first home

A first-time home buyer grant (or first home owners grant) is a grant specifically for/targeted at those buying their first home – perhaps a starter home. Like other grants, the first-time buyer does not hold an obligation to repay the grant. In this respect, it differs from a loan and does not incur debt or interest. Grants can be given out by foundations and governments. Grants to individuals are typically a cash subsidy.
First time home buyer grants are typically awarded based on a few criteria, primarily financial need and income qualifications as well as never having owned a home before. However, in countries like Australia the criteria include maximum house price, that it is a new build or substantially renovated and having lived in Australia previously.
Many countries and states have initiated grant programs to help lower income residents with the purchase of their first home. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) also provides grants to first time home buyers. Such grant scheme are often modified or even closed based on changes in political leadership in countries or states.
Although intended to help first-time buyers into a home, some have argued that these grants simply distort the market and push prices up. An example in The Australian state of New South Wales where there is the house price cap for receiving the grant is AU$600,000, many houses are sold exactly at that level with bidders fighting for the price up to that point.

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