The Help to Buy scheme expansion is one of the most important policy shifts in entry-level Australian housing affordability in recent years. This guide from Nexus Developments explains what Help to Buy is, what the 2026 expansion changes, what it means in practice for first home buyers in Melbourne, and how it intersects with the Nexus Developments residential pipeline.
WHAT THIS GUIDE COVERS
01. What Help to Buy is — the basics
02. What the 2026 expansion changes
03. How Help to Buy works in practice
04. What it costs — the shared equity trade
05. Help to Buy vs other first-home buyer schemes
06. Things first home buyers should check
07. Where Help to Buy intersects with Nexus Developments projects
08. Frequently asked questions
What Help to Buy is — the basics
Help to Buy is a shared-equity scheme administered by Housing Australia. The federal government takes an equity stake in a buyer’s home — not a loan — in exchange for a reduced deposit requirement and a smaller ongoing mortgage. The buyer can buy back the government’s equity over time, and the equity adjusts with the value of the home.
What the 2026 expansion changes
- Lifts price caps to reflect current Melbourne and broader Australian market conditions
- Lifts income thresholds, bringing more buyers into the scheme
- Adjusts equity stake percentages for new builds vs existing homes
- Expands the number of places available in the scheme overall
In short: more buyers eligible, higher caps, and broader access — particularly relevant in growth corridors and regional centres where new-build pricing fits the scheme cleanly.
How Help to Buy works in practice
For a first home buyer with a sub-20% deposit, Help to Buy materially reduces the deposit gap that has been the single largest barrier to entry in this cycle. It does so without lender’s mortgage insurance and without forcing the buyer into a higher-risk loan structure. The trade is the government’s shared equity — a portion of any capital growth on the home is paid back proportional to its equity share when the home is sold or the equity is bought back.
What it costs — the shared equity trade
The cost of Help to Buy is the shared equity component. If the government holds 30% equity in the home and the home doubles in value, 30% of that uplift goes back to the government when it is bought back or when the home is sold. The buyer keeps the other 70%. The trade is the future capital gain in exchange for a much more accessible entry point.
“Help to Buy doesn’t solve affordability. It solves the deposit gap. Those are different problems.”
Help to Buy vs other first-home buyer schemes
- First Home Owner Grant (state) — one-off cash grant for new builds, capped by price
- First Home Guarantee — federal scheme allowing 5% deposit with the government guaranteeing the remainder
- Stamp duty concessions — state-based, applied at purchase
- Help to Buy — federal shared-equity scheme reducing both the deposit gap and the ongoing mortgage
Most buyers stack multiple schemes — for example, combining stamp duty concessions with First Home Guarantee or Help to Buy depending on eligibility.
Things first home buyers should check
- Eligibility against the 2026 income and price caps in your state
- The long-run cost of the shared equity — not just year-one repayments
- Comparative cost vs other entry-level schemes (state-level FHB programs, stamp duty concessions)
- Your plan for buying back the government’s equity if you intend to
- How the scheme interacts with any existing investment property or land holding
Where Help to Buy intersects with Nexus Developments projects
Several Nexus Developments residential projects — particularly in the growth corridors — sit at price points that fit comfortably within the Help to Buy caps. Armstrong Grove, Allemore Charlemont and Holmead Road are particularly relevant for first home buyers exploring the Help to Buy pathway. The Nexus Developments buyer team can walk through the eligibility, price points and lot availability for the current stage release.
TALK TO OUR BUYER TEAM ABOUT HELP TO BUY
Nexus Developments has lot price points that fit the 2026 Help to Buy caps in multiple growth-corridor projects. Register interest →
Frequently asked questions
What is the Help to Buy scheme?
Help to Buy is a federal shared-equity scheme administered by Housing Australia. The government takes an equity stake in your home in exchange for a reduced deposit and smaller mortgage.
How much can I borrow under Help to Buy?
The scheme caps both income and property price — both updated in 2026. Contact Nexus Developments for the latest figures and to check eligibility against Nexus Developments project price points.
Is Help to Buy available at Nexus Developments projects?
Several Nexus Developments residential projects — including Armstrong Grove and Allemore Charlemont — have lot price points that fit the Help to Buy caps. Register interest for stage-release detail.
Can I combine Help to Buy with the First Home Owner Grant?
Eligibility for stacking schemes depends on state and individual circumstance. Speak to a mortgage broker or contact Nexus Developments for buyer-team guidance.
Does Help to Buy work for off-the-plan purchases?
Yes. Help to Buy applies to both new builds and existing properties, subject to scheme rules. Subscribe to Nexus Developments insights for the latest first-home buyer guidance.
About Nexus Developments
Nexus Developments is a leading multi-sector property development company based in Melbourne, Australia, with a project pipeline of over $400 million+ across residential, NDIS Specialist Disability Accommodation, Montessori childcare, education and commercial real estate. Founded by Bhupendra (Ben) Sethia — a 25-year industry leader and Founder Chairman of JITO Australia — Nexus Developments operates with institutional-grade governance, partnerships with Colliers and Maddocks, a 7-8 star NatHERS energy standard on every new dwelling, and a commitment to contribute more than 600 dwellings to the National Housing Accord.
Across Nexus Communities, Nexus Care, Nexus Learning, Nexus Commercial and the Nexus Wealth Fund, Nexus Developments delivers projects designed to compound long-term value for investors and communities alike. Whether you are an investor seeking exposure to Melbourne property development, a first-home buyer looking at Melbourne growth corridors, a family considering NDIS-accredited Specialist Disability Accommodation, or a landowner looking for a delivery partner, Nexus Developments has a pathway for you.
Take the next step with Nexus Developments
- Explore current Nexus Developments projects across Melbourne and regional Victoria →
- Register your interest in a Nexus Developments residential community →
- Speak to our investor relations team about the Nexus Wealth Fund →
- Learn how Nexus Care designs SDA housing built for independence →
- Read more insights and market intelligence from the Nexus team →
- Contact Nexus Developments →
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Disclaimer: This article is general information only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal or tax advice. Investments in Nexus Wealth Fund products are available to wholesale and sophisticated investors as defined under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Renders are artist impressions and indicative only.