Compare Low Deposit Home Loans & Rates

Low deposit home loans allow you to buy a property with a 5-10% deposit. Compare top rates for low deposit home loans, see potential LMI costs and how to apply.

Compare low deposit home loan rates in Australia

Compare some of the best low deposit home loan rates in Australia. The table is sorted by lowest regular repayment. Use the filters to search for your best low deposit home loan. Read the comparison rate warning*.

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Rates updated 02 October 2024

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Key takeaways: Low deposit home loans

  • A low deposit home loan allows borrowers — commonly first-home buyers — to buy a home with a 5-10% deposit.
  • You may have to pay LMI, unless you apply the Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) or have a guarantor.
  • Low deposit home loans can be more expensive, so speak to your mortgage broker about strategies to minimise those additional costs.

What is a low deposit home loan?

A low-deposit home loan is a mortgage that only requires a 5-10% deposit instead of the typical 20% of the property’s value most lenders require. For many buyers, a low deposit home loan may be their only option to buy property. Commonly, first-home buyers, low-income earners, single parents and self-employed individuals.

For example, it would allow you to buy a $600,000 home with a deposit of just $30,000 (5% of the property’s value) instead of $120,000 (20% of the property’s value).

Buying a home with less than a 20% deposit will result in a loan-to-value ratio (LVR) above 80%. Lenders consider home loans with an LVR above 80% riskier and charge LMI to offset that risk, along with a higher interest rate.

You can avoid LMI on a home loan with a low deposit if you:

Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS)

Apply via the government’s Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) with a participating lender. There’s an income threshold of $125,000 for single applicants and $200,000 for joint applicants.

Guarantor

Have a guarantor who can contribute a portion of their home equity in addition to your cash deposit. This can be a parent or family member.

How your deposit determines your LVR

The size of your deposit determines your LVR. The larger your deposit, the lower your LVR and vice versa. LVR is your loan amount as a percentage of your property's value.

For example, if you have a $120,000 deposit to buy a $600,000 property, you’d need to borrow $480,000 from the bank.

Your LVR is calculated by dividing your loan amount by the property's value:

  • ($480,000 loan ÷ $600,000 property value) x 100 = your LVR is 80%.
  • In other words, you’re borrowing 80% of the property’s value.

What’s the LVR on a low deposit home loan?

A low deposit mortgage can have an LVR of up to 90-95%. In other words, it allows you to borrow up to 90-95% of the property’s value. But, you may pay LMI which is generally included in your loan amount. In this case, interest will be charged on the cost of the LMI.

How much is LMI on a low deposit home loan?

Property value

Home loan with standard 80% LVR

$600,000

Low deposit home loan with 90% LVR

$600,000

Low deposit home loan with 95% LVR

$600,000

Deposit amount

Home loan with standard 80% LVR

$120,000 (20%)

Low deposit home loan with 90% LVR

$60,000 (10%)

Low deposit home loan with 95% LVR

$30,000 (5%)

Loan amount

Home loan with standard 80% LVR

$480,000

Low deposit home loan with 90% LVR

$540,000

Low deposit home loan with 95% LVR

$570,000

LMI cost

Home loan with standard 80% LVR

$0

Low deposit home loan with 90% LVR

$20,351

Low deposit home loan with 95% LVR

$25,015

Home loan with standard 80% LVRLow deposit home loan with 90% LVRLow deposit home loan with 95% LVR

Property value

$600,000

$600,000

$600,000

Deposit amount

$120,000 (20%)

$60,000 (10%)

$30,000 (5%)

Loan amount

$480,000

$540,000

$570,000

LMI cost

$0

$20,351

$25,015

The cost of LMI on a low deposit mortgage can vary between 1-5% of your home loan amount, depending on your LVR. Below are estimated LMI costs for a $600,000 mortgage with LVRs ranging from 80-95% for a first-home buyer in New South Wales. Note: LMI estimations obtained from the St.George calculator. Each lender may calculate LMI differently.

LMI vs large deposit – Which is better?

Many first-home buyers wonder whether buying a home with a low deposit and paying LMI is preferable to delaying their purchase for a few more years until they've saved up a larger deposit. There is no right or wrong answer.

A low deposit home loan can help you buy a property sooner, but generally has higher long-term costs compared to a loan with a 20% deposit. That's because you will have:

A larger loan amount

generally with a higher interest rate (until you’re able to refinance to a lower rate)

LMI capitalised

into the loan (if applicable) which you’ll also pay interest on.

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If you want to buy a home now in case property prices keep rising, you might find the additional costs worth it. Speak to your mortgage broker about strategies to minimise these costs over time (e.g. use an offset account to reduce your payable interest). The main advantage of buying a home sooner is that you can build equity and benefit from capital growth sooner.

How to apply for a low deposit home loan

The minimum eligibility criteria to apply for a low deposit home loan with most lenders include:

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  • Australian citizenship or permanent residency (or you must apply with an Australian citizen or permanent resident)
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  • You must be over 18 years of age
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  • Meet the lender’s minimum income requirements
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  • Have at least a 5% deposit (which you can show you’ve accrued over time)
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  • A good credit score

You can apply for a low deposit home loan online via your lender’s website. Alternatively, your mortgage broker can handle the application on your behalf from start to finish.

You’ll need to notify your lender or mortgage broker if you plan to apply via the Home Guarantee Scheme, or if you have a guarantor as this will require additional documentation.

The lender will conduct a credit check and may grant you pre-approval. This is when a lender agrees in principle to lend you a specified amount. Once you make a formal offer on a home, the lender will order a property valuation, and you can receive unconditional approval.

You’ll receive a loan offer letter outlining the terms and conditions, including the interest rate. Sign the offer if you agree to the terms and send it back to the lender to seal the deal.

Important information

Home loan comparison rates are calculated based on a loan amount of $150,000 repaid over a 25-year term with monthly repayments. The comparison rates only apply to the examples given. Different loan amounts and terms will result in different comparison rates. Costs such as redraw fees or early repayment fees and cost savings such as fee waivers are not included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan. Check with the provider for full loan details, including rates, fees, eligibility and terms and conditions to make sure the product is right for you.

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