Grant, Keystart moves drawing interest: Harvey

Acting Premier Liza Harvey has spruiked the government’s recent move to relax the eligibility criteria for Keystart and increase the first homebuyers grant, saying it had received more than 1,100 enquiries.

Ms Harvey said potential buyers may not be aware of the scope of the arrangements.

“This (the grant) actually applies also to substantially renovated premises that have been purchase by first homeowners, also off the plan schemes provided the scheme is completed by 30 June 2019,’’ she said.

“Infill projects are also eligible.

“In my places, for example in my patch Doubleview, Scarborough, Innaloo, where you’ve got battleaxe blocks being purchased … they can apply for the grant for those projects too.

“It's a buyer’s market at the moment; what we want to do is stimulate those buyers to take action, at a time when the property prices are competitive; we’re providing the stimulus for first homeowners to get into the system.’’

Last week, the state government changed the eligibility requirments for Keystart, lifting the income threshold by $20,000, while the first homebuyers grant was lifted from $10,000 to $15,000 for 12 months.

It had anticipated an extra 650 Western Australian home buyers would buy or build a new home as a result of the changes.

The government claimed the move would create 2,000 jobs.

But that number has been revised up because of the high level of interest, Ms Harvey said today, with the changes now expected to create 3,200 jobs, she claimed.