$12m NT first home scheme extended

The program provides grants of $30,000-$50,000 to help buy or build a new home in the NT, in a bid to help more construction projects get off the ground.

With over 400 grants approved, the NT government said it represents an investment of more than $12 million in the construction sector.

The investment resulted in about $180 million in local construction activity, creating jobs and contributing to long-term economic growth.

NT chief minister Lia Finocchiaro said the extension of the grant program for another year would create a clearer pipeline for housing delivery, by providing more certainty to builders, tradies and suppliers.

“Construction relies on certainty, and extending HomeGrown gives builders and families the confidence to commit to new projects,” Finocchiaro said.

“Since May 2025, an average of 25 HomeGrown grants for buying or building have been issued each week.”

Finocchiaro said that the Territory was set to build the fewest dwellings on record before the implementation of the grant scheme.

According to CommSec data, the Northern Territory ranks first nationally for population growth (1.2 per cent) and the fastest economic growth (10.2 per cent).

Finocchiaro said the scheme had increased market stock, giving buyers more choices that suited their specific needs.

“For people looking to own a home for the very first time, we have made it easier to save for a deposit by carefully designing a scheme that contributes to a home loan deposit, making that dream of a new home achievable.”

“To rebuild our economy, we need strong population growth, and by having the most competitive home build scheme in the country for both first home owners and anyone else who has owned or does own a home, is locking people in for the long term,” Finocchiaro concluded.