Help to Buy Scheme in Logan, QLD, The 2026 Guide
If a 40% equity contribution from the federal government sounds too good to be true, it is worth understanding why it is not. Help to Buy launched in December 2025 and it is the most significant first-home buyer pathway to open in years - the government co-owns a share of your property, which means you borrow less, pay less in interest, and avoid LMI on a deposit as low as 2%.
The scheme is open in Logan, QLD right now, and it covers every suburb in the City of Logan under the Greater Brisbane capital-city price cap of $1,000,000. That cap sits comfortably above the house median in most Logan suburbs, so the scheme is genuinely accessible here - not a theoretical benefit that applies only to unit buyers. CoreLogic data shows house medians from $720,000 in Logan Central to $880,000 in Browns Plains, putting a wide range of Logan homes within reach on a 2% deposit.
Our team helps first home buyers across Logan, QLD navigate the scheme conditions, compare participating lenders and structure an application that holds up. The first home loan side of it moves quickly once the income and price pieces are confirmed - and getting both right before you apply is where the difference is made.
Key takeaways
- Help to Buy lets eligible buyers purchase with a 2% deposit and no LMI.
- Income caps are $103,000 single and $165,000 joint, indexed from 1 July 2026.
- The price cap for all Logan suburbs is $1,000,000 under the Greater Brisbane rate.
What is the Help to Buy scheme, and does it apply in Logan?
Help to Buy is a federal shared-equity scheme where the government contributes up to 40% of the purchase price on a new home, or up to 30% on an existing home, in exchange for a proportional ownership share. You buy the property, live in it, and over time you can buy back the government's share at market value. The scheme launched on 5 December 2025 and is administered through Housing Australia, with CommBank and Bank Australia as the two participating lenders as at mid-2026.
Logan sits entirely within the Greater Brisbane GCCSA, so the capital-city price cap of $1,000,000 applies uniformly across all 45 approved suburbs - from Woodridge to Yarrabilba. That is the same cap as the First Home Guarantee, and it means the scheme is not restricted to cheaper suburbs or units here.
Most buyers who come in asking about Help to Buy have already seen the headline numbers and are excited - rightly so. Where it gets complicated is the income cap, which is assessed on last year's ATO Notice of Assessment, not your current salary. If you've had a pay rise or changed roles, your assessment year may not reflect where you actually sit.
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Who qualifies for Help to Buy in Logan, QLD?
The scheme targets first home buyers on moderate incomes who can service a loan but cannot build a large deposit. The income cap is $103,000 gross per year for a single applicant and $165,000 for a joint application or a single parent - these figures are wage-indexed each 1 July and were updated from the original launch figures of $100,000 and $160,000 on 1 July 2026. Your income is assessed on the ATO Notice of Assessment for the previous financial year.
What you need to meet the eligibility criteria:
- › Citizenship: Australian citizens only. Permanent residents are not eligible for Help to Buy, unlike the First Home Guarantee.
- › First home buyer status: you must not have previously owned or co-owned residential property in Australia.
- › Income cap:$103,000 single or $165,000 joint, based on your most recent ATO assessment - not your current pay.
- › Minimum deposit: 2% of the purchase price, from genuine savings.
- › Owner-occupier intent: you must live in the property - it cannot be used as an investment.
- › Participating lender: the loan must be through CommBank or Bank Australia, the two approved lenders as at mid-2026.
Source: Housing Australia and firsthomebuyers.gov.au, verified 11 September 2026.
What government schemes can first home buyers in Logan stack with Help to Buy?
Help to Buy cannot be combined with another Commonwealth home-ownership scheme or a state shared-equity loan - so if you are in Help to Buy, you are not simultaneously in the First Home Guarantee or Queensland's Boost to Buy. However, state grants and duty concessions remain fully available alongside it.
The pathways worth understanding:
- › Queensland First Home Owner Grant:$30,000 on a new home valued under $750,000, no income test. Available alongside Help to Buy on an eligible new build.
- › Transfer duty concession:$0 duty on a new home (no price cap from 1 May 2025), or $0 on an established home up to $700,000, with a partial concession to $800,000. Citizens and permanent residents from 1 August 2026.
- › First Home Guarantee (alternative path): 5% deposit, no LMI, no income test, $1,000,000 price cap in Logan. Not combinable with Help to Buy - choose one pathway.
- › Queensland Boost to Buy (state shared equity): up to 30% equity on a new home, income cap $150,000 single. SEQ allocations were constrained after Round 1 - confirm current availability before treating this as an alternative.
The $30,000 FHOG plus a $0 duty outcome on an eligible new Logan build is a strong combination with Help to Buy, particularly for buyers whose income sits at or below the cap.
Source: Queensland Revenue Office and Housing Australia, verified 11 September 2026.
How much can first home buyers borrow under Help to Buy in Logan, QLD?
Your borrowing amount is the gap between your 2% deposit and the purchase price, less the government's equity contribution. On a new home, the government takes up to 40%, so if you are buying at $700,000 with a $14,000 deposit, you are borrowing roughly $406,000 rather than $686,000 - a meaningful reduction in repayments and in interest paid over the life of the loan.
CoreLogic data shows most Logan suburbs within the scheme's reach. House medians range from $720,000 at Logan Central and $740,000 at Woodridge - both well under the cap - through to $880,000 at Browns Plains and $885,000 at Waterford, where the scheme still applies. Suburbs like Marsden, Beenleigh and Kingston sit in the $746,000 to $771,000 range, making them a practical starting point for buyers working with a 2% deposit and an income near the cap.
One condition worth noting: the price caps are not indexed. They are set by separate policy decision, and the income caps move each 1 July. If a suburb's median creeps above $1,000,000, the scheme no longer applies there - check before you commit to a suburb rather than after.
Source: CoreLogic (via YIP, mid-2026) and Housing Australia.
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How does Help to Buy actually work once you are approved?
Housing Australia holds its equity share as a registered interest on the title. You own the property and have full use of it, but the government owns a proportional share - up to 40% on a new home, up to 30% on an existing one. You pay no rent on that share and the government does not receive an income stream from it.
Buying back the government's share
You can buy back the government's share in tranches at market value, at a time of your choosing. There is no compulsory buyback schedule, so you are not forced to refinance on a fixed timeline. When you eventually sell, the government receives its proportional share of the sale proceeds - which means if the property grows in value, so does the government's return.
What the scheme does not cover
Help to Buy does not cover stamp duty, conveyancing, building and pest inspections or lenders mortgage insurance. On an established home you are also subject to Queensland's transfer duty concession thresholds - $0 up to $700,000, with a partial concession tapering to $800,000. Above $800,000 on an established home, full transfer duty applies even within the scheme. Use the Queensland Revenue Office transfer duty calculator for your exact figure before you sign a contract.
When does Help to Buy not make sense for Logan buyers?
The scheme has a narrow participating-lender panel - CommBank and Bank Australia as at mid-2026. If your situation involves a complex income structure, a credit file with some history, or a property type those lenders prefer not to hold, the scheme may close off rather than open up your options. A buyer with a straightforward income who can access the First Home Guarantee on a 5% deposit may find more lender flexibility through that pathway, even though the government's equity contribution is smaller.
The income cap is also assessed backwards, not forwards. If your income in the 2024–25 financial year sat under the threshold but you have since received a promotion that pushes you above it, you may pass this year's assessment - but you will be in the scheme with a loan structure that does not suit a higher-income trajectory. Buying back the government's share later at a higher property value can cost more than the benefit you received at entry. For buyers whose income is rising quickly, the First Home Guarantee and a 5% deposit is usually the cleaner path - you own 100% of the upside from day one.
Where we'd lean toward Help to Buy over the First Home Guarantee is when the borrowing capacity is genuinely tight - not just the deposit. A 40% government equity contribution means a materially smaller loan, which changes the serviceability picture more than any rate difference can. For buyers close to the income cap with dependants, that reduction in debt is what makes the application work.
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How do you apply for Help to Buy in Logan, QLD - step by step
The application runs through a participating lender, not directly through Housing Australia. The lender assesses your eligibility for the scheme alongside your loan application, so the two processes run together rather than sequentially.
Step 1: Talk to us
We confirm whether your income, deposit and property type make Help to Buy the right pathway - or whether the First Home Guarantee or another structure serves you better before you approach any lender.
Step 2: Confirm your eligibility and gather your documents
Your most recent ATO Notice of Assessment, two recent payslips, evidence of your 2% deposit savings and proof of citizenship are the core documents - we go through the full list with you so nothing holds up the application.
Step 3: Apply through the participating lender
We submit your loan application through the appropriate participating lender with the Help to Buy flag, and Housing Australia assesses the scheme eligibility in parallel with the lender's credit assessment.
Step 4: Approval, contract and settlement
Once both the lender and Housing Australia approve your application, you exchange contracts with the seller and proceed to settlement. The government's equity share is registered on title at that point.
What approval challenges do Help to Buy applicants face?
The hurdles most buyers encounter:
- › Income assessment timing: your previous year's ATO Notice of Assessment may not reflect your current income - a pay rise, a new job or a bonus year can push you over or under the threshold depending on timing.
- › Narrow lender panel: only two lenders participate as at mid-2026. If your credit profile or property type does not suit those two, Help to Buy is not accessible - the First Home Guarantee's broader lender field may be the better fit.
- › Genuine savings requirement: your 2% deposit must be genuine savings, not a gifted deposit. Lenders define genuine savings strictly - typically at least three months held in your own account.
- › Citizenship only: permanent residents are excluded. Buyers who have recently become citizens, or are waiting on citizenship, cannot access the scheme in the interim.
- › Place limits: 10,000 places are available nationally for 2026–27. Applications are assessed on a first-come basis through the participating lenders, so there is a practical urgency to getting your paperwork in order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Help to Buy to buy an established home in Logan?
Yes, the scheme covers established homes in Logan up to $1,000,000, with the government contributing up to 30% equity. A new home receives up to 40%, making new builds the more generous pathway where the price sits under $750,000 for the FHOG as well.
What happens if the property value rises after I buy through Help to Buy?
The government's equity share rises in proportion to the property's value. When you sell or buy back the share, the government receives its percentage of the higher sale price - not the original figure.
Can I combine Help to Buy with the Queensland First Home Owner Grant?
Yes. The $30,000 FHOG on a new home valued under $750,000 is still available alongside Help to Buy. The two schemes are compatible because the FHOG is a state grant, not a Commonwealth home-ownership scheme.
Is Help to Buy better than the First Home Guarantee for Logan buyers?
For buyers with tight serviceability, Help to Buy's larger equity contribution reduces the loan size more significantly. For buyers with rising incomes or broader lender needs, the First Home Guarantee's wider panel and 100% ownership from day one is usually the cleaner path.
What is the income cap for Help to Buy in 2026?
From 1 July 2026, the cap is $103,000 for a single applicant and $165,000 for a joint application or a single parent. These figures replaced the original launch caps and are wage-indexed each 1 July.
Is a mortgage broker better than going directly to a participating lender for Help to Buy?
A mortgage broker, every time. There are only two participating lenders, and knowing which one suits your income type, deposit source and property before you apply avoids a decline that sits on your credit file and delays your next attempt.
Your Next Steps
Help to Buy is a genuine opportunity for Logan buyers on moderate incomes - the equity contribution reduces your loan size in a way that changes the serviceability maths, not just the deposit hurdle. Getting the income assessment, deposit evidence and lender selection right before you apply is what turns an eligible buyer into an approved one.
The right pathway - Help to Buy, the First Home Guarantee, or a combination with the FHOG and duty concession - depends on your income, timeline and the property you are targeting. Talk to the Cube Loans team or call 1800 774 756, and we'll compare your options across 60+ lenders to find what works for your situation.
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External Resources
Cube Loans, Loganholme and Logan, QLD, Cube Central Pty Ltd, Credit Representative 472851, authorised under Australian Credit Licence 517192, General information only - this article does not constitute financial advice. Please consider your own circumstances and seek professional advice before making any financial decisions.
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