for FHOG?

Post by Otto Dargan »

Hi gleeson,

Our Property Purchase Costs Calculator will be able to help with this. Just enter your state, property value, loan amount, etc. and it should give you an estimate of how much you would have to pay in government fees.

You will also have to cover other fees such as conveyancing costs, inspection fees, loan fees and mortgage insurance (if you are borrowing more than 80% of the property value).

Cheers,
Otto
Otto Dargan
Mortgage Broker
P | 1300 889 743
Home Loan Experts

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