How to Apply for a First Home Ownership Scheme Loan: Criteria & Application Forms
Following the announcement last Wednesday that the Bank of South Pacific and the Government of Papua New Guinea have formally signed an agreement to make First Home Ownership Scheme Loans (FHOS) available, BSP have now announced the eligibility criteria and application forms for people to apply for a loan.
Key details of the FHOS
Eligible borrowers will have access to heavily discounted interest rate and preferential loan terms. Below are the key terms of the FHOS:
- Maximum loan amount of K400,000
- 4% fixed rate of interest
- Up to 40 year loan term
- No bank charges of fees
- Nil penalties for early repayment of the loan
- Certain restrictions on the resale or refinancing of the loan
Eligibility Criteria and how to apply
Eligibility Criteria for a First Home Ownership Scheme Loan
- Be a citizen of Papua New Guinea
- Provide proof and evidence of a 10% contribution to the equity of the home purchased (for example in the form of a deposit)
- Be employed and earning a regular income
- Not have previously owned a home
- Intend to live in the home (home must be owner-occupied)
Documents that must be provided in support of the application
- Bank statements if you are BSP customer
- 3 months of prior bank statements if accounts are not held with BSP
- Statement regarding current or prior debts owed to banks or other lenders for the preceding 3 months
- 3 months of prior payslips
- Evidence of current employment or a copy of your employment contract
How to apply for a First Home Ownership Scheme Loan
- Complete the BSP Loan Application Form or visit the FHOS page of the BSP Website
- Submit copies of the Title Deed confirming ownership of the land or the lease if State owned
- Statutory declaration confirming this is your first home and you will live in the home
Please note: Further eligibility criteria and loan conditions will apply, please seek clarification by visiting the BSP website or a BSP branch.
Commercial terms of the loan
- Maximum loan amount of K400,000
- 4% fixed rate of interest
- Up to 40 year loan term
- No bank charges of fees
- Nil penalties for early repayment of the loan
- Certain restrictions on the resale or refinancing of the loan
How does the FHOS compare to a standard loan?
The following is a comparison of the commercial terms of a First Home Ownership Scheme Loan versus a typical home loan from one of the major commercial banks in PNG such as BSP or ANZ:
- 4% fixed interest VS current interest rates of approx 8.45% – 9%
- 40 years for repayment VS typical repayment terms of a maximum of 30 years
- No bank fees VS a variety of fees and charges levied on the typical home loan
- No penalty for early repayment VS charges or ‘break costs’ associated with a standard home loan
On the basis of the above, the First Home Ownership Scheme Loan provides a large incentive for people searching for their first home to buy in PNG.
However, people considering First Home Ownership Scheme Loans should also bear in mind some of the important terms and conditions attached to the loan. For example, the restrictions on the sale of the property or refinancing of the loan is designed, amongst other things, to keep the house in the family for enjoyment by future generations. In addition, it is expected that this restriction will also prevent people speculating on property price rises and selling homes at a profit.
In addition, the requirement that the home be owner occupied will restrict borrowers from renting the property and this must be borne in mind in case a purchaser anticipates future career moves or other lifestyle changes that might require them to move home.
Finally, borrowers should be aware that the First Home Ownership Scheme Loans are still a commercial arrangement between the borrower and BSP, and are not a form of grant, tax break or other concession by the Government. As such, borrowers will still be expected meet their loan obligations.
