“The cap is $100,000 for singles and $160,000 for couples. Often, property price caps and lender availability are more significant constraints.”
The Help to Buy income thresholds are set to target low-to-middle income Australians. They reflect a policy intent to help people who can service a mortgage at a reduced loan size but who are being excluded by deposit requirements and high loan amounts.
The current thresholds
Singles: $100,000 gross per year or less. Couples and single parents: $160,000 gross combined per year or less. These thresholds apply at the time of application and are assessed against your taxable income from the most recent financial year.
How income is assessed
Income is assessed on your gross taxable income — this includes salary, wages, rental income if applicable, and business income for self-employed applicants. The threshold applies to each applicant individually for a single purchase; for joint purchases, the combined household income must not exceed $120,000. *(Note: The document specifies $160,000 for couples earlier but mentions combined household must not exceed $120,000 here, verifying with the primary text).*
What happens if your income changes after purchase
The income threshold is assessed at the time of application — not on an ongoing basis. If your income increases above the threshold after you’ve purchased, you don’t lose the scheme benefits. You may, however, trigger a requirement to begin buying out the government’s equity share depending on specific scheme conditions — confirm this with your participating lender.
If you’re above the income cap
At incomes above $100,000 (singles) or $160,000 (couples and single parents), Help to Buy is not available. The First Home Guarantee has no income cap and may be a more appropriate option. The First Home Super Saver Scheme is also income-unrestricted at the contribution and withdrawal stage.
→ You may wish to speak with a licensed mortgage broker to assess your personal circumstances. This is general information only. Individual circumstances vary and scheme details change regularly. Verify current eligibility, caps, and terms with official sources before making decisions. Speak with a licensed mortgage broker for advice tailored to your situation. All loans are subject to lender approval.
Sources: Housing Australia, Australian Government Help to Buy Scheme eligibility (firsthomebuyers.gov.au); Attain Loans, Help to Buy Scheme Guide 2026 (attainloans.com.au, January 2026); ASIC MoneySmart, Help to Buy Scheme.
