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Finance > Insurance > Home InsuranceThe First Home Owners Grant
Posted by nick_niesen in Finance on November 8th Eagles Kids Jersey , 2010


Copyright 2006 Tracey Anderson


The Australian federal government introduced the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) in 2000 to compensate for the GST (goods and services tax) and to make buying a home easier for all Australians. Since that time, this popular grant has helped people in every state to buy their first home. As a result of this grant, as well as other economic factors, homeownership in Australia is now at an all-time high.


Depending on your lender, you may be able to use the $7,000 grant as part of your down payment. Not all lenders will allow it to be used in this way however Eagles Youth Jersey , so if that is your intent, take the time to shop around and compare lenders. The mortgage market is highly competitive, and more lenders are starting to allow the grant to be used as down payment.


There may be circumstances where you may prefer to stay with a certain lender, even if that lender does not allow the funds to be used as down payment; for example, if the lender offers the most attractive interest rate, or lower fees than other lenders. Buyers must balance the cash they have available for down payment against these other factors that may make the loan less costly overall. Even if you do not use it as a down payment though Eagles Womens Jersey , there are many other practical uses for the Grant. The process of purchasing a home entails many expenses. The Grant may be used to offset any of these expenses as the buyer sees fit. For example, you may use it to offset stamp duty or insurance, real estate agent fees or other mortgage-related costs, such as points or application fees.


The Grant is administered by each state or territorial government. Most first-time buyers will qualify for the grant; specific requirements are available online on the FHOG website ( ). Qualifications are very similar, regardless of your state. You must be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia, and you must be a natural person--in other words Black Eagles Jersey , not a corporation. Also, each applicant and applicant's spouse must not own, or have owned property in Australia in the past, even if it is property that is held with another individual. None of the applicants may have received the Grant previously. The Grant is meant for owner-occupants. Applicants must be buying the property for living in, and be prepared to occupy it within a year of purchase.


The Grant is not means-tested and is therefore available to all applicants regardless of income category. The grant is not taxable. In addition to the Grant, you may also be eligible for exemption from conveyance duty Eagles Jersey Sale , depending on your state.


LISBON, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese football institutions welcomed their football star Luis Figo's decision to bid for FIFA presidency on Wednesday.


The 42-year-old Portuguese great, a former Real Madrid star and Barcelona forward, was backed by compatriot Jose Mourinho who said that Figo would guarantee a better future for FIFA.


"I think Luis Figo's candidature is good news for football. His career is a guarantee for FIFA's future," said Mourinho in a statement sent to Portuguese news agency Lusa.


Figo will enter the race to challenge rival 78-year-old Sepp Blatter, who has headed FIFA since 1998 Cheap Eagles Jersey , joining opponents prince Ali of Jordan, Michael Van Praag, head of Dutch football, and David Ginola, former Tottenham player.


Portugal's Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, Emidio Guerreiro Eagles Isaac Seumalo Jersey , said Figo's bid reflected the competency of Portuguese people.


"The application of a Portuguese person to one of the highest positions of the world's sports sector is always a reason to celebrate and shows that our country has competent cadres that are at the level of the most important challenges like the bid for FIFA presidency," he said, according to Lusa.


The President of Portugal's Football Federation, Fernando Gomes, said it was an "honor" for the body to support Figo's candidature, who he said was a person "capable" of taking up the role.


"It is an enormous honor for the Portuguese Federation of Football (FPF) to support Luis Figo's candidacy to the presidency of FIFA. We said at the beginning of our mandate that we would do everything for the FPF to have a greater representativeness in the decision making organisms of world football Eagles Jordan Hicks Jersey ," said Gomes in an official statement on the federation's website.


Gomes also pointed out to Figo's "enormous courage" in taking the decision to present his application to FIFA.


"I recognize that Luis Figo has enormous capacities to take up the role in full, if he ends up being elected. The process won't be easy. It's a difficult election, but Luis, with his tenacity and capability, will not fail to express his viewpoints on what football needs," he added.


Gomes highlighted that Figo could "contribute with his knowledge Eagles Nelson Agholor Jersey , with his dedication and his work to do something for football."


The Lisbon Football Federation also c