Government schemes reshape the path to home ownership
The Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA’s) latest Financial Stability Review confirms what many first home buyers already know: government schemes are genuinely changing the path to ownership.
As the chart shows, since the expanded 5% Deposit Scheme came into effect in October 2025, the share of high loan-to-value borrowing has risen notably, meaning more buyers are entering the market with a 5% deposit rather than waiting years to save a full 20%.
The RBA notes the scheme has seen strong participation, and that first home buyers have historically experienced more favourable labour market outcomes than other borrowers.
The average first home buyer loan is now at a record $607,000, and another RBA rate rise in May would add around $100 a month to repayments. But for buyers who understand how to structure their finance – and which schemes they're eligible for – the housing market remains more accessible than some headlines suggest.
About the author – Alex Veljancevski is a Sydney Mortgage Broker with Eventus Financial, which assists first home buyers, investors, upgraders and borrowers seeking to refinance to a better deal on their home loan.