Serving in the ADF and thinking about buying a home? In this episode, Vincent Turner chats with Jake Wood from UNO Home Loans about the Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme (DHOAS). They unpack who qualifies, how the subsidies work, which lenders are involved, and why it can make a huge difference for defence families planning their financial future.

Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme Explained

Thinking about buying a home while serving in the Australian Defence Force? In this episode of the UNO podcast, Vincent Turner sits down with Jake Wood, Principal Broker at UNO Home Loans, to unpack the Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme (DHOAS). Jake shares his first-hand experience helping ADF members use the scheme to reduce their loan costs, what the tiers mean, and how it can change property strategies for defence families.

The Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme (DHOAS) is an interest rate subsidy provided by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Instead of helping with a deposit like other government schemes, DHOAS reduces the interest paid on a home loan. Subsidy amounts depend on service time, with tiers starting at two years of permanent service or four years of reserve service.

For example, Tier 1 covers interest on up to $396,965 of a loan, equating to a subsidy of around $526 per month. Higher tiers, available after longer service periods, increase the amount of loan eligible for subsidisation.

For Defence members, housing affordability isn’t just about saving for a deposit — income assessment and long-term repayments can be big barriers. DHOAS tackles this by lowering ongoing interest costs, making home ownership more sustainable over the life of the loan. Used alongside other programs like the First Home Guarantee, it can mean entering the market with a 5% deposit and avoiding LMI while still getting long-term repayment support.

Eligibility requires:

• At least 2 years’ continuous permanent service or 4 years in the reserves.

• Applying directly through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

• Using one of the participating lenders: NAB, Defence Bank, or Australian Military Bank.

Applicants should also prepare standard home loan documents and work with a broker familiar with the scheme to streamline the process.

Common pitfalls include:

• Applying through lenders who don’t account properly for Defence pensions (DVA or CSC), which can reduce borrowing power.

• Misunderstanding subsidy tiers and how much of the loan balance is covered.

• Assuming the scheme applies to investment properties — it only covers owner-occupied homes.

Working with the right lender and broker helps avoid these traps.

DHOAS is designed for ADF members planning to buy and live in their own home. Couples where both partners serve can even combine subsidies for greater benefit. However, it won’t suit those focused on investment strategies or unwilling to work within the three participating lenders’ policies.

The Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme is a unique and generous program that can significantly reduce housing costs for service members. But like all government initiatives, the details matter — understanding tiers, eligibility, and lender restrictions is key. For anyone serving in the ADF, it’s well worth running the numbers with a broker who knows the scheme.

• DHOAS reduces interest costs on home loans, not deposits.

• Eligibility starts at 2 years permanent or 4 years reserve service.

• Subsidies begin at ~$526 per month on ~$396k of loan balance.

• Only NAB, Defence Bank, and Australian Military Bank support DHOAS.

• Best suited for ADF members buying owner-occupied homes.

Jake Wood can help you with:

• Understanding your eligibility for DHOAS and other schemes.

• Running the numbers to see how subsidies affect your repayments.

• Structuring your home loan with the right lender to maximise benefits.

👉🏼 Book a chat with Jake to explore your Defence home ownership options. Google 'Jake Wood Mortgage Broker'

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