Compare affordable loans available for Western Australians with flexible terms and features.
Keystart is a government initiative offering finance for people striving to buy a home in the state of Western Australia. By providing home loans with low deposits and a shared ownership option with the Department of Housing, Keystart enables first and subsequent home buyers to purchase the home of their dreams.
Compare Keystart home loans
Who is Keystart and what do they do?
Keystart is a home loan lending company offering affordable financing in Western Australia for first and subsequent home buyers with low deposits. The company was founded by the Department of Housing in Western Australia to provide affordable housing to its residents. Keystart home loans are targeted toward owner occupiers and are open to different groups of people, including those with disabilities, public housing tenants, Indigenous borrowers and ordinary borrowers who meet the eligibility criteria.
Keystart home loans can be more affordable because they require a smaller deposit than loans offered by other mortgage providers, and they utilise shared ownership schemes to make financing available to clients who might not qualify with traditional lenders. The company allows homebuyers to co-own their home with the Department of Housing, meaning buyers are responsible for only part of the purchase, while the government raises the money for the remaining portion of the home loan.
Home loans offered by Keystart
Image credit: perthsider
- Keystart Home Loan This is a home loan available for residents of Western Australia, designed to help them own a home at an affordable rate.The loan requires as little as a 2% deposit, though the required deposit is larger for more expensive properties. It offers a maximum loan term of up to 30 years. Borrowers are allowed to make additional repayments, and monthly repayments on the loan are required. The loan also offers a redraw facility and no loan keeping fees.
- Goodstart home loan This loan is designed to give Department of Housing tenants an opportunity to become homeowners and break the cycle of paying rent. Tenants who are looking to purchase their first home or subsequent home buyers can apply for this loan, with the Department of Housing fronting up to 40% of the home loan value. Under this agreement, the tenant and the government have shared ownership of the property, with the buyer having the option of taking a loan increase should they opt to buy the government’s share of the home later on. This loan offers attractive features such as no loan keeping fees, the option to make additional payments, a redraw facility and a loan term of 30 years.
- Sole Parent Home Loan This loan scheme is designed to assist sole parents to hold on to their house after a divorce or family bereavement. The loan requires only a 2% deposit and offers an opportunity for the Department of Housing to have a maximum equity share of 40%. Buyers in the Metro and Northern Remote areas can access this loan, which also offers a redraw facility and no loan keeping fees. Buyers wishing to make extra payments can do so, and they can also take advantage of the redraw facility on the loan to purchase additional Department of Housing shares. Should you wish to purchase the share of your home owned by the Department of Housing, you can do so by taking a loan increase. This home loan is available for subsequent home buyers only.
- Disability Home Loan This is a loan scheme designed to assist first time and subsequent home buyers who are disabled or caring for a disabled person. Like the other Keystart home loans discussed above, the Department of Housing in Western Australia enters into a shared ownership agreement with the home buyer with the aim of financing up to 40% of the home loan. The loan offers a repayment term of 30 years, a redraw facility and the opportunity for a loan increase. The loan has no loan keeping fees and it requires as little as a 2% deposit. Additional repayments are allowed should the buyer have extra funds during the loan term, and borrowers have the option to buy the government's share of the property.
- Aboriginal Home Loan This is a loan designed to assist Aboriginal residents. The loan offers a low deposit which can start at 2% of the home value, and is open to both first-time and subsequent home buyers. Like all other Keystart home loans, this loan offers a redraw facility, zero loan keeping fees, a maximum loan term of 30 years and an option for extra payments. Buyers have the option of shared or full ownership on the home they purchase. Buyers who opt for shared ownership with the Department of Housing can purchase the government’s share by taking a loan increase, enabling them to fully own the home.
- Keystart Country Housing Loan This home loan targets farmers who are looking to purchase, build or renovate a home either for themselves or for their dependents. Small business owners can also take up this loan to build or purchase a home for their staff and dependents, or even for themselves. Loan repayments on the principal and interest are on a monthly, quarterly or half-yearly basis, with no loan keeping fees and a deposit of 20% on farming properties and 10% for town site residential properties required. The loan doesn’t have a maximum income qualification limit. Owner builders are acceptable, and additional repayments are also allowed.
- SharedStart Home Loan With this loan, home buyers are offered a shared equity scheme where they can co-own a home with the Department of Housing, which can finance up to 30% of the home loan to make it more affordable. The maximum term on this loan is 30 years, with additional repayments allowed and loan increases offered to home buyers wishing to buy the government’s stake in the property. Buyers are required to make monthly repayments on the loan and are charged no loan keeping fees over the course of the loan repayment. An initial deposit of 2% is required on the home loan value.
How to apply for a Keystart home loan
Applying for a Keystart home loan online is easy and straightforward, and Keystart provides a number of online tools to help you check if you qualify for the home loan you want.
Once you are fully prepared to apply for the loan online, you should ensure you have about 20 to 30 minutes to fill the application. Your online application will be processed by loan approval officers at Keystart so you can be given finance pre-approval as fast as possible. The application will have to pass the loan approval criteria, and is assessed based on your credit attributes and standard credit policies of the lender.
Documents needed to apply for a Keystart home loan
Filling in the online application for any particular Keystart home loan does not determine your eligibility for it. Before your application can be reviewed, you will be required to go through the full application process and provide the following documents:
- The reference number for the ‘Do I Qualify’ tool outcome
- Full details of your financial situation. This should include details of your income, all liabilities such as personal loans, credit card debt, your assets including bank account and deposit funds.
- A list of all other assets you own and their value.
- Proof of your identity. You may need to provide your driver’s licence, birth certificate or passport.
- The names of all the applicants, including details of their dependents.
The Keystart online application feature allows you to start the journey to owning a new home in a matter of minutes.
Keystart home loans are different from other home loans in the Australian property market because they offer lower deposits requirements, and have the unique feature of letting you share ownership of the home you want to purchase with the State Government of Western Australia.
Would I be able to build a house and buy land privately whilst using my keystart homelone. Or do I have to build and buy through the building company supplied by keystart?
Hi Bree,
Thanks for your inquiry. Please note that we are not affiliated with Keystart or any company we feature on our site and so we can only offer you general advice.
Keystart is a home loan lending company offering affordable financing in Western Australia for first and subsequent home buyers with low deposits. The company was founded by the Department of Housing in Western Australia to provide affordable housing to its residents. Keystart home loans are targeted toward owner occupiers and are open to different groups of people, including those with disabilities, public housing tenants, Indigenous borrowers and ordinary borrowers who meet the eligibility criteria.
I suggest inquiring with Keystart directly if there’s an option to buy a house/land privately using their loan.
Best regards,
Rench
Need a phone number to call please. Perth.
Hi Willow,
Thank you for your inquiry today.
You can find the contact information for Keystart Western Australia at this page.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jonathan
Is Keystart dropping their interest rate?
Hi Brett,
thanks for the question.
Keystart will announce their response to the RBA decision soon, you can check our RBA page to see how lenders respond to the rate cut.
Cheers,
Marc.
can seniors qualify
how long do I wait
Hi Jacquie,
Thanks for your question.
There are a number of loans available for pensioners. You can take the eligibility quiz available on the Keystart Home Loans website to find out.
We aim to respond to user queries within 24 business hours.
Cheers,
Shirley
Hi,
I’ve been in WA for over 2 years now living and working. Will Keystart require a credit check from NZ as well?
Hi Garreth,
thanks for the question.
Keystart will conduct separate credit checks on both your Australian and New Zealand credit history. Depending on the nature of the credit listings, you may still be eligible for a home loan.
I hope this helps,
Marc.
Do keystart home loan offer any offset account product?
Hi Kenneth,
thanks for the question.
Unfortunately Keystart doesn’t offer a home loan with an offset account. You can compare home loans with offset accounts here.
I hope this helps,
Marc.
When do you have to start paying full mortgage once approved and the building process is in motion?
Hi Mangoes,
Thanks for your question.
Your repayment structure is determined upon application. Depending on the type of loan your opt for, you can make interest-only repayments for an agreed period of time.
For more information, please get in touch with Keystart.
All the best,
Shirley
Do you no if there something like that in qld
This is a question already asked, can you send me the link as well
Do you no if there something like that in qld
Hi Debbie,
I’ve emailed the link to you, please check your inbox.
Cheers,
Shirley
Hi,
Could you send me the link as well please?
Thanks
Hi Rachael,
Thanks for your question.
Please see this link regarding the Queensland Government and its Indigenous Home Ownership Program.
All the best,
Shirley
Hi Joanne,
Thanks for your question.
I’ve found something similar on the Queensland Government website, I’ve emailed you the link.
Hope this helps,
Shirley
IS THIS LOAN GOOD FOR A NEWLY PERMANENT RESIDENT AUSTRALIAN. I’VE RAD SOME REVIEWS ABOUT KEYSTART. JUST READ STHAT THEIR LOAN RATE ARE MORE HIGHER THAN BANKS AND SINCE IT IS A GOVT HOME LOAN WHENEVER THE GOVT CHANGE THEIR POLICY THERE’S A POSSIBILITY THAT THYE CAN CHANGE THEIR POLICIES ON HOME LOAN ANYTIME THEY WANT…IS THAT TRUE?
Hi Wyl,
Thanks for your question.
I’d recommend speaking to Keystart directly about how their home loans are financed and which policies they need to adhere to. According to their website, no government subsidies are provided to them.
Interest rates are determined on a case by case basis, and so they may or may not be higher than what the banks are currently offering.
All the best,
Shirley
Hi Shirley,
Thank you so much for your quick response and advice.
We both applied for a keystart loan. The house is a month away from handover but we have been seperated for 5 months. My partner will not be moving Into the house. When can he sign everything over to me in regards to laws etc?
Hi Lo,
thanks for the question.
This question is best suited towards Keystart Home Loans directly. They’ll be able to advise you on what you should in your current situation.
Sorry I couldn’t be of more help,
Marc.