What I Do
Hi, I’m Vicki Mitchell-Taylor. Here’s a little bit about me. I have been a mortgage broker for over 20 years, and I specialise in helping women have stability of residence. As a mortgage broker, I have seen many, many women believe that they can not own their own home, particularly by themselves. The reality of it is that you can own your own home. It may not be a castle but it will be yours.
I am on my 3rd marriage now. This has lasted 30 years, I think I figured it out finally. This should also tell you that I have had two failed marriages. I know what it’s like to be a single parent with little income and even less hope that the future could be bright. When a marriage breaks up, everything falls apart Not just the relationship but your financial situation. I had three children. I had owned a house, but it was lost due to the marriage breakup. So renting again was challenging and I certainly wasn’t living in a place that I wanted to stay.
I understand the emotional trauma you go through at this point in time. It’s hard enough to get through each day without also losing your home. If you have children as well, the last thing you want to do is upset them more. So sometimes the ability to keep your own home is the best one for you. Sometimes you just want to get right out of it. Start a New Life.
The reason I do what I do is that I would have loved somebody to have advised me of the best way to move forward. Someone who could have given me some hope instead of me feeling like it was the end of the world. I love helping people who don’t think they have that option.
I have also built houses several times So I understand that if you want to take advantage of the schemes that are available we have the perfect way to do it.
I have also watched many of my friends and family try to buy a home when they were not of the perfect age to do so! Unless you know the right questions to ask the bank, you will never get the perfect solution. I decided to help people get into homes wherever I could.
It took me years to get back into a position to be able to buy! I’d love to be able to shortcut that for you!
My Mission:
Making Homeownership Accessible for Single Women
Your journey isn't just about numbers
I’m a senior mortgage broker with Diamondmine Home Loans, and I have one clear purpose: helping single women, especially those who are divorced, separated, or starting over, achieve homeownership in Queensland.
For over two decades, I’ve worked alongside my partner Alan Taylor, combining our 50+ years of lending experience to navigate the complexities of home finance. But my real passion lies in working with women who’ve been told “no” too many times. They doubt their ability to qualify, or they simply don’t know where to begin.
I understand that your journey isn’t just about numbers on a loan application. It’s about rebuilding your life, creating security for your family, and proving to yourself that you can do this. That’s why I take the time to truly understand your situation, explore every available option, and create a pathway that works for you.
Understanding Your Options:
The Grants and Schemes Available
One of the biggest barriers to homeownership isn’t always your financial situation. It’s simply not knowing what support is available to you. Queensland and the Federal Government offer some of the most generous assistance programs in Australia. Many of my clients are amazed to discover what they qualify for and how much easier it makes home ownership.
For Single Parents: The Family Home Guarantee
The Family Home Guarantee (now part of the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme) is specifically designed for single parents and single legal guardians with at least one dependent child. This isn’t just for first-home buyers—even if you’ve owned property before, you may still be eligible.
What it offers:
- Purchase a home with as little as a 2% deposit
- No Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) required—this alone can save you tens of thousands of dollars
- Government guarantee on up to 20% of the property value, giving lenders confidence to approve your loan
- Property price caps vary by location—properties valued up to $1 million in Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Sunshine Coast
Key eligibility requirements:
- You must be a single parent or legal guardian (includes grandparents, aunts, uncles raising children)
- Australian citizen or permanent resident
- At least one dependent child
- Your name must be the only one on the loan and title
- The property must be your principal place of residence
This program recognises that saving a 20% deposit on a single income while raising children is often impossible. It’s designed specifically for people in your situation.
Multiple Pathways to Ownership
Queensland First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)
Queensland currently offers a generous $30,000 grant for eligible first-time buyers purchasing or building a new home valued under $750,000. This is double the original $15,000 amount and has been extended until 30 June 2026.
Eligibility criteria:
- Must be a first-time buyer (you’ve never owned residential property as your principal place of residence)
- Australian citizen or permanent resident
- Property must be a new home—includes newly built houses, off-the-plan purchases, substantially renovated homes, or owner-built constructions
- You must move in within 12 months of completion and live there continuously for at least 6 months
- No income restrictions apply to this grant
First Home Guarantee (5% Deposit Scheme)
This federal scheme allows first-home buyers to purchase with just a 5% deposit and avoid paying LMI. Combined with other grants, this makes homeownership achievable much sooner than traditional 20% deposit requirements.
Stamp Duty Concessions
Queensland offers full stamp duty exemptions for first-home buyers purchasing new homes, and full exemptions on established homes valued under $700,000. For established homes valued between $700,000 and $800,000, concessions are available. This can save you between $10,000 and $30,000 depending on the property value.
Boost to Buy: Queensland's New Shared Equity Scheme
Launching in late 2025, Boost to Buy provides government equity contributions of up to 30% for new homes and 25% for existing homes, allowing eligible buyers with a 2% deposit to purchase properties up to $1 million.
Eligibility:
- Single purchasers with income up to $150,000 per year, or households with two adults earning up to $225,000 combined
- First-home buyers only
- Minimum 2% deposit required
- The government’s equity is secured in the home—you won’t make repayments on it unless you sell or refinance
This program is particularly valuable for buyers in higher-priced areas like Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Sunshine Coast, where the $1 million cap ensures relevance in these competitive markets.