Help to Buy Australia — Shared-Equity Calculator & Eligibility Check
The government co-owns up to 40% of your home — buy with just a 2% deposit and no LMI. Only 10,000 places a year: check eligibility and your equity split now.
By Scheme Tools Editorial Team · Last updated: 2026-10-10
Help to Buy — Shared-Equity Calculator
See your equity split, loan size, and LMI saving under the federal scheme.
Government equity share40% ($300,000)
Your loan from lender$412,500
LMI avoided (est.)$12,000
Illustrative. 10,000 places/year, capped. Income caps: $103,000 (single) / $165,000 (joint & single parents) on FY2026 NOA. Apply via a participating lender — not directly to Housing Australia. Verify at firsthomebuyers.gov.au.
Help to Buy is the federal shared-equity scheme launched in December 2025 and administered by Housing Australia. The government contributes up to 40% of the price for newly built homes (30% for existing homes), so you can buy with a minimum 2% deposit and pay no Lenders Mortgage Insurance.
It is capped at 10,000 places per year nationally — and demand is strong, with 2,356 places conditionally or fully approved in the first two months. Queensland Country Bank joined the lender panel on 6 October 2026 (now four participating lenders).
Income caps (verified on the official site): $103,000 taxable income for individual applicants, $165,000 for joint applicants and single parents (FY2026 Notice of Assessment). You must be 18+, an Australian citizen, intend to live in the home, and not own property anywhere.
You apply through a participating lender — not directly to Housing Australia. State duty concessions and grants can stack with Help to Buy, but not other federal home-buyer schemes.
Note: this is an independent guide, not a government website. Confirm caps and criteria at firsthomebuyers.gov.au.
Up to 40% for newly built homes, 30% for existing homes.
What are the income limits?
$103,000 (single) / $165,000 (joint & single parents), based on FY2026 taxable income.
Do I pay interest on the government’s share?
No interest — but the government shares gains/losses proportionally when you sell or buy out.
How do I apply?
Through one of the four participating lenders (CBA, Bank Australia, Teachers Mutual Bank, Queensland Country Bank).
Are places limited?
Yes — 10,000 per year nationally.
Is this a government website?
No. This is an independent guide.
What is the minimum deposit for Help to Buy?
Just 2% of the purchase price — far below the 20% lenders usually want to avoid mortgage insurance. On a $600,000 home, that means $12,000 from you plus the government's equity contribution, with the lender covering the rest.
Are there property price caps?
Yes — price caps apply and vary by state, territory, and whether the area is a capital city or regional. They are set to keep the scheme targeted at typical first homes. Check the current caps for your region on firsthomebuyers.gov.au before you start house hunting.
Can I buy an existing home or only a new build?
Both qualify. The government contributes up to 40% for newly built homes and up to 30% for existing homes. New builds get the bigger contribution to encourage new housing supply, but an established home in your area is still fully eligible.
What happens when I sell my Help to Buy home?
The government is repaid its proportional share of the sale price — so on a 30% stake, it receives 30% of what the home sells for, whether that is more or less than you paid. You keep your share of the proceeds after the mortgage is settled.
Can I buy out the government's share over time?
Yes — you can make voluntary partial repayments to reduce the government's equity stake, subject to minimum amounts and property valuations at the time. Many participants plan to staircase their ownership as their income grows.
Can Help to Buy be combined with stamp duty concessions?
Yes — state first-home buyer duty concessions and grants can generally stack with Help to Buy, which can substantially lower your upfront costs. What you cannot combine it with is other federal home-buyer schemes, so check the stacking rules on the official site.
What happens if I miss out on a yearly place?
Places are capped at 10,000 a year and allocated as applications are approved, so apply early in the program year. If places run out, you can reapply in the next program year — your eligibility does not expire, but you will need a fresh application.
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