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Administered by Housing Australia, the scheme allows eligible participants to buy a home with a deposit as low as 2 per cent, with the Australian Government contributing up to 40 per cent of the purchase price for a new home and up to 30 per cent for an existing property.
Participants can buy a newly built or existing home (including house, townhouse, apartment, unit or duplex) in Australia at or below the property price cap for the location. They can also use it to purchase a vacant block of land for the construction of a new home or a property that’s being demolished and rebuilt (if there is an eligible building contract with an eligible builder).
As a new financial year has started, an additional 10,000 places have now been made available.
New income thresholds and capacity
The taxable income limits have been increased to support more buyers amid rising cost-of-living pressures.
While property price caps remain the same, there are new income limits for the scheme, which are wage indexed annually.
The new limits are:
| Applicant Type / Event | FY2025 Threshold | FY2026 Threshold (Effective 1 July 2026) | Required Notice of Assessment |
| Single Applicant Income Limit | $100,000 | $103,000 | FY2026 |
| Single Parent Applicant Income Limit | $160,000 | $165,000 | FY2026 |
| Joint Applicants Income Limit | $160,000 | $165,000 | FY2026 |
| Home Improvement (Min. Spend) | $20,000 | $21,000 | — |
| New Build (Min. Cost Increase) | $20,000 | $21,000 | — |
However, property price caps - which differ across the country - remain the same.
| State / Territory | Capital City, Regional Centre* | Rest of State |
| New South Wales | $1,300,000 | $800,000 |
| Victoria | $950,000 | $650,000 |
| Queensland | $1,000,000 | $700,000 |
| Western Australia | $850,000 | $600,000 |
| South Australia | $900,000 | $500,000 |
| Tasmania | $700,000 | $550,000 |
| Australian Capital Territory | $1,000,000 | n/a |
| Northern Territory | $600,000 | $600,000 |
| Jervis Bay Territory and Norfolk Island | n/a | $550,000 |
| Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands | n/a | $400,000 |
Who is using Help to Buy?
Since its launch on 5 December 2025, Help to Buy has received more than 7,200 applications. Of these, 4,800 applicants have either settled or found a home, while the remainder are actively looking.
Victoria has seen the strongest demand, followed by New South Wales and Queensland. The scheme achieved a full national rollout last month after expanding into Tasmania.
Data from Housing Australia highlights that the scheme is largely serving those facing the highest barriers to entry:
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First-home buyers make up 86 per cent of all participants.
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Single applicants account for nearly 70 per cent of applications, including 12 per cent who are single parents.
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Older single women represent a growing cohort, with 42 per cent of female participants aged 40 or above.
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The median deposit used by borrowers stands at $30,000.
However, for the mortgage broking channel, distribution remains concentrated. Currently, only two lenders are on the Help to Buy panel: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) and Bank Australia. Of the two, only Bank Australia offers the scheme through the broker channel. More lenders are expected to join the panel in due course.
Executive leader for Help to Buy, Alia Ayoub, commented: "The strong uptake since the Scheme launched highlights both the demand for this type of support and the impact the Scheme is already having.
"We're particularly encouraged by the number of single applicants and single parents participating, as well as the growing number of older women accessing home ownership and long-term security through Help to Buy - groups who have traditionally faced significant barriers in the housing market."
Housing Australia CEO Scott Langford added: "Through Help to Buy we are making a meaningful difference for thousands of Australians who have been locked out of home ownership.
"The changes from 1 July ensure we can continue to support more Australians into home ownership, and we look forward to working with Participating Lenders to provide housing stability for individuals, families and communities; now, and into the future."
[Related: Help to Buy goes live in Tasmania]
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