HomeBuilder scheme: $25 grants for new builds, renovations will boost construction but not prices

The federal government’s $688 million HomeBuilder program offered $25,000 grants for new builds and major renovations under contracts signed between June and December, subject to income and property value caps. Analysts including Nerida Conisbee and Tim Lawless expected it to lift construction activity without pushing prices higher, unlike earlier grant schemes. Peter Koulizos said the tight timeframe would also limit opportunities for unscrupulous operators.