Milton's four- bedroom Hilton 

ON JULY 1 st 2000 the Goods and Service Tax (GST) was implemented, adding 10% to the cost of many products, including buying a house.

To off-set this substantial increase, which would be detrimental to the housing market and economic situation, the Federal Government introduced a $7,000 grant to first-time buyers who had not purchased a house in Australia before. There are certain criteria, which have to be fulfilled by all applicants, before they are deemed eligible for the non-repayable grant.

The offer is open to all permanent resi- dents and citizens alike. Many of my migrant friends and families who have recently arrived from the UK jumped at the chance to vacate their rented proper- ties and grab the $7,000 handout to buy or build their own home. They kept asking me: "When are you going to buy your own home Milton? Hurry up, the grant won't last forever." So I thought about the offer and not wanting to miss this golden opportunity, casually browsed the housing market. As I scanned the shop window of a local estate agent called 'The Professionals', the agent, Brian, came out and asked if he could help me find my dream house.

I was pleasantly surprised by his cour- teous manner and went inside to discuss with him my price range, style of house and preferred areas to live. The next day we arranged to view my first house. The location was good, it had three bedrooms, plenty of land but no air conditioning and the kitchen urgently needed modernising. Despite these drawbacks, I put in an offer, which was refused. My second offer was also declined and the house was taken off the market.

I felt sad, but it was a blessing in dis- guise. Within two hours the agent phoned me to say that another house had just come onto the market but wasn't advertised yet. It was located in a sought after area, 20km north of Adelaide and 20 minutes drive from the beach.

'The house buying process differs from the UK, in that I pay most of my wages directly into my mortgage...'

This property was substantially larger than the previous one, comprising of a detached single-storey building (like most houses in South Australia), four bedrooms with built in wardrobes; spacious lounge; huge fitted kitchen with dishwasher; dou- ble garage and a long covered verandah for outdoor entertaining.

The large front garden even contained a Jacaranda tree which has beautiful lilac flowers in November. This tree was a good omen for me, as it is my favourite type and I had only ever seen it in Australia. The rear garden is also huge and has peach and nectarine trees.

Most important of all...the house contained evaporative air conditioning in every room, which is pure ecstasy during the very hot summers here!! I made an offer near to the asking price, which was accepted immediately by the owner. He moved just one kilome- tre away up a hill, to a brand new five- bedroom house, with panoramic views of the sea and Adelaide City.

A strange coincidence occurred when I went to inspect the house. I asked the neighbour what the crime rate was like in the area and he replied that it was a very quiet and peaceful neighbourhood. I then realised from his accent that he must be from the Cotswolds. As it turned out, both him and his wife are from Burford in the Cotswolds 35 minutes drive from my old home in Gloucester!!!

A financial institution called "Great Southern Home Loans", gave me a 95% loan and I payed my 5% deposit on the house. The house-buying process differs from the UK in that I pay most of my wages directly into my mortgage, with- drawing enough cash to live on and pay bills, etc. Using this method, the home can be paid off within seven to 10 years! What a shock -welcome to Australia!!

This method is very popular and has contributed to Australia having the high- est rate of home ownership in the world, at 70% of the population. The sale of the house went through with blinding speed. Once my offer was accepted by the owner, I had 48 hours to "cool off" or back out of the sale, before officially becoming the new owner, subject to contract. In the space of just four weeks I went through all the red tape such as paying stamp duty, solicitor's fees etc, then moved in. I still find it hard to believe that precisely 12 months after emigrating I have bought my own house.

One week after taking possession, my sister Sharon and her friend Geana from Gloucester came to stay with me for two weeks. They were both in a state of shock when they saw the amount of space between the houses and around the gardens. The following week, I held a house warming party, which was well attended and quite boisterous.

Had it not been for the brilliant government incentive of a $7,000 sweetener, then many more people would still be in rented properties instead of buying or building their dream home.

I now have a queue of friends and family from the UK and USA, booking flights and making reservations to stay at 'Milton's four-bedroom Hilton'!

Milton's four bedroom Hilton in Adelaide TOP