Keystart Home Loans
Looking for a home loan but don't have a large deposit? Keystart may be your ticket to home ownership.
What is Keystart?
Keystart is a WA Government initiative designed to help get you into your new home faster by lowering the entry costs.
Easystart works with Keystart to provide home loans to people with low deposits, so you can start your home-building journey a whole lot quicker. The hardest part will be telling your housemates!
What are the Keystart requirements?
How do I know if I’m eligible for a Keystart loan?
Keystart have made it easier for West Australians to fulfil their dream of home ownership by expanding their lending conditions.
faq item for Keystart Eligibility
Keystart Eligibility
To be eligible for a Keystart loan, you’ll need to meet the following requirements as a minimum:
- Be 18 years or older
- Be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident
- Live in Western Australia and want to buy or build here
- Have an income within our maximum limits
- Not own another home or land at the time of settlement of your Keystart loan
- Plan to live in your home for the duration of your loan with Keystart
- Have enough funds available to cover all costs associated with the purchase, including your deposit, fees, and any moving costs.
faq item for Keystart Income Limits
Keystart Income Limits
The income limits that applicants have to meet have been increased. This means that if you previously didn’t meet the eligibility criteria for the Keystart Low Deposit Home Loan before, you could now!
- The income limit for singles is now $155,000 – previously $148,000
- The income limit for couples & families is now $228,000 – previously $218,000
These increased limits are applicable to contracts of sale entered into the Perth Metro area. Different income limits apply for regional areas. The limits increased 15th April 2026.
faq item for Keystart Property Price Limits
Keystart Property Price Limits
The property price limits that applicants have to meet have been increased. This means that if you previously didn’t meet the eligibility criteria for the Keystart Low Deposit Home Loan before, you could now!
- The property price limit is now $860,000 – previously $800,000
These increased limits are applicable to contracts of sale entered into the Perth Metro area. Property price limits apply for regional areas. The limits increased 15th April 2026.
Why choose Keystart?
Keystart is designed to make home ownership more achievable.
If you’re facing challenges in saving for a deposit or securing a traditional home loan, Keystart home loans may be an option for you. With Keystart, you can enjoy several key benefits:
Keystart has announced that they will be capping construction payments at $100 a week from September 25th, 2024.
Low deposit
Get a home loan for as little as 2% deposit compared to the 5% of major lenders.
Easier criteria
Worried about your poor credit rating, defaults or bankruptcy? You may still be eligible.
No Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI)
You can reduce the overall upfront cost of your new home and save thousands.
No monthly account fees
Say goodbye to fees! Make money manageable by just focusing on repayments.
5 steps to home ownership with a Keystart Home Loan
Check your eligibility
Find out if you qualify for Keystart by completing a quick pre-qualification assessment. Our in-house finance team (Westgate 👋) will help you understand the criteria and guide you through the process.
Get conditional approval
Easystart (and Westgate) will help you get conditional approval while your building plans and contracts are completed. Conditional approval is the lender's way of saying, “We’re happy to lend to you, but we need more information.”
Receive formal approval
Once you've found the right house & land package with Easystart, and have met any of the conditions outlined, Keystart will value your proposed package and provide formal approval 🎉
Settlement
Easystart (and Westgate) will liaise with your settlement agent to make sure everything is in order for settlement. Once settlement on your block occurs, the building process really kicks off!
Manage your loan
The team at Westgate Finance won’t just help you get your Keystart loan, but will ensure your loan will still be suitable in years to come, e.g. you may choose to refinance when you have enough equity.
Want to get the lowdown on Keystart loans and see if it’s right for you?
Keystart Low Deposit Home Loan Options
Low Deposit
With deposits as low as 2% and no Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI), the Keystart Low Deposit Home Loan has lower entry costs for those looking to build or buy.
Access Home Loan
The access home loan is for those living with a permanent disability or caring for someone with a permanent disability.
Aboriginal Home Loan
If you're an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, Keystart provides support to help you buy an affordable home.
Learn more about home loan finance
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Still have Keystart questions? Here are some answers
faq item for I’m not a first home buyer, can I still get a Keystart home loan?
I’m not a first home buyer, can I still get a Keystart home loan?
Yes! Keystart loans aren’t just for first home buyers. However, you will still need to meet the minimum requirements to be eligible.
faq item for What is the difference between a Keystart home loan and a regular bank loan?
What is the difference between a Keystart home loan and a regular bank loan?
Keystart loans are unique as they are specifically designed with lower entry costs, helping you get into a home faster (and easier). Keystart loans require lower deposits than traditional bank loans and do not charge Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). Keystart is also a transitional lender, meaning they encourage you to refinance your home loan with another lender when you are ready and able to do so.
faq item for How do I apply for a Keystart Loan?
How do I apply for a Keystart Loan?
Before applying for a Keystart loan, we recommend finding out if you qualify first. Easystart Homes has helped thousands of people just like you get approved for finance. Just get in touch with our friendly in-house finance team to see if you qualify.
faq item for Can I refinance a Keystart Loan?
Can I refinance a Keystart Loan?
Yes! Keystart is a transitional lender, which means that they encourage all home buyers to refinance as soon as they’re financially ready. Depending on your financial goals and situation, you may wish to refinance your loan in order to find a better interest rate or get access to loan features such as flexible repayments.
faq item for What is Lenders Mortgage Insurance?
What is Lenders Mortgage Insurance?
Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) is an insurance policy that some borrowers need to pay their lender (bank) in order to protect the lender in case the borrower (you) can’t afford to meet the home loan repayments. If the borrower defaults on their loan and the sale of the property doesn’t cover the unpaid value of the mortgage, lenders will claim on the LMI policy to make up the difference.
faq item for Do I need to worry about the debt servicing ratio?
Do I need to worry about the debt servicing ratio?
Nope! A few years ago, Keystart made changes to their eligibility criteria by removing their Debt Servicing Ratio (DSR) requirement. This meant that if you previously had a car loan, personal loan or credit card which exceeded 10% of your monthly income, you’d have to say ‘see you later’ to Keystart. However, with DSR now a thing of the past, approval for Keystart just got a whole lot easier.