Keystart celebrates 30 years of helping Western Australians

  • Over 102,000 Western Australians have achieved home ownership through Keystart
  • New premises and website for Keystart as it looks forward to the next 30 years
  • Recent adjustment of eligibility criteria helps more people access scheme and boosts local housing construction sector 
  • Housing Minister Peter Tinley will visit Keystart’s Subiaco premises today and formally launch the new brand and website of the low deposit home loan lender which is currently celebrating 30 years of successful operation.

    Keystart, established in 1989 by WA’s then Labor Government, has enjoyed bipartisan support and is nationally recognised as the most successful scheme of its kind. It has helped more than 102,000 Western Australians achieve the dream of home ownership.

    Keystart’s 30th birthday comes amid a temporary adjustment of its lending eligibility criteria by the McGowan Government, which is designed to make the scheme more accessible to a wider range of loan applicants.

    Under measures announced in last month’s State Budget, from July 1, 2019 Keystart’s existing income limits for borrowers will increase by $15,000 for singles and couples and by $20,000 for families until December 31, 2019. The income limits will revert to current levels on January 1, 2020.

    The temporary changes follow the McGowan Government’s $421 million extension of Keystart’s loan book in December last year, boosting its lending capacity to $4.8 billion.

    This extension was in addition to the $500 million approved soon after the McGowan Labor Government took office in March 2017. Based on median loan values, the $421 million extension potentially equates to an extra 1,100 new home loans – a welcome fillip for WA’s housing construction sector.

    Keystart’s new website enables customers, for the first time, to seamlessly check their eligibility and easily apply online for a home loan. Homebuyers are encouraged to visit the website at https://www.keystart.com.au

    As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:

    “Keystart is one of WA’s great success stories. After 30 years of operation it continues to help people, who may otherwise be unable, to become home owners.

    “It is more than just a lender – it is also a key policy tool that can be effectively used to manage both supply and demand outcomes in the State’s economy.

    “Keystart not only helps homebuyers, it also supports the building industry’s chances of retaining and creating jobs and stimulating WA’s economy.

    “I am confident Keystart will continue to play a critical role in ensuring Western Australians have access to low deposit loans.”

    As stated by Housing Minister Peter Tinley:

    “The ability to access affordable housing lies at the heart of the great Australian dream of home ownership and over the course of 30 years, Keystart has helped more than 102,000 Western Australians achieve this dream.

    “Keystart is the most successful scheme of its kind in Australia. It plays an important role in WA’s Affordable Housing Strategy and has made a significant contribution to the delivery of almost 35,000 affordable homes under the strategy since 2010.

    “The recent changes to Keystart’s income limits will help more Western Australians into home ownership at a time when property prices are more affordable.

    “Given Keystart’s history in the past three decades, I anticipate hearing about its success over the next 30 years and encourage potential homebuyers to visit their new website.”

    /Public Release. View in full here.