Home ownership a reality for over 300,000 Australians supported by the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme

The Scheme, helps eligible home buyers, including first home buyers, single parents and guardians, and regional Australians, to enter the housing market sooner by lowering the deposit hurdle.

Since launching in January 2020, the Scheme has provided critical support to Australians nationwide, including: 

• almost 60,000 key workers, including teachers, nurses and emergency service workers 

• over 99,000 Australians living in regional areas, supporting vibrant communities across Australia 

• almost 6,000 single women with dependents, improving security for families 

• strong participation from young people and women, with half of participants under the age of 30 and women representing half of all home buyers 

• close to 30,000 new homes built, contributing to Australia’s housing supply.

Following the Scheme’s expansion in July 2023 to include permanent residents and any joint applicants, more than 48,000 permanent residents have been supported, along with over 2,700 family and friend group applicants purchasing a home together - demonstrating the Scheme’s responsiveness to the needs of modern households.

Access to the Scheme was further expanded in October 2025 through the removal of income caps, increased property price caps and the introduction of unlimited places, enabling even more Australians to achieve home ownership.

Housing Australia partners with a panel of Participating Lenders to help eligible home buyers who don’t have the typical 20% deposit required for a home loan. Housing Australia provides a Guarantee of up to 15% of the value of a home loan for first home buyers, and up to 18% for single parents, allowing buyers to avoid the additional cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance.

Eligible home buyers can apply through a Participating Lender authorised by Housing Australia. For more information and to find a Participating Lender, visit firsthomebuyers.gov.au

Housing Australia CEO Scott Langford said, “This represents a significant milestone for Housing Australia and the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme. Working closely with Participating Lenders, the Housing Australia team has successfully scaled the Scheme from 10,000 places in its first year in 2020, to supporting more than 300,000 Australians today to take this important step towards the security of home ownership.” 

Housing Australia Executive Leader, 5% Deposit Scheme Emma Jarman said, “We are proud to have supported more than 300,000 Australians into home ownership through the Scheme. Our very first participant in 2020 was a teacher purchasing their first home in regional New South Wales. Since then, thousands more have been able to enter the housing market sooner - including the 300,000th  and 300,001st participants, a young couple purchasing their first home in Sydney. We look forward to continuing our strong collaboration with Participating Lenders and their broker networks to support even more Australians into their own homes.”