Housing information campaign resources

We’re helping more Australians and permanent residents buy their own home. The home buyer schemes are designed to make home ownership more achievable for more people. 

5% Deposit Scheme

What is it? 

The program helps you buy your first home with a minimum 5% deposit, or 2% for single parents or legal guardians.

What are the benefits? 

• buy with a lower deposit 
• own your home sooner 
• no income caps 
• save on upfront costs
• unlimited program spots and no waiting list.

Who is eligible? 

• Australian citizens and permanent residents who are 18 years and older 
• first home buyers with a minimum 5% deposit, or single parents and single legal guardians with a 2% deposit.  

To be eligible, you will also need to: 

• buy a home in Australia that is priced at or below the location's price cap 
• live in the property 
• have not owned another property in Australia (including land) in the last 10 years. 

For the full eligibility criteria and more information about the Scheme, visit firsthomebuyers.gov.au.

First Home Super Saver Scheme

What is it? 

The program lets you make extra voluntary contributions of up to $50,000 (you can contribute up to $15,000 per year) plus associated earnings to your super fund, growing your savings faster and helping you buy sooner.

What are the benefits? 

• flexible contributions - choose how and when you contribute 
• use with other government home buying programs 
• buy your first home with a partner, sibling or friend.

Who is eligible? 

To use the program, you must: 

• be 18 years or older
• have never owned a property in Australia before
• plan to live in the home you buy or build 
• have made eligible voluntary contributions to your super 
• have not used the program before. 

For the full eligibility criteria and more information about the Scheme, visit the ATO website.

Help to Buy Scheme

What is it? 

A new program where the Australian Government contributes towards the purchase price of your home.

What are the benefits? 

• the Australian Government contributes up to 40% towards your home purchase price 
• buy your home with as little as a 2% deposit and smaller mortgage repayments 
• open to both first and previous homeowners. 

Who is eligible?

To use the program, you must: 

• be 18 years or older
• have a minimum 2% deposit
• be an Australian citizen
• have an annual taxable income that is less than $100,000 for individuals or $160,000 for single parents and joint applicants
• live in the home
• cannot own any other property in Australia or overseas. 

For the full eligibility criteria and more information about the Scheme, visit firsthomebuyers.gov.au.
 

Jon and Kristen: Hello. Welcome to our home. 
Jon: Come on in. 
Kristen: So, this is our lovely kitchen and dining room where we make our coffees in the morning. 
So, this is our little courtyard. And you can just imagine a nice big table full of family and friends. 
Owning a home for us really started probably about a year and a half ago. 
Jon: Pop-in-ability was one thing that was important. 
Kristen: Yeah, we really wanted a home where people can pop by. 
So yeah, we coined pop-in-ability. 
An apartment was really, probably, all that we could afford before the Scheme changed. 
And that really kind of opened doors for us, for sure. 
It would have taken us a long time to save for that, this 5% deposit scheme. 
There's just all of this, like extra stuff you talk about once you buy a home, like new garden, like your DIY. 
Jon: We're just in our 30s now, my love. 
Kristen: I mean it's definitely that as well. 
The most immediate thing that we’ll do is just change the paint. 
Jon: We were sitting here the other day and we looked around. There's 11 different shades of paint in this one room. 
Kristen: Eleven?! 
Jon: Let's make that like 2 or 3 and we’re good. 
Kristen: There's this huge barrier to buying a first home. The 5% Scheme just made it 
quite easy to just take one of these additional stresses out. 
I was just, like, you know, elated that we had somewhere that was our own. 
Jon and Kristen: See you later. Goodbye. Thanks for coming.

London: Hi. Welcome to my house. Come on in. 
So, this is our living room. Our lovely kitchen. 
Couch where we watch all our movies on. 
This is our outdoor area where Sheldon lives, where we have our coffees in the morning. 
Over here is our bedroom. I doom scroll there. 
My name is London. I live in Fortitude Valley, and I am a digital communications specialist. 
So, I had a surgery that was life saving for me. And I spent my home deposit on my surgery. 
We first heard about the scheme from our broker. She was amazing. She really informed us about things that we didn't know about. 
The first day that we got to actually move in to the property was amazing. It's really nice to have our own space and get to do whatever we want with it. I can paint if I want to. 
It was our house. We're homeowners. Meow is in the word. 
I also have a cat, so. He's really settled in here. Around here somewhere. 
Without the scheme, I don't think home ownership would have been on the table. 
I love that I'm building a life with my husband here, and it's just really lovely. 
Thanks for visiting our home. Bye

Unlock the door to your first home sooner.

With the expanded Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, income caps have now been removed, and a wider range of homes are available, bringing home ownership in reach for more Australians.

To be eligible, you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Be at least 18 years old.

Have saved at least 5% deposit of the property value, or 2% for single parents or single legal guardians.

Have not owned any property, including land in Australia in the last ten years or for single parents or legal guardians do not currently own any property, with some exceptions, be purchasing a home to live in with a purchase price under the price caps.

These are the application steps.

One.

Check your eligibility.

Use Housing Australia's quick online eligibility tool.

Two.

Contact a participating lender.

They'll guide you through your options and the application process.

Three.

Apply.

If you applications approved, you'll be ready to find your first home.

To see the full eligibility list and to explore other government home ownership schemes available, visit firsthomebuyers.gov.au

Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra.