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Australian Government Expands Help to Buy Scheme with $800 Million Boost

The program's increased funding raises income and property price caps, aiming to improve housing access for first-home buyers while maintaining a cap of 10,000 participants per year.

A view of the Sydney Opera House and Central Business District (CBD) skyline in Sydney, Australia, March 12, 2025. REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo
Image
For sale sign on Queenslander-style house that needs renovating in a street in Brisbane.

Overview

  • The Help to Buy scheme now includes an additional $800 million investment, increasing its total value to $6.3 billion.
  • Income eligibility caps have been raised to $100,000 for individuals and $160,000 for couples, up from $90,000 and $120,000 respectively.
  • Property price caps have also been increased, allowing homes worth up to $1.3 million in Sydney and $950,000 in Melbourne to qualify.
  • The program, which reduces upfront costs by allowing the government to take up to a 40% equity stake in properties, remains capped at 10,000 participants annually.
  • The scheme, delayed by political opposition, is positioned as a key part of broader efforts to address Australia's housing affordability crisis and will launch later in 2025.