The Help to Buy Scheme is an Australian Government shared equity initiative designed to help eligible Australians buy a home with a significantly lower deposit and smaller mortgage.
Administered by Housing Australia, the scheme officially opened in December 2025 and is now fully available across all Australian states and territories, with 10,000 new places available for the 2026-27 financial year.
Whether you are a single applicant, a single parent, or buying as a couple, here is everything you need to know about the 2026 Help to Buy expansion and how to check your eligibility.
What Is The Help To Buy Scheme And How Does It Work?
Help to Buy is a federal shared equity scheme where the government co-purchases a property with you, lowering your upfront costs and ongoing mortgage repayments.
Here are the key features of how the scheme works:
- Low Deposit: You only need a minimum 2% deposit to buy a home.
- No LMI: Because of the government guarantee, you avoid paying costly Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).
- Government Contribution: The government contributes up to 40% of the purchase price for a new build, or up to 30% for an existing home.
- No Rent on Government Share: You do not pay rent or interest on the government’s equity share. You only repay it when you sell the property, or you can choose to buy back their share over time.
- Individual gross income must not exceed $103,000 a year
- Gross income for couples applying together must not exceed $165,000 a year
- If income exceeds the maximum allowed for two consecutive years, participants will have to repay the government’s financial contribution in part or whole, as their circumstances permit.
- Must have no land or property under your name in Australia or overseas
- Property purchased through the scheme must be participants’ primary residence
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must be an Australian citizen
- Permanent residents aren't eligible
- Minimum deposit 2%
- Participants must pay legal costs, conveyancing fees, stamp duty, and any related taxes or expenses
- Stand-alone house
- Semi-detached house
- Duplex
- Townhouse
- Unit
- If this is your first home, there are other schemes and government grants for home buyers, including the First Home Guarantee.
- You can apply for a guarantor home loan, which helps you borrow up to 105% of the security’s value.
- There are also no-deposit and low-deposit home loans available.
Help To Buy Eligibility Calculator
Discover your eligibility for the Help To Buy Scheme with our user-friendly calculator. By answering a few simple questions, you can instantly find out if you meet the criteria and qualify for the scheme.
What Is The Eligibility Criteria For The Help To Buy Scheme?
| Metric | Eligibility Requirements |
|---|---|
Income Limits (Updated July 2026) | |
Property ownership and residency | |
Age and citizenship | |
Deposit and other expenses | |
Eligible property types | Participants can purchase a new or existing home that is one of the following types: |
| Other requirements | Must pass the serviceability test of the lender and qualify for a home loan |
Let our Home Loan Experts navigate the requirements of the scheme for you. We’ll sort out whether you qualify for Help to Buy or other government schemes and benefits available for first-home buyers.
Call us on 1300 889 743 or fill in our assessment form, free, today.
What Are The Property Price Caps Under Help to Buy?
| Region | Price Cap | Savings On New Home At Maximum Price | Savings On Existing Home At Maximum Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW – Sydney and regional centres (Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Illawarra) | $1,300,000 | $520,000 | $290,000 |
| NSW – rest of state | $800,000 | $320,000 | $240,000 |
| VIC – Melbourne and regional centre (Geelong) | $950,000 | $380,000 | $285,000 |
| VIC – rest of state | $650,000 | $260,000 | $195,000 |
| QLD – Brisbane and regional centres (Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast) | $1,000,000 | $400,000 | $300,000 |
| QLD – rest of state | $700,000 | $280,000 | $210,000 |
| WA – Perth | $850,000 | $340,000 | $255,000 |
| WA – rest of state | $600,000 | $240,000 | $180,000 |
| SA – Adelaide | $900,000 | $360,000 | $270,000 |
| SA – rest of state | $500,000 | $200,000 | $150,000 |
| TAS – Hobart | $700,000 | $280,000 | $210,000 |
| TAS – rest of state | $550,000 | $220,000 | $165,000 |
| ACT | $1,000,000 | $400,000 | $300,000 |
| Northern Territory | $600,000 | $240,000 | $180,000 |
How To Apply For The Help To Buy Scheme
Want to know how the Help to Buy scheme could work for you? Talk to our team to learn how it compares with other government support available and to understand your options.
Even if you don’t qualify for the scheme, there are other programs for you to choose from, including the following:
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the help to buy scheme start?
The Help to Buy scheme officially opened to eligible applicants on 5 December 2025. Following its expansion to Tasmania in June 2026, the scheme is now in full national rollout across all states and territories.
Do I have to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI)?
How much can I save with the scheme?
How much does the Government contribute?
What is the minimum deposit I need to contribute?
What are the benefits of the scheme?
Can I increase my stake in the property?
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