We compare your rates with 50+ lenders
You own it, live in it, and make it yours
Shared equity sounds like shared control. It isn’t. The government is a silent financial partner — they don’t visit, approve renovations, or tell you how to live. They contribute up to 40% of a new home or 30% of an existing home, and you pay no rent on their share. Your name goes on the title, not theirs. When you sell or buy them out, they receive their percentage of the current value. That’s the trade-off for needing $12,000 instead of $120,000.
Do you qualify for Help to Buy?
Eligibility is assessed at the time of application only. If your income grows after approval, your arrangement stays in place. Here are the core criteria.
Australian citizen aged 18+
You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Joint applicants must both meet this requirement at the time of purchase.
Never owned property in Australia
You cannot have previously owned residential property in Australia, including investment property. Overseas ownership doesn’t disqualify you.
Income under $90K / $120K
Singles must earn under $90,000 and couples under $120,000. This is assessed at application only — no clawback if your income grows later.
Minimum 2% deposit saved
You need at least 2% of the property price as your deposit. On a $600,000 home, that’s $12,000. Genuine savings rules still apply.
Owner-occupier from day one
The property must be your primary residence. You need to move in within 12 months and live there for the life of the arrangement.
Within your state’s price cap
Caps vary by state: Sydney $950K, Melbourne $800K, Brisbane $700K, Perth $550K. See our grants hub for all caps.
What buying a $600K home looks like
Without Help to Buy
A 20% deposit means $120,000 upfront. The loan is $480,000. At 6.2% over 30 years, repayments sit around $2,940/month. Under 20% deposit? Add $10,000 to $15,000 in LMI.
With Help to Buy (30% government share)
A 2% deposit means $12,000. The government contributes $180,000 and the loan drops to $408,000. Same rate, repayments fall to ~$2,500/month with no LMI.
That's $108,000 less upfront, ~$440 less per month, and up to $15,000 saved on LMI. The trade-off: the government owns 30% of the value when you sell or buy them out.
Illustrative only. Rates and costs depend on lender, credit profile, and market conditions.
Help to Buy or First Home Guarantee?
Two government schemes, different mechanics. The right choice depends on your deposit, comfort with shared equity, and how many lender options you want.
| Services | Help to Buy | First Home Guarantee |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest minimum deposit (2%) | ||
| No Lenders Mortgage Insurance | ||
| You own 100% equity from day one | ||
| 30+ participating lenders | ||
| Government contributes to purchase price | ||
| Lower monthly repayments |
How to apply
You cannot apply directly through Housing Australia. Applications go through a participating lender — currently Commonwealth Bank or Bank Australia.
Stryve accesses both, compares their offers, and handles the paperwork so you’re not managing two lender conversations yourself.
Stryve charges no fees for Help to Buy applications. We’re paid by the lender, and we disclose that commission upfront.
02
Find your property
Search within your state’s price cap for new builds or existing homes. Send us the property details before you sign so we can confirm it qualifies under the scheme.
03
Compare both participating lenders
CBA and Bank Australia offer different rates, features, and approval criteria. We submit to the lender that fits your situation best and review future options if more lenders join later.
04
Application and approval
Stryve lodges the full application. The lender coordinates with Housing Australia on the shared-equity side. Processing usually takes 4 to 6 weeks from a complete file.
05
Settlement and moving in
Settlement works like a normal purchase. The government’s equity share is registered against the property while your solicitor handles the legal transfer.
What our customers
say about us
Don't just take our word for it. See what hundreds of satisfied clients across Sydney say about their experience with Stryve Finance.
“Nate and Dylan were extremely helpful in helping us secure our new home. They were easy to contact from day one, and answered any questions we had. We felt reassured at all times and are very grateful for their patience with us. I have recommended Stryve to 3 friends now who have all been successful in achieving their goals of purchasing their homes. We are so happy with the service and will definitely keep on recommending Stryve to our family and friends.”
Whitney Tran
Homeowner
“I never had a problem with Dylan. From the start of our journey on mortgage til the very end and even with refinancing, he/they were very helpful, transparent, honest and really keen to help their clients! Highly recommended.”
Cristianne Del Valle
Homeowner
“On behalf of my husband and I, we would like to truly thank Dylan Bertovic for all his assistance in helping us with our new loan - approved in time before our settlement. Dylan worked above and beyond expected. He took the time to explain every step and process with us. Any questions we had, Dylan would go out of his way to ensure they were answered. He made the process stress free and ensured we got the best possible deal. We highly recommend Dylan to all our family and friends.”
Merna Yalda
Homeowner
“Nate is great to work with, very knowledgeable, responsive and genuinely invested in helping me find the right solution. Highly recommend this firm to anyone looking for reliable, competitive and professional brokerage services.”
Julia
Homeowner
“Dylan has not only been a longtime friend, but also the trusted mortgage broker of choice for my family. He answers the phone at all hours, communicates extensively through all steps of a sometimes-complicated process and manages my risk. He has a straight to the point approach which I appreciate. Simply gets the job done, and gets it done very quickly. Thanks for everything Dylan, you're a champion broker and a good mate.”
Christian Barać
Homeowner
“Nate and Dylan were the ultimate professionals in securing a home loan to help us purchase our first home! Following the purchase of our home, they have continued to provide their exceptional service and have been able to secure two rate reductions in six months! Being self-employed wasn't an issue for me as Nate knew the process back-to-front and was able to provide sound advice throughout the application process.”
Justin Tomas
Homeowner
“It was an absolute brilliant experience with Stryve. Our first purchase was with Dylan he was always clear re: the next steps, quick to respond, never tired of questions and went over and above with communication. We went back and used him again for our next investment and the experience was just as wonderful as the first. Stryve also reviews our loans every 6 months to make sure we are getting the best rates on offer. We couldn't ask for more!”
Amber Motii
Homeowner
Frequently asked questions
Find out if Help to Buy works for you
Over 2,300 Australians already approved. Stryve checks your eligibility, compares both participating lenders, and builds your application properly the first time.
Check your eligibility