Boost to Buy: Expressions of interest open for shared equity scheme offers up to 30% government contribution toward first homes in QLD.
Low deposit: Buyers can register an expression of interest to apply with a 2% deposit, for example $15K on a $750K home.
Income caps of $150K (single) and $225K (couples); home price cap of $1M.
First-home buyers in Queensland have just been given a major leg-up, with a new state government initiative promising to break down the deposit barrier and fast-track ownership for thousands.
Boost to Buy is a new shared equity scheme that will allow eventually eligible Queenslanders to buy a property with just a 2% deposit. Expressions of interest opened on July 1, for individuals earning up to $150,000 and couples earning up to $225,000, looking to buy a home of up to $1 million, opening doors in a market where many have felt priced out.
With property prices on the rise across both metro and regional Queensland, this announcement lands at a pivotal moment for first-home hopefuls. Here’s what you need to know and where the opportunities lie.
Boost to Buy: The fast facts
Government contribution: Up to 30% for new homes, 25% for existing
Minimum deposit: Just 2% (e.g. $15,000 on a $750,000 home)
Eligibility: Singles earning up to $150,000; couples up to $225,000
Home price cap: Up to $1 million
Expressions of interest opened: 1 July 2025
Funding: $165 million, supporting up to 1,000 homes
The government takes an equity stake. Upon selling or refinancing, buyers must repay their share - plus any changes in valuation - potentially limiting future capital gains.
With one of the lowest deposit thresholds in the country, Queensland’s, once it moves out of the expression of interest phase, the Boost to Buy program will be one of the most generous state-based shared equity scheme in Australia.
“This is about helping Queenslanders who don’t have the bank of mum and dad,” said Premier David Crisafulli. “We’re waking Queensland up from the nightmare of Labor’s housing crisis, and giving people a real shot at owning a home.”
Stamp Duty? Also scrapped for first-home buyers
Boost to Buy isn’t the only policy in play. First-home buyers in Queensland can also access:
The $30,000 First Home Owner Grant (on new builds)
Stamp duty exemptions for eligible buyers
Government-backed shared equity through Boost to Buy
That means fewer upfront costs and a much faster path to the front door, particularly in areas with strong value growth like Logan Central, Crestmead, and Kingston.
“We hear it all the time, people want to get in, but the deposit is the hurdle,” said Chris Gordon, Aussie Franchisee in Browns Plains. “Now, 2% is all it takes and there’s growth potential in these suburbs too.”
You might also be interested in: Queensland’s $30K First Home Buyer Grant & stamp duty changes
Extended First Home Owner Grant
The First Home Owner Grant has been extended until June 30, 2026, offering $30,000 to eligible buyers or builders of new homes. To qualify, contracts must be signed between November 20, 2023, and June 30, 2026, with the total value of the home and land not exceeding $750,000.
The announcement comes as Queensland’s property market powers through another growth cycle, with double-digit gains across both houses and units.
According to Cotality and SQM Research (April 2025), prices are rising across the board:
Metric | Metro QLD | Regional QLD |
|---|---|---|
Median house price | $1.173M | $901K |
Median unit price | $711K | $649K |
Annual growth (Houses) | +11.3% | +13.8% |
Annual growth (Units) | +18.5% | +14.3% |
Rental yield (Houses) | 3.0% | 3.9% |
Rental yield (Units) | 4.1% | 4.9% |
Strong internal migration, job creation in regional hubs, relative affordability compared to southern capitals, and now, a government push to get more Queenslanders into their own homes.
With prices rising and rents tightening, QLD’s new Boost to Buy scheme offers a lifeline to first-time buyers locked out by deposit requirements.
Expressions of interest will open on July 1 for individuals earning up to $150,000 and couples earning up to $225,000 to purchase homes of up to $1 million.
