Aussies snap up first home owners grant

Australians are continuing to take up the federal government's first home owners
grant in droves, undeterred by its October reduction.
The grant was doubled to $14,000 for established homes and trebled to $21,000 for
new properties in 2008.
However after September 30, it was reduced to $10,500 for established homes and
$14,000 for new homes until December 31, and will return to its original $7,000 next
year.
New figures released by Labor on Saturday showed 18,703 people received the grant in
October, with only Queensland and the Northern Territory recording a drop from the
previous month in the number of successful applicants.
This is compared with the 17,898 who took advantage of the grant in September, its
final month at the more generous rate.
Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek said she was pleased to see the grant had helped
190,050 buyers into the market since October last year.