First time home buyer essentialsBuying your first home? Go, you! Now’s the time. IMB’s First Home Buyers Guide provides easy explanations through the journey of buying your first home. Let’s rip into it. You are no doubt already scouring real estate sites like Domain.com.au and RealEstate.com.au to find your first home. Not only is this process lots of fun, but it will sharpen the mind to what area is most suitable for you, what type and size of dwelling you can afford, and how much your deposit will need to be for your home loan. Speaking of which…
How much deposit do I need?Let’s start from scratch. A frequently asked question is: “Is there such a thing as a no-deposit home loan for first home buyers?” The simple answer is no, except in the case of a Family Guarantee Loan (see below). Without a guarantor (and often even with one) lenders will need to see a history of saving. At IMB, you will need at least 5% of your property value saved as a home loan deposit – and you will need to factor in costs like stamp duty, conveyancer fees and any other miscellaneous costs like removalists. In general, rates can be more competitive the larger your deposit is against the purchase value. Check out IMB’s home loan rates and packages. Importantly, any loan with a deposit less than 20% of the property value will require Lender's Mortgage Insurance (LMI) Insures the lending institution for any losses it incurs should the borrower default and the property needs to be sold. LMI is paid for by the borrower if they have a less-than-20% deposit of the purchase price. LMI can cost several tens of thousands of dollars, and increases exponentially the more you borrow..
What is 'LVR'?The Loan-to-Valuation Ratio, or LVR, is the percentage you borrow for a home loan compared to the value of the property. This is the way financial institutions express the value of your deposit. When you apply for the home loan, the lender will independently value the property and calculate how much of the property’s value your deposit will cover. If the property is valued at $500,000 and you have a 10% deposit of $50,000, then your LVR is 90%. Lender's Mortgage Insurance (LMI) is applicable for any LVR over 80%. And there is only one home loan if your LVR is 100%. And that’s…
What is a no deposit home loan?IMB’s Family Guarantee Loan allows your family to help you purchase a property by offering security for the difference in LVR against their own property, or an investment like a term deposit. This security will ensure that Lender’s Mortgage Insurance is waived. There are still criteria considered, including your capacity to cover fixed expenses like rent, power and so on. Find out more about how IMB’s Family Guarantee Loan works.
How to save money for a house deposit?There are myriad ways to save money, but these are proven money saving tips to simultaneously budget and save money fast in a big way, accelerating your ability to save your deposit for your first home loan (or a car, holiday, investment property: you name it).
Am I eligible for the Home Guarantee Scheme?The Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) is an initiative of the Australian Federal Government designed to help first home buyers and single-parent families get into their homes sooner. The HGS is administered by the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) and includes the following Guarantees: First Home Guarantee (FHBG)The First Home Guarantee aims to support eligible first home buyers to buy a home with only a 5% deposit and not pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (which is payable for any loan where the deposit is under 20% of the loan value). Click here to out more about the First Home Guarantee, including eligibility criteria, types of eligible property, and more. Family Home Guarantee (FHG)The Family Home Guarantee aims to support eligible single parents with at least one dependent child in purchasing a home, regardless of whether that single parent is a first home buyer or a previous homeowner. Eligible single parents can pay as little as a 2% deposit, and not pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (which is payable for any loan where the deposit is under 20% of the loan value). Find out more about the Family Home Guarantee, including eligibility criteria, types of eligible property, and more. Alternatively, call us on 133 462 or click here to make an appointment with one of our team to assist with any enquiries about the Home Guarantee Scheme.Am I eligible for a First Home Owners Grant?Introduced in 2000 to get first home buyers into an exploding housing market, most states and territories now have a version of the First Home Owner Grant (or FHOG) schemes for new home buyers. Over the years, the criteria and entitlements have changed, so it is best to check out FirstHome.gov.au to find out whether you are eligible and what the terms and conditions are for First Home Buyer assistance in that state or territory, be it an FHOG or concessions on stamp duty. For now, let’s look at NSW and the ACT, where recent changes have altered the journey to purchase for First Home Buyers. ACT: Home Buyer Concession SchemeIn the nation’s capital, the First Home Owner Grant ceased on July 1st, 2019. However, Stamp Duty Also known as Transfer Duty, Stamp Duty is a state government tax which is payable when a property is sold. You’ll have to pay stamp duty within 30 days of purchasing the property. How much it varies from state to state and by the price of the property. is no longer payable on all property types, including vacant blocks of land, provided the buyer meets certain criteria. Again, this could save tens of thousands of dollars off your home purchase. Check out the full details of the ACT’s First Home Buyer Concessions Scheme. NSW: Two schemes!In NSW, there are two schemes which first home buyers can access. The First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme (FHBAS), and the First Home Owner Grant. If you are eligible for both – and both can be used together – then you could save up to $34,000 on a purchase of a home worth $650,000. NSW First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme The FHBAS offers first home buyers an exemption from Stamp Duty (also known as Transfer Duty) on new and existing homes valued less than $650,000 and at concessional rates for homes between $650,000 and $800,000. Check out the full details and requirements for the NSW First Home Buyer Assistance scheme. NSW First Home Owner Grant The FHOG is a $10,000 grant towards the purchase price of new homes (ie – homes that no-one has lived in before) worth less than $750,000 only. It can be accessed in addition to the FHBAS. Read more about the full details and requirements for the NSW First Home Owner Grant.
What are other costs when buying property?In addition to your deposit (and Lender's Mortgage Insurance (LMI), you should budget for any upfront costs such as stamp duty, conveyancing fees, establishment fees on your loan, as well as ongoing costs such as property maintenance and loan repayments. You may be able to include some of these costs in your loan, but these costs will add to your loan amount and affect your LVR. As always, having saved the money for these along with your deposit will mean you borrow less and get your home loan out of your life sooner. Your Home Loan Specialist can run you through what loans attract what fees and where you can make savings. Any costs in advertised rates will be expressed as a Comparison Rate A comparison rate helps you work out the true cost of a loan. It reduces to a single percentage figure the advertised interest rate plus fees and charges relating to a loan. alongside the advertised rate. Check out IMB’s home loans.
What is Stamp Duty?Also known as 'transfer duty', stamp duty is a state government tax which is payable when a property is sold. As mentioned, some state governments have stamp duty concessions for First Home Buyers – check with your IMB Home Loan Specialist or log on to your state government website for information on the possible concessions available to you. Or use our Stamp Duty Calculator to see how much it might cost you.
Important Information:
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How to buy my first homeYou’ve done the research, have an expectation for price and value in the area, have your deposit (and extras) sorted and are feeling primed. It’s now time to organise your loan and buy your first home. |
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“I’ve been a member with IMB since my first job at Coles and have always loved the personal service,” says Megan Pracy. As newlyweds, she and husband Matthew (along with lots of help from daughter Valetta) worked with IMB to save their deposit, navigate their entitlements and secure their loan. “When an opportunity to buy our first home, I called Lauren Oakes.” Then Camden Branch Manager (and now Menai Branch Manager), Lauren had helped the couple’s preparation over the previous two years: setting up term deposits, helping them formulate a budget program to save their deposit, and steering them through NSW First Homebuyer’s Grant, Stamp Duty exemptions and mortgage insurance. It worked. When the contacts were produced, Megan and Matthew were ready. “The team at IMB have always been incredibly supportive,” says Megan. “We wouldn’t be in our home without them.” |
"We wouldn’t be in our home without IMB" Megan and Matthew from Camden |
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