Boost to Buy QLD Calculator 2026: Deposit & Shared Equity

What is the Boost to Buy QLD Scheme?

The Boost to Buy Scheme is a landmark shared equity program launched by the Queensland Government. It is specifically structured to help eligible Queenslanders transition into homeownership faster by directly tackling the deposit barrier.

Rather than waiting years to compile a standard 10% or 20% deposit, the program allows qualified first-home buyers to purchase an eligible property with as little as a 2% personal deposit, without having to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

To bridge the gap between your small deposit and the total cost of the property, the Queensland Government acts as an equity partner by contributing:

• Up to 30% shared equity contribution for brand new built properties or house-and-land packages.
• Up to 25% shared equity contribution for established, existing residential homes.

This co-investment means your overall mortgage loan size is dramatically reduced. Since you only borrow 68% to 73% of the property value from a commercial lender, your weekly or monthly home loan repayments are significantly lower and mortgage stress risk is reduced.

Boost to Buy QLD Eligibility 2026

To ensure the government co-investment is directed to those who need it most, the Queensland Treasury has set clear household income caps and buyer requirements.

1. Annual Household Income Limits

Your gross annual income assessed for the financial year must sit within the following maximum caps:

2. Essential Buyer Requirements

To qualify for the shared equity co-investment, you must meet the following statutory criteria:

• First Home Buyer: You must have never owned a residential property or land interest in Australia or overseas.
• Owner-Occupier: You must move into the property as your primary residence and live there continuously for at least 12 months. Investment purposes or holiday homes do not qualify.
• Citizenship/Residency: You must be an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident, and currently be a resident of Queensland.
• Age Requirement: All applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
• Lending Requirements: You must possess a minimum 2% deposit in genuine savings, qualify for a mortgage through the approved lender (such as Unity Bank), and show enough borrowing capacity to service the remaining debt.

How Much Deposit Do You Need? (2% Minimums)

Under the QLD shared equity scheme guidelines, your 2% personal deposit is calculated directly from the purchase price. The table below outlines the minimum cash deposits required across common property prices:

Can I Qualify on My Income?

While your income must fall under the maximum thresholds ($150,000 for singles, $225,000 for couples), it must also be sufficient to pass serviceability tests for the mortgage portion. Here is a guide to how different income brackets generally perform:

• Salary of $70,000: Likely eligible. On a single income of $70,000, you are comfortably under the $150,000 limit. You can typically service a mortgage of up to $350,000, meaning you could look at properties in the $450,000 to $500,000 range when leveraging a 30% government contribution.
• Salary of $90,000: Well within single thresholds. Allows you to borrow approximately $450,000. Combined with a 30% shared equity contribution on a new home, this puts a $650,000 property within reach.
• Salary of $120,000: High-capacity single bracket. Under the $150k limit. You can service a larger mortgage (up to $550k–$600k), which allows you to purchase properties up to $800,000 using the shared equity scheme.
• Salary of $150,000: At the maximum limit for single applicants. If your income exceeds $150,000 by even a small amount, you will not qualify for the scheme as a single.
• Couple Earning $200,000 (Combined): Eligible. Combined income is under the $225,000 threshold. With this combined capacity, you will easily qualify to service a mortgage of up to $800,000, allowing you to comfortably buy properties at the maximum $1,000,000 cap of the scheme.

For a more comprehensive look at how bonuses, overtime, allowances, and self-employed income are assessed against these limits, read our detailed Boost to Buy QLD Salary Limits Guide.

Benefits of the shared equity program

Leveraging the Queensland Boost to Buy program offers several structural advantages for first-home buyers:

• Faster Entry into the Market: Saving for a standard 20% deposit on a $700,000 home ($140,000) takes years for middle-income earners. A 2% deposit ($14,000) allows you to purchase a home almost immediately once you have stable income.
• No Lenders Mortgage Insurance: If you buy a home with less than a 20% deposit standardly, banks charge LMI, which can add $15,000 to $30,000 to your loan. Under Boost to Buy, LMI is fully waived.
• Lower Monthly Repayments: Because the government pays up to 30% of the price, your monthly interest expenses and principal mortgage size are smaller, leaving more cash in your monthly budget.

Risks and Critical Considerations

While shared equity helps you buy a home, it is not free money. You must consider the long-term details:

• Proportional Repayment: The government owns a percentage of your property, not a fixed dollar debt. If you buy a property for $700,000 with a 30% government contribution ($210,000) and later sell it for $900,000, you must repay 30% of the sale price ($270,000). The government shares in your capital growth.
• Lender Restrictions: You must borrow from the approved lender partner (such as Unity Bank) and accept their specific mortgage rates and conditions.
• Maintenance and Renovation: You are responsible for 100% of the property rates, maintenance, and insurance costs, even though the government holds an equity stake. Structural renovations may also require approval from QLD Housing.