Grant sparks demand
OFFER them a government grant and they will come.
Dozens of first home buyers keen to snap up the Federal Government's $21,000 offer, visited open homes and display villages across the city at the weekend, bringing an end to the lull being experienced by real estate agents.
Austart Homes sales manager Luke Heinzelmann said visitor numbers at the Silkwood Ridge display village were more than double that of the past few months, with the first home buyer grants on everyone's lips.
"We are definitely seeing a lot more of the first home buyers coming through," Mr Heinzelmann said.
The Government announced on Tuesday major boosts to the first home buyer grants scheme to $21,000 for new homes and $14,000 for established homes.
Sandra and Kerwin Davis were keen to make the most of what was on offer, bringing forward the construction of their first home to pocket the money.
"We had bought the land as an investment and planned to pay as much of it off as we could in the next couple of years before we built," Mrs Davis said.
"But we have brought our plans forward due to the money."
REIQ Far Northern zone chair Rick Szelpuk said buyers were also keen to take up the $14,000 offer.
"There is a lot of excitement out there because that is a lot of money," he said.
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