New ‘lay-by’ scheme offers first home buyers a path onto the property ladder

A new initiative launching in early 2026 will introduce a ‘lay-by’ style passage for buyers to get into the property market.

First home buyers who struggle with massive mortgages will be able to invest just $50 a week in a revolutionary property scheme that promises to unlock home ownership dreams.

The new initiative launching in early 2026 will introduce a ‘lay-by’ style passage that allows small groups to invest in a property owned by a unit trust and later ‘cash out’ the capital growth to fund a deposit.

6 Buckingham Rd, Maudsland sold for $1.73m.

235 Morala Ave, Runaway Bay recently sold for $3.125m.

It comes as the latest PropTrack Home Price Index revealed first home buyers were being priced out of the market as national home values hit a new record high in November, increasing 8.7 per cent over 12 months to $873,000.

The Home Layby Plan, developed by Saviour Financial Services, was designed to help buyers who can manage weekly contributions but struggle to save a deposit or service a large mortgage under existing government assistance schemes.

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27 Cumberland Chase, Hampton Park recently sold for $680,000.

Saviour Financial Services founder Vincent Scali.

Saviour Financial Services founder Vincent Scali said the structure was created to address the gap between what first home buyers were able to save and what they could realistically borrow.

“Home Layby Plan is a stepping stone for people who can’t service a full mortgage,” Mr Scali said.

“Instead of trying to save tens of thousands of dollars on their own, they can contribute a manageable weekly amount, benefit from capital growth and then sell their share when they’re ready to buy their first home.

“Alternatively, parents can help their children into home ownership by investing on their behalf, without having to risk the family home by going guarantor on a loan. The parents can potentially get a tax deduction through negative gearing, while the children get the capital growth.”

12 Kitava Street, Trinity Beach recently sold for $900,000.

Under the Home Layby Plan, groups of four or five contribute modest amounts – which may be as little as $50 a week for some – towards the purchase of an investment property held in a unit trust, which is geared to a loan-to-value ratio of 50 to 60 per cent.

Each participant becomes a unitholder in the trust and can later choose to sell their unit – ideally once the property has risen in value – and use those funds as a deposit for their own home.

55 Dickson Street, Newtown sold for $2.475m.

Parents can also invest on behalf of their children, providing an alternative version of the

bank of mum and dad.

When participants decide to exit, their unit is first offered to existing unitholders and if not taken up, Saviour Financial Services will buy it back within 60 days at market value.

Under the Home Layby Plan, groups of four or five contribute modest amounts towards the purchase of an investment property held in a unit trust.

Mr Scali said the model also offered an alternative for buyers who may qualify for the federal

government’s 5 per cent deposit scheme on paper but cannot meet serviceability requirements.

“The reality is that many people can save a 5 per cent deposit but can’t service a 95 per cent mortgage at today’s prices,” he said.

“Also, when you have such a large mortgage, it’s hard to find the disposable income needed to pay for council rates, water, sewerage, home insurance, home maintenance and emergency levies.

“Home Layby Plan lets them build equity without taking on the immediate costs of ownership.”

The Home Layby Plan will launch in 2026.

Participants must be working, although there is no minimum income threshold.

The properties acquired under the program will be freestanding homes or townhouses in

identified growth locations.

The initiative will launch in South Australia before expanding to other states.

“A house is built one brick at a time, and saving a deposit can follow the same principle,” Mr Scali said.

“Home Layby Plan gives people a practical way to share in capital growth earlier and move towards ownership at a pace they can afford.”

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