By Stephen Linnell
SARAH and Michael Rigo are like many young Wyndham families trapped in the rental market, unable to purchase their first home.
With three children under the age of 10, the Rigos have been renting for six years and dreaming of home ownership for many more.
But the latest inducements offered in last week’s State Budget have failed to impress the Werribee family of five.
The government announced a cut in stamp duty and a $3000 regional first-home bonus scheme in addition to existing grants and bonuses.
“They haven’t convinced me,” Mrs Rigo told Star.
Previously, people seeking to buy a new home were eligible for a $7000 first home owners grant and either a $3000 or $5000 first home bonus.
With the new changes to stamp duty, first home buyers will save an additional $2460 on the cost of a $317,000 house. But the changes are not enough to get the Rigos into the market.
“We’ve looked in Hoppers Crossing, Werribee, the new Manor Lakes in Wyndham Vale. We’ve looked at both new and older homes,” Mrs Rigo said.
“I’d love to move into a brand new home. I think everyone would. But it doesn’t come down to what we want. At the end of the day you go for what you can afford.”
Asked whether the $3000 regional bonus would entice her family to move, she was adamant it would not.
“No, all the kids are in school. To uproot them it would have to be a lot more than $3000. My husband’s got a great job and we’re lucky that he works locally. We’ve got all our family support here.”
Mrs Rigo suffers from multiple sclerosis and does not work. However, even if she did, she said her family would be only marginally better off.
“By the time I put my family in child care I would only be $30 better off a fortnight.”
The Rigos are looking for homes in the price range starting at $215,000, but cannot spend more than $240,000.
