As anticipated, the federal budget didn’t directly address or change existing arrangements around the critical mechanism of negative gearing nor did it touch capital gains tax. But what the budget did do is put a spotlight on first home buyers, who appear to be leaving the market as the price boom intensifies.

To date, skyrocketing house prices have spelled bad news for first home buyers who have been known for struggling to save the required deposit to keep up with a hot market – particularly with income growth at record-low levels. 

As such, to offset increased barriers to first home buyer market access, the federal government has announced a number of new and enhanced policies.

But Dr Andrew Wilson, chief economist at Archistar, is not confident the government will achieve its goal.

“The federal government has announced a number of narrowly targeted budget initiatives that will assist some first home buyers to realise the Great Australian Dream,” Dr Wilson said.

“They are, however, unlikely to significantly stem an ongoing decline in activity from this group now suffocating from booming home prices and surging investors, with total activity over the next year set to fall by at least 20 per cent – even with a full uptake of the schemes announced,” he noted.

So, what schemes have been announced?

Family Home Guarantee 

The new Family Home Guarantee will allow single parents with a maximum annual income of $125,000 to purchase a home with a minimum deposit of 2 per cent but with local market price ceilings – Sydney $700,000, Melbourne $600,000 and Brisbane $475,000. The scheme is limited to 10,000 places. 

“Applicants with the maximum income profile will be able to borrow around $500,000 at current interest rates, which will nonetheless leave few options to purchase appropriate family-friendly homes – particularly in Sydney and Melbourne that generate the majority of first home buyers nationally,” Dr Wilson explained.

The current median asking price for a two-bedroom unit in Sydney is $615,000, with a three-bedroom at $820,000. In Melbourne the two-bedroom unit median is $520,000, with three-bedroom unit median asking prices at $585,000. For Brisbane the two-bedroom unit median is $400,000, with three-bedroom unit median asking prices at $560,000. 

“By comparison, the median asking price for a Sydney house is currently $1,297,077; with Melbourne at $869,490; and Brisbane, $568,992, and all clearly still rising strongly,” Dr Wilson noted. 

New Home Guarantee

The government has also reintroduced the New Home Guarantee which allows first home buyers with a maximum income for couples under $200,000 to secure a new home with a minimum 5 per cent deposit. 

The price ceilings for this scheme are $950,000 in Sydney, $850,000 in Melbourne and $650,000 in Brisbane. Again, restricted to 10,000 places.

“Although this scheme, building on its previous success, will provide more opportunities for first home buyers, the current boom in new house construction is set to lead to supply constraints and higher building costs, and clearly favours those content with outer-suburban fringe living.

“Nonetheless, the big picture is the policy’s clear potential for the ongoing economic stimulus provided by the residential construction industry – and that is still a main game in Australia’s ongoing COVID recovery,” Dr Wilson said.

The current median asking price for a new home in Sydney is $859,995, in Melbourne $556,000 and in Brisbane, $491,000. 

First Home Buyer Super Saver Scheme

The government has also announced an extension to the First Home Buyer Super Saver Scheme that will now allow an increase in member contributions from $30,000 to $50,000 specifically nominated for the purchase of a new home and with annual contribution caps. 

However, according to Dr Wilson, this is unlikely to have a significant impact on first home buyer numbers over the shorter term, with the changes to come into effect from July 2022. 

Downsizer scheme 

In addition to new policies directed at first home buyers, the government has also announced changes to its downsizer scheme that allows extra super contributions to those that sell a family home that has been owned for at least 10 years. The age eligibility for the scheme has now been lowered from 65 to 60. 

“The scheme has had limited success in significantly accelerating downsizing since its introduction in the 2017-18 budget, clearly impeded by the lack of suitable next-stage downsizer accommodation,” Dr Wilson said.

He opined that the reduced age eligibility will only exacerbate this issue, with the clear shortage of reasonably affordable, medium-density and larger higher-density dwellings in established middle and inner suburbs.

“The availability of appropriate suburban downsizer accommodation likely takes priority over financial incentives, particularly for a younger demographic,” Dr Wilson added.  

Overall, Dr Wilson isn’t impressed with the government’s handout, noting that the impact of these new policies on rising buyer imbalances and reduced liveability as a result of surging home prices is questionable.  

“Comprehensive and targeted supply-side initiatives are needed to match the demand stimulating polices that clearly result in more urban sprawl, fringe-living dislocation and suburb marginalisation – and higher overall home prices,” Dr Wilson concluded.