Nearly 1,500 properties bought using Australia’s first home buyers' 5% deposit scheme converted into investments

<p>New data shows the federal government scheme has been used by high-income borrowers, including one couple earning an annual $674,000</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>The government’s 5% deposit scheme for first home buyers has enabled the purchase of nearly 1,500 properties that were turned into investments, new data shows.</p><p>The scheme is also helping hundreds of Australians earning more than $300,000 a year, after Labor stopped excluding high-income borrowers.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/06/first-home-buyers-deposit-scheme-investment-property">Continue reading...</a>