YourTown Bonus Cash vs Prize Home: Smart Alternative Guide

Q: How much is YourTown's bonus cash option compared to the prize home value?

YourTown typically offers bonus cash options ranging from $50,000 to $100,000, which is significantly less than their prize homes valued at $800K-$1.5M. However, the cash option provides immediate liquidity without property transfer costs, capital gains considerations, or ongoing maintenance expenses that come with prize home ownership.

Q: Are there tax advantages to choosing YourTown's cash bonus over the prize home?

Yes, according to ATO guidelines, both cash and property prizes are generally tax-free for individual winners. However, cash bonuses avoid potential future capital gains tax implications if you later sell a prize home. Cash also eliminates stamp duty, legal fees, and property settlement costs that can total $20,000-$50,000 for prize home transfers.

Q: Can I choose the cash bonus option after winning a YourTown prize home?

YourTown's terms typically require winners to nominate their preferred prize option (property or cash bonus) when purchasing tickets, not after winning. Some draws offer winners a brief consideration period, but this varies by specific draw conditions. Always check the individual draw's terms and conditions before purchasing tickets.

Q: What are the odds of winning YourTown's cash bonus versus the main prize home?

YourTown draws typically offer multiple cash bonus prizes (often 10-20 cash prizes of $10K-$100K) compared to just one main prize home. This means significantly better odds of winning a cash prize, though individual draw odds depend on total ticket sales. Recent YourTown draws have shown cash prize odds around 1 in 15,000 versus 1 in 150,000+ for the main home prize.

Yourtown Prize Home Bonus Cash Option: Smart Alternative to Property Prizes

By Gary Oldman · 20 February 2026

Discover Yourtown's bonus cash option for prize home winners. Learn why many choose cash over property and how to make the best decision for your situation.

Quick Answer: Yourtown prize home winners can choose cash instead of a house. You typically get a large portion of the home's value within 90 days. You buy a Yourtown prize home ticket. You support young Australians at risk. You might win a beautiful house or cash. But here's something many people miss: the bonus cash option. It might be worth more than the house itself. Yourtown, formerly BoysTown, runs prize home lotteries. They raise money for at-risk youth across Australia. They offer something special: winners can choose cash instead. Understanding Yourtown's Bonus Cash Option The bonus cash option is simple. You can take the house or get cash instead. The cash equals a big portion of the home's value. The exact amount depends on the draw and property. For many winners, this choice is hard. Do you want the house or the cash? How the Cash Option Works When Yourtown announces a winner, they explain both options. You get about 90 days to decide. Use this time wisely. Look at the property carefully Talk to a financial adviser Think about your own situation Add up the costs of owning the home Yourtown calculates the cash amount fairly. They use market values and their own costs. Both sides get fair value. Quick Tip: Cash saves you stamp duty, moving costs, and property management fees. These can add up to tens of thousands of dollars. Why Choose Cash Over Property? Taking cash over a beautiful house seems odd. But many winners choose the cash instead. Geographic Flexibility Yourtown homes are in great areas across Australia. They might be on the Gold Coast or near Sydney. But they might not fit your life. Maybe you live in Perth. The prize home is in Brisbane. Cash lets you buy something closer to home