Queensland’s flagship Boost to Buy program has entered a second application round, with the state government announcing it had released hundreds of additional places.
Queensland has reopened applications for its Boost to Buy shared equity program, releasing another 500 places in a move the state government said would help more first home buyers overcome the deposit and repayment hurdle on properties worth up to $1 million.
The second round, unveiled on Tuesday (7 April), follows strong demand for the initial intake and takes the total number of places released so far to 1,000 as the program scales toward 2,000 spots over three years under an expanded $330 million funding envelope.
Applications are being channelled through approved lender Unity Bank, with the government indicating that more lenders could be added as further places are rolled out.
Boost to Buy allows eligible FHBs to enter the market with a minimum 2 per cent deposit, with the state taking an equity stake of up to 30 per cent on new builds and up to 25 per cent on existing homes.
Half of all spots are reserved for buyers purchasing outside the south‑east corner (classified as regional areas by the government).
On an existing property priced at $750,000, for example, the government’s contribution can reach $187,500, alongside the buyer’s $15,000 deposit, reducing both the loan‑to‑value ratio and ongoing repayments compared with a standard loan structure.
‘Delivering what we promised’, says Janetzki
Treasurer and Minister for Home Ownership, David Janetzki, framed the new round as proof the scheme was achieving its designed purpose.
“We are delivering more Queenslanders a place to call home through Boost to Buy,” he said.
Janetzki said that the expansion formed part of the government’s broader housing and cost‑of‑living platform rather than a stand-alone measure.
“We’re delivering what we promised – the right plan to unlock home ownership opportunities across Queensland,” he said.
The Treasurer also tied the scheme’s growth to the state’s long‑term housing supply goals, pointing to a pipeline of new dwellings.
“This builds on our goal for construction of 1 million homes over the next 20 years by making home ownership affordable for more Queenslanders,” he said.
Eligibility and buyer profile
The state government promoted the program as offering some of the most “generous eligibility” settings of any state shared equity program, with income caps set at $150,000 for singles, $225,000 for households with two adults, and $225,000 for single applicants with dependants.
Eligible properties must be existing or newly built homes located in Queensland, with a purchase price of $1 million or less, and buyers must intend to live in the dwelling as their principal place of residence.
Since its launch last year, the program has already enabled about 150 Queenslanders to secure a first home, with the government stating that it expected take‑up to accelerate.
Janetzki said the combination of shared equity, low‑deposit entry, and existing measures such as the First Home Owner Grant and stamp duty concessions was designed to bring ownership within reach for households currently shut out by deposit and serviceability constraints.
He also positioned Boost to Buy as a central plank of its housing agenda.
“The 2025–26 Budget is delivering what we promised – the right plan to unlock home ownership opportunities across Queensland,” Janetzki said.
He added that the program was also intended to support aspiration.
“I want everyone who aspires to own a home to have a chance to do that,” he said.
[Related: Tasmania signs on to Help to Buy, yet flaws emerge]
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