Reservists & First Home Buying: Can You Use DHOAS? (2026)

By Chaice Paterson, CEO & Founder, Low Deposit Homes | Updated June 2026

If you serve in the Reserves and you’re buying your first home, here’s the headline: you can access DHOAS — the same three tiers as permanent members — you just need to complete more service to qualify. The qualifying period for Reservists is four years of effective Reserve service (versus two years for permanent members), and the tier milestones are longer too. What’s also worth knowing is what you don’t get: HPAS is for permanent members only, so Reservists aren’t eligible for that one-off payment. But DHOAS plus the full civilian first home buyer stack still puts a Reservist in a strong position. Here’s exactly how it works. Low Deposit Homes builds across Queensland and Victoria and helps Reservists buy their first home.

Can Reservists get DHOAS?

Yes. Reserve service counts toward DHOAS, and Reservists can access the same Tier 1, 2 and 3 entitlements as permanent members — the difference is the service required. For a Reservist, “effective service” generally means completing at least 20 days of paid service in a financial year. The service milestones are:

Tier	Reserve service required	Subsidised loan limit (2025–26)
Tier 1	4 years	$413,690
Tier 2	8 years	$620,535
Tier 3	12 years	$827,380

(For comparison, permanent members reach the same tiers at 2, 4 and 8 years.) Your subsidy is calculated the same way as for anyone — on your loan balance up to your tier’s limit, with the monthly dollar figure moving with interest rates.

What Reservists don’t get — and what that means

HPAS (the one-off $16,949 payment) is for permanent ADF members only — Reservists aren’t eligible. That’s an honest limitation worth planning around: a Reservist’s Defence-specific help comes through DHOAS (the ongoing subsidy), not the upfront HPAS lump sum. HPSEA, similarly, is tied to posting-driven relocation, which is a permanent-member dynamic.

But here’s the thing — the civilian first home buyer stack is identical for everyone, and that’s where most of the upfront help lives anyway:
– 5% Deposit Scheme — 5% deposit, no LMI
– First Home Owner Grant — $30,000 QLD (→ $15,000 from 1 July 2026) / $10,000 VIC, under $750,000
– Stamp duty exemption — $0 in Queensland on a new build; Victorian exemption under the threshold
– First Home Super Saver Scheme — up to $50,000 of voluntary super

So a Reservist buying their first home uses the same powerful civilian stack as any first home buyer, with DHOAS added on top as an ongoing subsidy once qualified. The absence of HPAS doesn’t change the entry cost much — the 5% Scheme and the grant do the heavy lifting there.

How Low Deposit Homes helps Reservists

We map your civilian stack and your DHOAS position (including whether you’ve hit the qualifying period and which tier you’re on), arrange your full bank approval before you commit to a package, and link you up with the banks or brokers — including defence-savvy lenders across DHOAS — who’ll handle your application. Then we match you to a new-build package across Queensland or Victoria. Book a 15-minute call.

Frequently asked questions

Can Reservists use DHOAS? Yes — the same three tiers as permanent members, but with longer service requirements (4 years for Tier 1, 8 for Tier 2, 12 for Tier 3, based on effective Reserve service).

Do Reservists get HPAS? No — HPAS is for permanent ADF members only. Reservists access DHOAS and the full civilian first home buyer stack instead.

What counts as effective Reserve service for DHOAS? Generally completing at least 20 days of paid service in a financial year. Confirm your specific service credit with DVA.

Can I still get the First Home Owner Grant as a Reservist? Yes — the civilian first home buyer schemes don’t depend on your service type. If you qualify as a first home buyer, they apply.

I’ve done 4 years in the Reserves — am I eligible now? That meets the Tier 1 qualifying period, but your exact entitlement depends on your service record — confirm with DVA, and we’ll build the civilian stack around it.

Start your Reservist first home plan

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Related Defence guides

Low Deposit Homes operates under Winning Homes Australia Pty Ltd (ACN 633 321 758). Figures illustrative, current as at June 2026; DHOAS values move with rates, entitlement varies by service. General information only, not financial or credit advice. Confirm entitlements with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.