Being a single parent does not mean homeownership is out of reach. The Family Home aim to achieve lets you buy with as little as 2% deposit and zero LMI. Combined with other grants and the right lending strategy, we have helped single mums across Sydney purchase homes they thought were impossible.
📅 Book Free Consultation 📞 02 8046 3933The Family Home aim to achieve is a federal government scheme specifically designed for single parents. It allows you to purchase a property with as little as a 2% deposit — and the government aims to achieve up to 18% of the property value to the lender, meaning you pay zero Lenders Mortgage Insurance.
On a $600,000 property, your deposit is just $12,000 — plus approximately $12,000 in purchase costs. Total cash needed: ~$24,000.
LMI at 98% LVR would normally cost $35,000-$45,000. With the Family Home aim to achieve, you pay nothing.
In Sydney, you can purchase a property valued up to $900,000 under the scheme — covering most apartments and many houses in Western and South West Sydney.
Unlike the First Home aim to achieve, the Family Home aim to achieve is available to both first home buyers AND previous homeowners. You can use it even if you've owned property before.
💡 Key eligibility: You must be a single parent with at least one dependent child. There are income thresholds — currently $125,000 for singles. You must intend to live in the property as your principal residence. Places are limited and released each financial year. We monitor availability and can tell you instantly whether places remain.
Single parent? Let's check what you qualify for
Family Home aim to achieve, stamp duty exemptions, FHOG — we'll assess everything in your first free session.
Check My Eligibility — Free →Single parent income is often more complex than a simple salary. The good news is that most lenders will count several income sources beyond your base pay:
Your salary or wages are the foundation. If you work part-time, lenders assess your actual part-time earnings. If you receive regular overtime, shift penalties, or allowances, some lenders will include these, we find the one that counts the most.
Most lenders accept Family Tax Benefit as assessable income. Depending on the number and ages of your children, FTB can add $5,000 to $20,000 or more per year to your assessable income. This meaningfully increases your borrowing power.
Consistent child support payments — typically received for at least 3 to 6 months — are accepted by many lenders as ongoing income. If you receive $500 per fortnight in child support, that is $13,000 per year added to your assessed income.
Centrelink Parenting Payment (Single) is accepted by some lenders as income, though not all. We know which lenders are most favourable for Centrelink-reliant borrowers.
If you own an existing property that generates rental income, this is added to your assessable income at typically 80% of the gross rent.
Borrowing capacity depends on your total assessable income, existing debts, and living expenses. Here are some indicative examples:
Assessable income: $77K
Approx borrowing: $400K-$450K
Assessable income: $108K
Approx borrowing: $550K-$620K
Assessable income: $105K
Approx borrowing: $530K-$600K
Assessable income: $118K
Approx borrowing: $600K-$680K
These are indicative only, every lender calculates differently, and the variation can be $50,000 to $100,000. We compare all 50+ lenders on our panel to find the one that maximises your capacity.
As a single parent, you may be eligible for multiple government schemes simultaneously. Here is how they can stack:
💡 Example — Sarah, single mum, one child, earning $85,000, first home buyer:
Family Home aim to achieve: 2% deposit, no LMI (saves ~$35,000)
Stamp duty exemption: Zero stamp duty on purchase under $800,000 (saves ~$25,000)
First Home Owner Grant: $10,000 if purchasing a new build under $750,000
Total government benefit: up to $70,000 in savings and grants.
On a $650,000 apartment, Sarah needs approximately $13,000 deposit + $12,000 in costs = $25,000 total. With the $10,000 FHOG on a new build, her cash needed drops to $15,000.
Tanya, a 34-year-old single mum with two children, was working as a registered nurse at Westmead Hospital earning $88,000 including shift penalties. She received $16,000 per year in Family Tax Benefit and $10,400 per year in child support.
Her total assessable income was $114,400. She had $22,000 in savings — nowhere near a 20% deposit on anything in Sydney.
We secured her a place under the Family Home aim to achieve. With a 2% deposit ($12,600) on a $630,000 three-bedroom townhouse in Penrith, she paid zero LMI (saving $34,000), zero stamp duty as a first home buyer (saving $24,000), and kept $9,400 as a cash buffer in her offset account.
Her monthly repayments of $3,850 were comparable to what she had been paying in rent for a smaller two-bedroom apartment — but now she was building equity in her own home.
You deserve a home for your family
We've helped dozens of single parents buy homes across Sydney. Free, no-pressure consultation.
Book Free Consultation →The most popular suburbs for single parent purchasers from our client base include:
Penrith, Parramatta — houses and townhouses under $800K, strong schools, family infrastructure
Ashfield, Dulwich Hill, Marrickville — apartments under $700K with stamp duty exemption
Maroubra — beachside apartments from $650K, family-friendly, Eastern Suburbs schools
Absolutely. Single parents buy homes every day. The Family Home aim to achieve allows you to buy with just 2% deposit and no LMI on properties up to $900,000 in Sydney.
Under the Family Home aim to achieve, just 2% — that's $12,000 on a $600,000 property. Without the scheme, 5% deposit is the minimum with LMI, or 20% to avoid LMI entirely.
Yes — most lenders accept FTB Parts A and B as assessable income. This can add $5,000 to $20,000+ per year to your assessed income depending on the number and ages of your children.
Yes, if received consistently for at least 3-6 months. Most lenders accept child support as ongoing income. We advise on documentation requirements.
No — the Family Home aim to achieve is available to both first home buyers AND previous homeowners. This is one of its biggest advantages over other government schemes.
Yes. Post-separation purchases are common. If your property settlement is finalised, you are free to purchase independently. If it is not yet finalised, we can advise on timing and lender requirements.
John Pierre Saliba
Mortgage Broker & Director — Lend & Loan
MFAA accredited, 10+ years' experience, 77 five-star Google reviews. We believe every family deserves a home — and we work hard to make it happen regardless of your circumstances. Australian Credit Licence 511092.
Free consultation. We'll check your eligibility for the Family Home aim to achieve, calculate your borrowing power, and map out a clear path to homeownership. No obligation.
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