How much deposit does rent-to-own build?
The contribution is 50% of the first year's market rent, fixed for the term. On a home renting at $650 a week that is $325 a week, or about $118,000 over seven years, credited to your purchase when you switch to a mortgage. Set any home value and year to see yours, then browse rent-to-own homes.
The solid line is the deposit your rent-to-buy contributions have built; the dashed line is 5% of the estimated purchase price, the minimum most lenders look for. Once yours clears it, the question becomes the loan size. A larger deposit means a smaller loan, a lower loan-to-value ratio and, at 20% or more, no lenders mortgage insurance.
What does the deposit calculator assume?
- The contribution is 50% of the first year's market rent, fixed for the term, credited in full to the purchase.
- Market rent is 4.5% of the home value a year for a house.
- The purchase price is the higher of the contracted minimum resale price or an independent valuation; the calculator uses the contracted minimum for the chosen year.
- The 5% benchmark is a common lender minimum; each lender sets its own.
Frequently asked questions
The purchase window runs from year four to year eight, and most homebuyers are expected to buy in years 6, 7 or 8. You switch to a mortgage when you're ready inside that window.
Written by
Property Lead
Licensed agent · Former mortgage broker
I was a mortgage broker before joining PublicSquare, so I look at every property and every purchase the way a lender would. I now lead the property side of the program, helping homebuyers from their first info session through to move-in, and working with our buyers agency team on each acquisition for our investors.
Reviewed by
Founder & CEO
Licensed real estate agent
I started PublicSquare in 2021 to give homebuyers a real path to ownership without a deposit, and investors a stronger-cashflow alternative to a standard rental. I hold real estate licences in Queensland and New South Wales and personally review every property that enters the program.
How this calculator was made
Written by Jarrod Wills (Property Lead) and reviewed for accuracy by Dean Arnold (Founder & CEO) before publishing. Program terms are quoted from PublicSquare's own agreements. We check it again whenever the numbers change; it was last updated 27 September 2026.
For more information, visit our Editorial Guidelines.
Read more about Rent-to-Own.
This calculator is general information only and does not take your personal circumstances into account. PublicSquare is a licensed real estate agency, not a financial adviser or credit provider. Consider seeking independent advice before making a decision.
