Episode 11 | Unlocking Shared Equity Schemes: What First Home Buyers Need to Know

Shared equity schemes are becoming more common across Australia, offering first home buyers the chance to purchase with a smaller deposit and lower repayments. But what do they actually mean for your long-term wealth and ownership?

In this episode, Jack Elliott and Chris Bates explain how shared equity works, where the government or another partner contributes a percentage of the purchase, and what that really means for buyers over time. They break down the benefits, risks, and key trade-offs compared to alternatives like the First Home Guarantee.

You’ll learn about the obligations while you’re in a scheme, the exit pathways to remove government ownership, and who this option may suit best.

This episode gives a general overview of shared equity. Each state has its own version (and not every state offers one), so over the coming weeks we’ll dive deeper into the state-based schemes to help you understand what applies where you’re buying.

In this episode:

🔑 What shared equity schemes are and how they work

🔑 The benefits, risks, and common traps to avoid

🔑 Your obligations while using a shared equity scheme

🔑 Exit pathways to remove government ownership

🔑 How shared equity compares to the First Home Guarantee and other options

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction: What are shared equity schemes?

01:53 – What to expect in this episode

03:17 – Before you buy: should you use shared equity?

06:18 – Why choose shared equity instead of the First Home Guarantee?

08:04 – Living with shared equity: rules and restrictions

09:55 – Ongoing reviews, renovation approvals, and refinancing limits

11:05 – Removing shared equity: how do you buy back or exit?

14:18 – The impact on equity and upgrading in the future

15:57 – Final thoughts: is shared equity worth it?

Unlock your Free Resources 

Shared Equity Scheme Resource

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