To qualify, you must: Be a South African citizen with a valid ID or a permanent resident with a valid residence permit; Be over 18 years of age and competent to contract legally; Never have benefited from any government housing subsidy before; Have an Approval in Principle (AIP) from an accredited South African financial institution or have registered a first property within the last six months; Be a first-time homebuyer; Have a total (gross or combined) household income of between R3 501 and R22 000 per month; Be single with financial dependent/s.

There are three possible uses: [1] Cover the difference between your home loan and the purchase price of your new home. [2] Cover attorney fees related to your bond. [3] Reduce your home loan amount after your bond has registered.

If you qualify to buy a residential property with the subsidy, you can choose between development housing projects or the open market and use it in one of four ways: [1] Buy an existing residential property - old or new. [2] Buy a vacant, serviced residential stand, but it must be linked to a homebuilder registered with the National Homebuilders Registration Council (NHBRC). [3] Build on a serviced residential stand that you own, but it must be linked to an NHBRC-registered homebuilder. [4] Build on a tribal stand that you have permission to occupy, but it must be linked to an NHBRC-registered homebuilder.

Yes. If your spouse has previously owned a property, you will unfortunately not be eligible for this subsidy.

Yes, you can. Provided you did not own a property previously, on your own or with your ex.

Only once in your lifetime - the subsidy is a single, once-off payment.

You can apply for the subsidy up to six months after your bond has registered.

Yes. This is a finance-linked subsidy, which means you must have home finance before you can apply for the subsidy. However, finance does not mean only a bond. Other forms of finance would also make you eligible for the subsidy, including a loan from your pension or provident fund, a co-operative or community-based savings scheme like a stokvel, the Government Employees Housing Scheme, any other Employer-assisted Housing Scheme, an unsecured loan, an Instalment Sale Agreement or Rent-to-Own Agreement.