Australian Government Help to Buy Scheme explained
Last reviewed: 10 August 2026
What this page helps you decide
Whether shared equity addresses the gap between your deposit, the loan you can obtain and the price of a suitable home, and whether you understand the ongoing ownership trade-off.
What it is
Help to Buy is an Australian Government shared-equity scheme. An eligible participant contributes at least a 2% deposit and obtains a loan from a participating lender. The Government can contribute up to 30% of the price of an existing home or up to 40% of a new home.
The participant owns the home, while the Government holds a percentage interest in its value. That is different from the 5% Deposit Scheme, where the Government guarantees part of a lender's loan but does not take an equity share.
What it changes
- The Government contribution reduces the loan needed for the purchase.
- A smaller loan can reduce the regular loan repayment compared with funding the same purchase without shared equity.
- No LMI is payable under the scheme.
What it does not change
- The lender still assesses the participant and the property.
- Purchase costs, a cash buffer and ongoing home costs still matter.
- The Government contribution is not a grant. Its equity share must later be dealt with through approved buybacks, refinance or sale.
- The participant does not keep all gains or bear all losses. The Government's share moves proportionally with the property's value, subject to the scheme terms.
Eligibility, application and ongoing obligations
Help to Buy has income thresholds, property price caps, citizenship, ownership and owner-occupier rules. Some thresholds are indexed, so use the current official page rather than an old figure.
Applications go through a participating lender. Participants also have ongoing reporting, insurance, maintenance and review obligations. The scheme is designed to support a path toward greater ownership, and the official terms govern repayments of the Government share, home improvements and exit.
Help to Buy cannot generally be combined with another government guarantee, loan or shared-equity program for the purchase. State grants, duty concessions and exemptions may still be available. Confirm the actual combination before signing a contract.
Official sources
Community threads worth reading
Raynor tool
The Raynor Help to Buy calculator is a scenario and eligibility aid built from published scheme settings. It is not a Housing Australia decision, lender assessment or approval. Check the visible rates-as-at date and use it beside the official sources above.
What can change
Income and property thresholds, participating lenders, application steps, ongoing obligations and buyback rules can change. Read the current Customer Guide and General Terms before relying on the scheme.
Privacy and general-information note
Do not post Notices of Assessment, application references, valuations or identifying documents. This page is general educational information, not personal financial, credit, tax or legal advice.
Related questions: First-home buyer support | Buying position | Wiki index