The SA Government created a way for people to buy with as little as 2% deposit. Most people have never heard of it.

HomeStart Finance exists to get people into homes they couldn't reach through a standard bank. We know their products inside out — and we'll tell you exactly which one fits your situation, then handle the whole application. No guesswork. No delays.

While you're saving for a 20% deposit, house prices keep climbing. It's a treadmill that gets steeper every month — and the standard advice of "just save more" ignores the fact that the goalposts are moving faster than most people can save.

HomeStart Finance is the South Australian Government's answer to that problem. They've helped over 90,000 South Australians into their own homes — many of them with deposits as low as 2%. No lenders mortgage insurance. No massive upfront costs.

The catch is that HomeStart products come with specific eligibility rules, different income and property price caps depending on which loan you're applying for, and application processes that catch a lot of people out. Get it wrong and you're looking at months of delays — or a rejection.

That's where your edge comes in. We know HomeStart's products thoroughly. We'll tell you exactly which one you qualify for, structure your application to give it the best possible chance, and handle the whole process. And if HomeStart isn't actually your best option — sometimes it isn't — we'll tell you that too, and find the lender who is.

HOMESTART LOAN PRODUCTS

HomeStart Loan — 5% deposit The standard entry point. Buy an existing home with just 5% deposit, or build with 8%. No LMI. If you're building with one of HomeStart's partner builders, the deposit drops to 2%. A solid option for most first home buyers — and the one we'll start with unless your situation points somewhere else.

Graduate Loan — 2% deposit If you hold a Certificate III or higher — doesn't matter when you got it — you could buy with just 2% deposit. This is the lowest deposit option HomeStart offers and the fastest route from renting to owning for qualified South Australians. A lot of people who'd qualify for this one don't even know it exists.

Low Deposit Loan — 3% deposit Designed for buyers who need a lower entry point. 3% deposit to buy an existing home, no LMI. Straightforward and simple — if you qualify, it's hard to argue with.

Shared Equity Option — boost your budget by up to 25% This one works differently. HomeStart contributes up to 25% of the purchase price alongside your deposit, which boosts your buying power significantly. You own the home, live in it, and buy back HomeStart's share when you're ready. A useful tool if your income is solid but your deposit or borrowing capacity is the limiting factor.

We'll match you to the right product — not just the one with the lowest deposit number. The right loan depends on your income, your situation, and what you're actually trying to achieve.

Why you need a specialist broker for HomeStart

HomeStart applications aren't complicated because the products are bad. They're complicated because each product has its own eligibility rules, income caps, property price limits, and documentation requirements — and getting any of that wrong doesn't just slow you down. It can get you rejected.

Most brokers place one or two HomeStart loans a year. We focus on them. That means we know which product fits which situation, exactly what documentation HomeStart needs to see, and how to present your application so it doesn't get stuck in the system.

Here's what we handle:

Eligibility assessment — before you fill out a single form, we'll tell you which HomeStart products you actually qualify for. No wasted time.

Income verification — complicated income? Self-employed? Multiple sources? We'll structure your application so HomeStart sees the full picture, not just the bits that are easy to prove.

Documentation — getting the paperwork right the first time, not after three rounds of "can you send us one more thing."

Application submission — presented clearly and completely to avoid delays.

Approval follow-through — we stay on top of it until you've got unconditional approval. You shouldn't have to chase your own application.

The real cost of waiting

Every month you stay renting is another month of payments that build someone else's equity, not yours. Every year house prices move is another year the finish line shifts.

HomeStart applications typically take 3–4 months from start to settlement. If you start the conversation now, you could be in your own home before the end of the year. Every month you wait, that timeline moves with it.

Here's what makes us different

We're legally bound under Best Interests Duty to act in your favour — not HomeStart's, not any other lender's. That means if HomeStart is the right path, we'll fight hard to get your application across the line. And if it isn't — if another lender will actually get you into a home faster or on better terms — we'll tell you that honestly and take you there instead.

We compare HomeStart against 35+ other lenders for every client. Sometimes HomeStart wins. Sometimes it doesn't. You deserve to know either way.

One conversation to find out where you stand. That's all it takes to start.

We can come to you — your home, a café, wherever works. Or we can do it via video call. Whatever suits.