Shared Equity

Shared Equity

The WA Government could put up to $250,000 into your first home.

Buy with a 2% deposit and let the WA Housing Authority contribute a share of the purchase price. You live in it, you own it, and you pay nothing on their share while you’re there.

 

 

What is shared equity?

Shared equity splits the cost of your home between you and the WA Housing Authority. You put in a deposit, Keystart provides your home loan, and the Housing Authority contributes a percentage of the purchase price in exchange for a share in the property.
A smaller deposit, a smaller loan and smaller repayments, on the same house you were looking at anyway.

The scheme is called Urban Connect Shared Equity. The State Government launched it in October 2025 with $210 million behind it and 1,000 loans available. When they’re gone, they’re gone.

How the split works

Your deposit From 2% of the purchase price
WA Housing Authority contribution Between 5% and 35% of the purchase price, up to $250,000
Your Keystart home loan The rest

Think of the Housing Authority as a silent partner. Your name goes on the title alongside theirs, the home is yours to live in, and there are no property inspections, no rent and no interest on their share.

What that means week to week

  • A 2% deposit instead of the 20% a traditional lender usually wants
  • No Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which saves you thousands upfront
  • No monthly account keeping fees
  • Nothing payable on the Housing Authority’s share while you live in the home
  • A smaller loan, so your repayments are lower from day one
  • Buy back their share over time in chunks of 5% or more, whenever you’re ready

Are you eligible?

To apply for Urban Connect Shared Equity, you’ll need to:

  • Have a deposit of at least 2% of the purchase price
  • Earn no more than $128,000 a year as a single applicant, or $197,000 for couples, families and single parents (annual taxable income, Perth metro limits)
  • Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
  • Not currently own property in Australia or overseas
  • Live in the home as your principal place of residence
  • Buy a property priced at or below $800,000

You can apply on your own or jointly with one other person. Different income limits apply in regional WA, the Kimberley and the Pilbara, so if you’re building outside the metro area, have a chat to us first.

Shared equity can often be used alongside the First Home Owner Grant and stamp duty concessions, so first home buyers may be able to stack all three. Our finance team will work out exactly what you’re entitled to.

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5 steps to owning your first home with the shared equity scheme

Check your eligibility

Start with a quick pre-qualification. We'll look at your income, your savings and your situation, then tell you whether shared equity is the right fit or whether another Keystart product suits you better. Takes about five minutes

Get conditional approval

Keystart gives you a number to work with while your plans and contracts are finalised. Conditional approval is the lender's way of saying "we're happy to lend to you, we just need a bit more information."

Choose your home

Pick an eligible Easystart house and land package, or bring us a block you already own. We'll make sure the price, the land size and the title type all tick the scheme's boxes before anything gets signed.

Get formal approval

Keystart values your package, confirms the Housing Authority's contribution and issues formal approval. 🎉

Settle and start building

We work with your settlement agent to get everything across the line. Once your land settles, the build kicks off, and Keystart caps your construction repayments at $100 a week while the house goes up.

The simple guide to shared equity

We've put the whole scheme into one short, plain-English guide. What the Housing Authority contributes, what happens if you sell, what happens if your home goes up in value, and the costs nobody mentions until settlement week.
Pop your details in and it'll land in your inbox.

Gift Guide For First Home Buyers
Gift Guide For First Home Buyers

Eligible Easystart homes under $800,000

Own it from $808* per week

Lot 5342 Gwardar Street, Byford Image
Lot 5342 Gwardar Street, Byford Floorplan

Byford

From $755,850

Lot 5342 Gwardar Street, Byford

  • 3
  • 2
  • 2
  • 12.5m
View Floorplan View Elevation
Byford

Own it from $813* per week

Lot 269 Corams Road, Baldivis Image
Lot 269 Corams Road, Baldivis Floorplan

Baldivis

From $760,050

Lot 269 Corams Road, Baldivis

  • 3
  • 2
  • 2
  • 10.5m
View Floorplan View Elevation
Baldivis

Own it from $818* per week

Lot 1556 Bunes Lane, Madora Bay Image
Lot 1556 Bunes Lane, Madora Bay Floorplan

Madora Bay

From $764,650

Lot 1556 Bunes Lane, Madora Bay

  • 4
  • 2
  • 2
  • 15m
View Floorplan View Elevation
Madora Bay

Own it from $820* per week

Lot 10 Tacola Way, Haynes Image
Lot 10 Tacola Way, Haynes Floorplan

Haynes

From $766,550

Lot 10 Tacola Way, Haynes

  • 4
  • 2
  • 2
  • 15m
View Floorplan View Elevation
Haynes

Own it from $825* per week

Lot 531 Wattledale Road, Haynes Image
Lot 531 Wattledale Road, Haynes Floorplan

Baldivis

From $771,650

Lot 531 Wattledale Road, Haynes

  • 3
  • 2
  • 2
  • 12.5m
View Floorplan View Elevation
Baldivis

Own it from $848* per week

Lot 391 Illyarrie Rise, Sinagra Image
Lot 391 Illyarrie Rise, Sinagra Floorplan

Sinagra

From $792,950

Lot 391 Illyarrie Rise, Sinagra

  • 3
  • 2
  • 2
  • 12.5m
View Floorplan View Elevation
Sinagra

*T&C’s apply.

Why build your shared equity home with Easystart?

We’ve spent years getting West Australians into homes that other builders and other lenders said were out of reach. Shared equity is another route to the same place.

In-house finance

Our team at Westgate handles Keystart applications every week. They know what the lender wants to see and how to present it.

We check the fine print first

Land size, title type, purchase price. We confirm your package fits the scheme before you sign anything.

$2,000 to get started

Sign a Preliminary Preparations Agreement and you’re underway. A land deposit follows to secure your block.

Payments capped during construction

Keystart caps your construction repayments at $100 a week while your home is being built, so you’re not covering rent and a full mortgage at the same time.

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Shared equity, answered

faq item for What is shared equity?

Shared Equity Home Loans

What is shared equity?

Shared equity can help you buy a home with a smaller deposit and home loan. You contribute part of the purchase price, Keystart provides your home loan, and the WA Housing Authority contributes a percentage of the purchase price in exchange for a share in the property.