Help to Buy: Government’s 2% deposit scheme start date announced
From 5 December 2025 borrowers could buy a home with shared equity from the government.
The federal government's Help to Buy scheme has finally been given a start date, just over a year after it was approved in Senate - and it's soon.
From 5 December 2025 (yep, next week) eligible property buyers will be able to purchase a home with as little as a 2% deposit without paying lender's mortgage insurance.
The scheme applies to both first home buyers and buyers who have owned property before.
Want to prepare?
Compare home loan options ahead of the new federal government scheme.
How does the Help to Buy scheme work?
The Help to Buy scheme will allow Australians to buy homes with deposits as low as 2% because the government contributes the equity needed for a full deposit.
This means it will own a portion of the home, but over time the buyer will be able to buy back that equity.
The government will contribute up to 40% of the purchase price if you're buying a new home, or up to 30% if you're buying an existing home.
It's important to note too, there are only 10,000 places per year.
Will you be eligible for the scheme?
There is strict eligibility criteria, of course. You must earn below $100,000 a year or less if you're an independent, or $160,000 combined if you're a couple.
You must not currently own any land or property, but you don't necessarily have to be a first time buyer.
You'll need to live in the home for at least 12 months and there are price caps for each region.
You'll also need to apply for your home loan through a participating lender. Currently, the only 2 lenders participating in the scheme are Bank Australia and CommBank.
Make sure you check out our full guide on the Help to Buy scheme for the complete criteria rundown.
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