Applying for the Homebuyer Fund
Eligible homebuyers can receive a contribution of up to 25% towards the purchase price of their property, reducing their minimum required deposit to 5% and avoiding the need to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance.
For eligible Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander homebuyers, this contribution is up to 35% and the minimum required deposit is 3.5%.
The Homebuyer Fund is a shared equity scheme, meaning that the financial contribution from the Homebuyer Fund to the purchase price is made in exchange for a proportional interest (a share) in the property.
As the value of the property changes, so too will the value of the Homebuyer Fund’s interest in the property. This means the Homebuyer Fund will share in any capital gains proportionate to its interest in the property.
Participants can repay the Homebuyer Fund’s interest in their property over time, including through refinancing or using savings, and must do so when the property is sold and in other circumstances.
From 1 June 2024 until 30 June 2025, there is a cap on the number of applications accepted.
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Check your eligibility
To be eligible to participate in the Homebuyer Fund, you need to:
- be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or permanent Australian resident
- be at least 18 years of age at settlement
- have saved the required minimum deposit (at least 5% or 3.5% depending on your circumstances) of your property price
- earn $135,155 or less per annum for individuals (excluding single parents), or $216,245 or less per annum for single parents or joint applicants — this refers to your gross annual income
- occupy the purchased property as your principal place of residence
- be a natural person (that is, not an organisation, company, trust or other body or entity)
- not purchase your property from a vendor who is a related person
- not own an interest in any land in Australia or overseas at the time of purchase (including as trustee of a trust or beneficiary under a trust)
- not be a shareholder in any corporation (other than a public company) that owns any land in Australia or overseas.
You must meet all of the above eligibility requirements, have an approved loan from a participating lender and have sufficient funds to pay all acquisition costs associated with the purchase to be eligible for the Homebuyer Fund. Eligible participants must become registered owners of the property they buy.
Use our online tool to check if you may be eligible
Read answers to frequently asked questions about the Homebuyer Fund requirements and ongoing obligations.
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Check the eligibility of the property
The property you purchase must be in Victoria.
The property must be a standard residential property such as a house, townhouse, unit or apartment (vacant land is not eligible) and must be $950,000 or less in Metropolitan Melbourne and Geelong, or $700,000 or less in regional Victoria.
The purchase can be for an existing or new property provided that a certificate of occupancy has been issued prior to the date of the contract of sale. The property must also be vacant when purchased or, if under a lease, the lease must expire within 12 months of the acquisition date and the tenants must vacate the property.
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Gather supporting evidence
Once you have checked if you may be eligible for the Homebuyer Fund, you can gather the required supporting documentation and approach a participating lender.
Some of the documentation you may need when applying for a home loan includes:
- proof of identification documents, such as a passport, driver licence or birth certificate
- proof on income, such as payslips
- details of expenses, liabilities and assets.
If you identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and are seeking the additional shared equity contribution of 35%, you will also need to provide a Confirmation of Aboriginality. To speak with someone about obtaining a Confirmation of Aboriginality, contact Aboriginal Housing Victoria on (03) 9403 2100.
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Speak with a participating lender
You must have approval for a compliant home loan from a participating lender to be eligible for the Homebuyer Fund. Contact your chosen participating lender to organise a time to meet and begin the application process for a home loan that will be compliant with the Homebuyer Fund.
If you still have questions about the Homebuyer Fund and your eligibility, contact us on (03) 7020 1549 between 8.30 am and 5 pm (AEST), Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
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Find a property and enter a contract of sale
Once you have received approval for a compliant home loan from a participating lender, your lender will lodge your application for the Homebuyer Fund with the State Revenue Office. If your application is successful, you will be granted provisional approval for the Homebuyer Fund. This means you will have 6 months to enter into a contract of sale for an eligible home.
At this stage, you will receive a range of documents to review, including a Participation Agreement, Scheme Mortgage, Scheme Mortgage Terms and a Letter of Support. You will also be required to watch a short video explaining the Homebuyer Fund.
Once you find a property and enter into a contract of sale, you must contact your lender who will progress your application to the final application stage and begin the settlement process.
Before settlement, you should engage a lawyer or conveyancer to assist you with the settlement process. It is at this stage that you must provide your lender with a certificate of currency of insurance.
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Settlement
At settlement of your property, and as with most settlement transactions in Victoria, the contribution from the Homebuyer Fund will be provided via the independent Electronic Lodgement Network Operator (ELNO) workspace for the settlement of the property (unless alternative arrangements are negotiated and agreed). Your lawyer or conveyancer will assist with disbursements.
Last modified: 18 November 2024
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