More Western Australians will have access to affordable home ownership through the Keystart home loan scheme, with the McGowan Government signing off on a 12 month extension of increased income limits.
The income limits were increased from July 1, 2019 and due to end on June 30, 2021, but have been extended to June 30, 2022.
Since December 2020, the McGowan Government has approved $362 million in increases to Keystart’s borrowing limit for 2021-22.
The increase brings Keystart’s total gross borrowing limit to $5.8 billion and will enable Keystart to take on an estimated 2,700 additional loans in 2021-22.
Last financial year Keystart helped 3,977 eligible households into affordable home ownership, the highest since 2009-10. Eighty per cent of those loans went to first homebuyers.
Around 2,900 households were also able to transition out of Keystart to a traditional lender or repay their loan, an important step in the home ownership journey. This is the most since 2015-16.
Keystart was established in 1989 and is nationally recognised as the most successful scheme of its kind. It has helped more than 118,000 Western Australians achieve the dream of home ownership since its inception.
Homebuyers are encouraged to visit Keystart’s website at https://www.keystart.com.au
As stated by Housing Minister John Carey:
“Lower and middle income Western Australians can face a serious challenge to get a foot on the property ladder and things like saving for a 20 per cent deposit are a major barrier.
“By extending the increased Keystart income limits for another 12 months, we’re ensuring more Western Australians will continue to have access to affordable home ownership through this home loan scheme.
“Last financial year we saw how important the scheme was, with Keystart assisting 3,977 Western Australian families into affordable home ownership, the most in more than a decade.
“Eighty per cent of those people supported by Keystart in the last financial year were first home buyers and seventy-five per cent had one or more applicants that were renting.
“More importantly we saw around 2,900 people able to repay their loan or refinance and transition out of the Keystart scheme, which is a critical step in the home ownership journey.
“The extended higher income limits, along with the previously announced $243 million increased borrowing limit and a further increase of $118 million means Keystart will be able to provide more Western Australians with an avenue to affordable home ownership over the coming year.”
Income limits for 2021-22:
| REGION | INCOME LIMIT | PROPERTY PURCHASE PRICE CAP |
| Metropolitan | $105,000 (Singles) $130,000 (Couples) $155,000 (Families) | $480,000 |
| Regional areas (excluding Kimberley and Pilbara) | $125,000 (Singles) $150,000 (Couples) $155,000 (Families) | $500,000 |
| Kimberley | $135,000 (Singles) $165,000 (Couples) $170,000 (Families) | $650,000 |
| Pilbara | $165,000 (Singles) $195,000 (Couples) $200,000 (Families) | $650,000 |
