At the moment you have to sign a build contract before the 31st of December(it must be dated after the 4th of June) .The building groundworks(ie site cut and clear) need to have commenced within 3 months of the date of the signed build contract ,as well as the first progress payment paid.
With my fixed priced and turn-key builders, the first progress payment is the 5% deposit(this deposit is paid when the plans are Council approved). But is seems that the $25,000 is paid only after the slab is down and the slab invoice, receipt and proof of the slab(ie a photo) have been submitted. However the slab, from what I can understand ,doesn't have to be poured within the 3 month timeframe.
Getting towards the end of the year is going to be very tricky with meeting the 3 month requirement to have plans approved and the site cut. Builders, certifiers, the Council all wind down at the end of the year and the building industry generally has a shutdown of around 3 weeks.
So if you are thinking of taking advantage of the grant now is the time...but you will need to buy registered land so that the timeframe can be met. There is no time to wait for land to "be made" it needs to be ready now.
There are a few estates left with land registered mainly in the Hunter and the Central Coast, with a few blocks here and there around Newcastle.
Fingers crossed the Government addresses the grant in the budget , to help the construction industry and potential home owners well into 2021!!
For further information on House and Land packages with registered land , give me a call.
Kerri-Ann 0402 107 194
*advice is of a general nature