Build a Brand New SJD Home with the Help to Buy Scheme
Move into a brand new home in Melbourne’s south-east with as little as a $15,000 deposit, no LMI, and up to 40% of the price contributed by the Australian Government.
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A 2% deposit. A brand new SJD home. Backed by the Australian Government.
The Help to Buy Scheme is a federal shared equity arrangement launched on 5 December 2025. The Australian Government contributes part of the purchase price and takes an equivalent share of the property, so you can move into a brand new home with as little as a 2% deposit. No LMI. No interest on the government’s share. You buy their share back when it suits you.
10,000 places open each year. Our Haven range was built for it.
The Benefits of the Help to Buy Scheme
Your name is on the title from day one
- You are the registered owner from settlement
- Renovate, personalise, and live in it however you choose
- The government is a silent equity partner only
- No government involvement in your day-to-day home life
Buy the government out when it suits you
- No repayment schedule or fixed exit date
- No clause the government can trigger to force a sale
- Buy back in 5% increments at a time of your choosing
- Refinance, receive a windfall, or simply decide you are ready
A brand-new home with no history
- Full builder warranty included
- Current energy ratings and modern construction standards
- Zero maintenance history from a previous owner
- Maximum 40% government contribution (vs 30% on existing homes)
How the Help to Buy Scheme Works, in Three Steps
Figures below use a $750,000 home as an illustrative example. Your actual numbers depend on the property price and lender assessment.
You contribute as little as 2%
On a $750,000 home (illustrative), that is $14,980.
It is the minimum the scheme allows, and it must be genuine savings verified by your lender before approval.
The government contributes up to 40%
On the same home, that is up to $300,000 in government equity. No interest is ever charged on their share.
You buy it back in 5% increments whenever you choose. There is no schedule and no deadline.
You borrow the rest
A normal home loan covers the balance. Two participating lenders: CBA and Bank Australia, with more joining in 2026.
Because the government’s equity keeps your LVR below 80%, you are not required to pay LMI.
See how a 2% deposit could work for you under the Help to Buy Scheme
Are You Eligible? Get Your Answer in 60 Seconds
The scheme has a short list of rules. Most people either qualify clearly, or sit close enough to the line that a single conversation can change the picture.
Citizenship & Age
Australian citizen aged 18 or over
Income Limits
Taxable income: up to $100,000 single, or up to $160,000 jointly or as a single parent
Property Status
You do not currently own any other land or property in Australia or overseas
Check your eligibility now
You do not have to be a first home buyer. Single parents, recently separated buyers, returning expats and downsizers who have already sold all qualify.
Help to Buy Scheme in Real Dollars
Own Your Home from $537/week
* Indicative figures only. Repayment estimates use a sample variable rate of 5.89% p.a. over a 30-year term, assuming the maximum 40% government contribution on a new build. Actual figures will vary based on your circumstances, lender assessment, and Housing Australia approval. This is not financial advice.With Help to Buy Scheme
Lot 1140 Bellini 199
Officer
Lot 102 Aspiration Barwon 157
Officer
Lot 1140 Bellini 199
Officer
Lot 102 Aspiration Barwon 157
Officer
On the Officer Primrose package, the Help to Buy Scheme saves approximately $215/week on repayments and reduces the deposit from $137,500 to $13,754.
How to Apply for the Help to Buy Scheme
The application is handled through your lender. SJD Homes’ finance specialist can walk you through every step so nothing gets missed.
Check Eligibility
Confirm you meet the income cap ($100,000 single / $160,000 joint or single parent), citizenship requirements, and that you do not currently own property.
Gather Documents
Prepare the documents listed below before approaching a lender. Having everything ready speeds up your pre-approval.
Contact a Lender
Apply through a Housing Australia-approved lender. CBA and Bank Australia are the two participating lenders at launch.
Submit Application
Your lender lodges the Help to Buy Scheme application to Housing Australia on your behalf for assessment.
Choose Your Home
Once approved, browse our single storey and double storey ranges to find the right design. Sign the build contract and the government contribution is settled at handover.
Documents you will need
Proof of Identity
- Passport or driver’s licence
- Medicare card
Proof of Income
- Recent payslips
- FY25 ATO Notice of Assessment
Savings and Expense Confirmation
- 3 months bank statements for all accounts (day-to-day, salary credit, savings)
Single Parent Applicants
Required in addition to the documents above.
- Child’s birth certificate
This is what you need to get the conversation started. Your lender may request further documents after pre-approval and scheme reservation.
2,300 households are already in. 7,700 places remain this year.
Approvals are tracking ahead of the 10,000-places-a-year cap. Find out where you stand before places get tight.
Help to Buy Scheme Across Melbourne’s South-East
We build across core growth corridors in Melbourne’s south-east. Every corridor includes Help to Buy Scheme eligible packages under the $950,000 cap, along with a $650,000 cap in regional areas, which include display homes you can walk through.
Officer
Family-friendly growth corridor, well-connected by the Princes Highway and Pakenham line.
Mid-$700,000s entry into a Haven package, with Help to Buy Scheme eligible options inside the $950,000 metro cap.
Clyde North
Our flagship display estate. Larger lots, established schools, and a strong mix of Haven and Signature options. Help to Buy Scheme eligible packages available.
Cranbourne
Mature suburb with strong public transport options. Best for buyers who want established services and amenities now, not in five years.
Pakenham
The fastest-growing release area in Melbourne’s south-east. Strong stamp duty savings and FHOG eligibility where the building contract sits under $750,000.
Warragul
A Gippsland regional town with established amenity, strong schools and fixed price house and land across Parkside, Lillifield and Loom estates.
Visit a display home today
Every corridor has a display home open now. Walk through a real SJD build before you commit.
Ready to choose your suburb? Browse our house and land packages across Melbourne’s south-east, with Help to Buy Scheme eligible options available in every corridor.
Help to Buy Scheme or the Home Guarantee Scheme?
These two schemes work very differently. The Home Guarantee Scheme (First Home Guarantee) is a lenders mortgage insurance waiver. The Help to Buy Scheme is shared equity. The decision usually comes down to deposit size, income, and how much of the home you want to own outright.
Help to Buy Scheme
2%
minimum deposit
—————————————————
Government
Co-owner via shared equity
Income cap
$100k single / $160k joint
Ownership
60-80% (yours)
Capital gains
Shared with the government
Property cap
$950k metro / $650k regional
Smaller deposits, lower repayments, moderate incomes
Home Guarantee Scheme
5%
minimum deposit
—————————————————
Government role
Loan guarantor only
Income cap
None
Ownership
100% (yours)
Capital gains
Entirely yours
Property cap
$950k metro / $650k regional
* Since 1 October 2025, the Home Guarantee Scheme has no income cap for eligible applicants. See Housing Australia for current eligibility criteria.
No income cap, want full ownership, can save 5%
Stack These Victorian Entitlements on Top
The Help to Buy Scheme is not an either/or choice. It stacks with two other Victorian entitlements that work perfectly at SJD Homes’ price points.
First Home Owner Grant
$10,000
The cap applies to the building contract only, not the land. Packages above $750,000 total can still qualify if the build price sits under the cap.
Stamp Duty Concession
Stamp duty on land only
Stamp duty on a new build applies to the land value only. Qualifying first home buyers typically pay far less than they would on an equivalent established home.
Home Guarantee Scheme
5% deposit
Better suited to higher-income buyers who want to keep all of their capital gains and prefer full ownership from day one.
Combined savings example
A first home buyer building a $720,000 Haven package in Pakenham can stack the Help to Buy Scheme, the First Home Owner Grant and the stamp duty concession in the same transaction.
* Duty is on the land price only, not the full package.
Help to Buy Scheme
2% deposit, 40% govt equity
First Home Owner Grant
$10,000
Stamp Duty Concession
Full exemption
Combined saving
Six figures
We know the scheme. We know the south-east.
We understand that buying your first home through a government scheme involves a lot of moving parts. Our team has extensive knowledge of the Help to Buy Scheme, the First Home Owner Grant and the current housing market across Melbourne’s south-east, so we can give you advice that is specific to your situation, not generic.
We offer house and land packages designed to sit under the scheme’s property cap, with display homes you can walk through before you commit. From eligibility through to handover, we coordinate with your lender and Housing Australia so you are not managing the process alone.
Help to Buy Scheme FAQs
Do I have to be a first home buyer to use the Help to Buy Scheme?
No. The scheme is open to any eligible Australian citizen who does not currently own property anywhere in the world. Single parents, recently separated buyers, returning expats and downsizers who have already sold are all welcome to apply. Income and price caps still apply.
Can I use the Help to Buy Scheme on a house and land package?
Yes. House and land packages where you build a brand new home are exactly the kind of property the scheme was designed for. Our house and land range includes Help to Buy Scheme eligible packages under the $950,000 metropolitan price cap.
Can I use the Help to Buy Scheme with SJD Homes’ knockdown rebuild service?
In most cases yes, because the new home that replaces the old one counts as a new build. The way the equity is structured around your existing land needs to be confirmed with your participating lender. Our Knockdown Rebuild team can walk you through it.
What happens if my income goes up after I move in?
Housing Australia reassesses your income each year. If you sit above the cap for two consecutive years, you may be required to start buying back the government’s share. Most buyers buy the government out gradually anyway, so this is rarely a shock.
How do I repay the government’s share?
You can buy the government’s share back voluntarily, in increments of at least 5% of the home’s current market value. Many buyers do this when they refinance or receive a windfall. Otherwise, it is settled when you sell.
Will I share my capital gains with the government?
On pure market growth, yes. The government’s percentage of the home’s value is what they take when you buy them out. Capital gains created by your own improvements (landscaping, renovations) are generally excluded from the government’s share.
Which lenders offer the Help to Buy Scheme?
Currently Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Bank Australia. Additional Housing Australia approved lenders are joining the panel between March and June 2026. SJD is not a lender. We introduce you to our finance partners.
How many places are still available?
The scheme offers 10,000 places per year nationally. More than 2,300 places were approved in the first months of the scheme. Places are tracking ahead of forecast, so we encourage early enquiry.
Ready to Take The Next Step?
Share your preferred suburb and budget range and we’ll confirm suitable options and availability.
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