Would you rather own 70% of a home today and work towards owning 100%, or wait another 10 years until you can afford to buy without government assistance? In this episode of The First Home Buyers Program Podcast, Maryanne Elliott breaks down Australia's Help to Buy Scheme using two hypothetical first home buyers with very different approaches. One buyer doesn't like the idea of the government having a share in their property, so they decide to keep renting and saving until they can buy completely on their own. The other buyer uses the Help to Buy shared equity scheme to enter the property market sooner, with a long-term strategy to progressively buy back the government's share. So, who could potentially be better off in 5, 10 or even 20 years?In this episode, we cover:How the Help to Buy Scheme works for first home buyersBuying a home with as little as a 2% depositHow the government's 30% or 40% shared equity contribution worksWhy Help to Buy doesn't mean the government has to own part of your home foreverHow buying back the government's equity can work over timeWhat buying the government out in 5% increments could look likeWhy future property values matter when buying back equityThe potential cost of waiting 5 or 10 years to enter the property marketProperty growth and how it can affect both strategiesPaying down your mortgage while your property potentially increases in valueWhat can happen if your income increases after purchasing through Help to BuyThe pros and cons of using shared equity to buy your first homeWhy the lowest deposit isn't always automatically the best strategyThe big question for first home buyersIt's easy to hear the words "government shared equity" and immediately decide the Help to Buy Scheme isn't for you. But before ruling it out, it's worth comparing the alternatives. What could the property you want cost in another 5 or 10 years? How much rent could you pay while you're waiting? How much could you potentially pay off a mortgage during that same period? And could Help to Buy simply be the stepping stone that gets you into your first home sooner? Help to Buy won't be right for every first home buyer. But understanding how it works and comparing the long-term numbers can help you make a much more informed decision. 🎧 Listen now to find out whether buying sooner with Help to Buy or waiting to buy independently could make more sense for you. Need help working out your options?If you're thinking about buying your first home but aren't sure whether Help to Buy, the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, a guarantor, or saving a larger deposit is the best pathway, reach out to 360 Mortgage Solutions. We can look at your individual situation, borrowing capacity and deposit and help you understand the different pathways that may be available to you. Book a free meeting with us here - https://360mortgagesolutions.com.au/ SEO Keywords: Help to Buy Scheme Australia, Help to Buy Scheme 2026, first home buyer Australia, first home buyer Queensland, shared equity scheme Australia, 2% deposit home loan, government shared equity scheme, first home buyer schemes, buying first home with 2% deposit, government home buying assistance, first home buyer mortgage broker, first home buyer home loan, buying your first home Australia, Help to Buy eligibility, first home buyer deposit.This podcast provides general information and education only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Eligibility criteria, property price caps and other conditions apply to government schemes.