Buying a home with a 5% deposit - scheme to offer more spots under 2021 Budget

An additional 10,000 places under the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme (FHLDS) for new builds will become available from July 1 following an announcement made as part of the 2021 Federal Budget.

This is the second allotment of places released under the New Homes Guarantee version of the Federal Government’s FHLDS which will be available to eligible first home buyers specifically looking to build or purchase a new home.

It adds to the previously announced addition of 10,000 places for existing home purchases under the scheme that will also become available from July 1.

The scheme is designed to help first time buyers with low deposits (as low as 5%) purchase property without needing to take out lenders mortgage insurance.

Instead, the government will ‘guarantee’ home loans used for the purchase which can be taken out through 33 participating lenders including major banks like the Commonwealth Bank and NAB as well as a number of customer owned institutions.

“We commend the Government for embedding competition into the successful FHLDS. Ensuring the strong representation and prioritisation of customer owned lenders has led to greater choice and outcomes for consumers,” said COBA chief executive, Michael Lawrence, on the further expansion of the scheme.

Further budget measures for home buyers

In addition to the continuation of the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme, the 2021 Federal Budget will also target home buyers with the rollout of the Family Home Guarantee scheme and a beefed up First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS).

The new Family Home Guarantee initiative is aimed at assisting single parents get into the property market with a home loan deposit as low as 2%.

Like the FHLDS, the Federal Government will play guarantor under the new scheme, allowing eligible applicants to borrow with a deposit under 20% without having to take out lenders mortgage insurance.

An initial 10,000 places will be available under the scheme which will start on July 1, 2021 and run for four years.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg also announced that voluntary super contributions made under the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) would be expanded from the current maximum of $30,000 to $50,000.

The scheme allows prospective first home buyers to save up for a deposit by making voluntary contributions to their superannuation which can then be pulled out later on.

RELATED: Budget 2021: Low and middle income tax breaks expected for another year

For more of a breakdown on the 2021-22 Federal Budget, including the housing measures above, check out the latest episode of The Finance Burrito podcast!

Or if you're on the hunt for your first property then head on over to our first home buyer comparison tables to compare a range of home loan options, or check out some of the hot offers in the table below.