Housing Australia has announced the Help to Buy program would open to first-home buyers from Friday December 5, with up to 40,000 spots available over the next four years. 

It will be available to low- and middle-income earners, including essential workers and families, with income thresholds set at $100,000 for individuals and $160,000 for joint applicants and single parents, with a deposit of as little as 2%. 

Over time, the buyer will need to repay the government's share in the property, either in increments or when the property is sold.

The first-home buyer boost comes after the Australian government brought forward its expansion of its 5% Deposit Scheme to 1 October 2025, a move that’s been criticised for further increasing home prices.  

Housing Australia chief executive Scott Langford said the Help To Buy scheme would help more Australians achieve the dream of homeownership. 

"For families and individuals including essential workers, Help to Buy offers a meaningful pathway to home ownership,” he said.  

Housing Australia will administer the program, with property price caps tailored to each state and territory to reflect local market conditions. 

The scheme will initially be available through lenders Bank Australia and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, with more lenders set to join next year.

How the Help to Buy scheme works

• Shared equity: The government provides a shared equity contribution, which can be up to 40% for new homes or 30% for existing homes.
• Deposit: Participants need a minimum 2% deposit to enter the scheme.
• Repayment: The government's equity share must be repaid over time, or when the property is sold. 

Eligibility

• Income thresholds:
  • Singles: $100,000
  • Joint applicants and single parents: $160,000
• Property price caps: The scheme includes state and territory-specific price caps, which are administered by Housing Australia.
• Eligible properties: This includes houses, townhouses, apartments, units, and duplexes, as well as vacant land for new constructions. 

Availability

• Launch date: December 5, 2025.
• Initial locations: The scheme will be available in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, the Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory.
• Western Australia: The scheme will operate in Western Australia in early-to-mid 2026.
• Tasmania: The Tasmanian Government has decided not to participate at this stage. 

What is the full eligibility criteria for the Help to Buy scheme?

In order to be eligible for the Help to Buy scheme, the following criteria apply:

• You must be an Australian citizen
• You must be at least 18 years of age
• You must have a yearly income of $100,000 or less, or $160,000 or less for a couple
• You must live in the purchased home
• You must not currently own any other land or property either in Australia or overseas
• You must have saved the required minimum 2% deposit of the home price and be able to finance the remainder through a participating lender.
• You must be able to manage all associated costs up front including stamp duty, legal fees and bank fees.

Property Price Caps:

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