First Home Buyer Grants SA › What is HomeStart Finance and how does it help?

What is HomeStart Finance and how does it help?

HomeStart Finance is the South Australian Government lender. You may be able to buy from a 5 percent deposit, or from a 2 percent deposit with the Graduate Loan, plus a Shared Equity Option, all with no lenders mortgage insurance.

Written by Ross McFarlane, Licensed Mortgage Broker (Credit Representative 526725). About the author

Why this matters

HomeStart lends only to South Australians buying or building a home to live in, and it does not charge lenders mortgage insurance on any loan. The standard path is a 5 percent deposit, the Graduate Loan can lower that to 2 percent for those with a Certificate III or higher, and the Shared Equity Option can lift your budget without lifting your repayments, subject to limits.

The key points

SA Government lender, owner occupiers only.
From a 5 percent deposit, or 2 percent on the Graduate Loan.
Shared Equity Option can boost your buying budget.
No lenders mortgage insurance on any HomeStart loan.

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General information only. This page provides general information based on first home buyer settings current in 2026. It is not financial advice, a quote, or a guarantee, and your personal circumstances have not been considered. Grant amounts, caps, eligibility and scheme places change and vary by circumstance, and some help applies only to new homes. Always confirm current grants and your eligibility with RevenueSA, Housing Australia, or a licensed mortgage broker. Ross McFarlane (Credit Representative 526725) is an authorised Credit Representative of Australian Associated Advisers Pty Ltd t/a Keylend, Australian Credit Licence 392169.