I included in last week’s property article about a young couple buying a home in country New South Wales a couple of years ago for under $50,000 and receiving the FHOG (first home owners grant). At the time I could not help but ruminate on whether a similar scenario could be replicated in the here and now.
This left me turning over the question of whether I was prepared to put in a bit of work to come up with an answer. This was put on hold.
Fast forward to Saturday.
Saturday morning at my favourite café. Paper in one hand and the best coffee in Sydney in the other, I soon happen on an article which alights my curiosity and imagination as it takes me full circle back to the above question.
I quote:
‘Sitting riverside on the state’s North Coast, a $22,900 converted caravan is the state’s cheapest listed housing option for first time buyers armed with the Federal Government’s First Home Owner Grant. With the grant doubled to $14,000 until June, buyers can own the three bedroom Macksville home for just $8,900.’
This possibility had not crossed my mind.
Did you know how broad the definition of housing can be? and this too attracts the grant?
Read on:
‘The NSW Office of State Revenue regards converted caravans and relocatable homes as eligible investments for the First Home Owners Grant if they are rooted to the ground, fully connected to both water and sewerage and have council approval to occupy their chosen site’.
Why wait to migrate at Christmas time, when this is possible!
Further, the property forecasters, RP Data follow up with ‘converted caravans and relocatable homes are among the kinds of entry-level which will perform well this year. While the agent adds that the above purchase would attract a weekly site fee.
So there is one answer to my early question, one of a number I am sure.
It does beg the question: how little would it take to find a place one could call home.