Taxable income limits for the government’s shared equity home buying scheme have increased for FY27, with 10,000 new places now available.
The federal government’s Help to Buy scheme has brought in higher income limits for the shared equity home ownership scheme for the financial year 2027 (FY27).
Administered by Housing Australia, the scheme enables home buyers to access a mortgage with a deposit of at least 2 per cent, with the Australian Government contributing up to 40 per cent of the purchase price for new homes and up to 30 per cent for existing homes, subject to eligibility criteria.
As of today (1 July), taxable income limits have increased to $103,000 for single applicants and $165,000 for joint and single-parent applicants (previously $100,000 and $160,000, respectively).
With the start of the new financial year, 10,000 new places will be available for the 2026-27 financial year across all states and territories.
To date, Help to Buy has received more than 7,200 applications, with 4,800 of these applications having either settled, or found a home to live in. The remainers are still looking for a home to buy.
Almost 70 per cent of applications are from single applicants, including 12 per cent who are single parents. Eighty-six per cent of participants are first-home buyers.
The body noted that older single women are also a growing cohort in the scheme, with 42 per cent of female participants being are aged 40 or above.
The median deposit used by borrowers is $30,000.
According to Housing Australia, the strongest demand has been from applicants in Victoria, followed by New South Wales and Queensland, which have had the scheme in place since 5 December 2025 (as have South Australia and the ACT), while the scheme last month expanded into Tasmania for the first time, making it available across all states and territories.
Housing Australia CEO Scott Langford commented: "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."
The executive leader of Help to Buy, Alia Ayoub, added: "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."
There are currently just two lenders offering mortgages through the Help to Buy scheme – the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) and Bank Australia – however, only Bank Australia is making the scheme available through the broker channel.
It is expected that more lenders will join the Help to Buy scheme panel in due course.
[Related: Tasmania signs on to Help to Buy, yet flaws emerge]
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