Help to Buy Scheme WA (2026): Price Caps, Eligibility and Keystart

Help to Buy reached Western Australia a few weeks after the other states, and RevenueWA has spelt out how it works with WA's own help: the government's share is ignored for duty, the grant and land tax. WA buyers can also choose Keystart's shared ownership loans, but not both.

Price caps and where they apply

The $850,000 cap covers Perth. Everywhere else in Western Australia the cap is $600,000; WA has no regional centres on the higher cap.

A worked example

A $650,000 existing home in Perth, with a 2% deposit and the government’s full 30%:

WA's first home owner rate means no duty up to $600,000 and a concessional rate to $800,000, from 7 May 2026. RevenueWA charges duty on the total value regardless of Housing Australia's share, assesses the concession as if you bought alone, and charges no duty when you buy the share back. Run your own figures in the Help to Buy calculator.

Who can use it

• Australian citizens aged 18 or over; permanent residents aren’t eligible.
• Taxable income for 2026–27 of $103,000 or less as a single, $165,000 for a couple or single parent.
• You can’t own property now, but you don’t have to be a first home buyer.
• You must live in the home, and the lender must be satisfied you couldn’t buy without the scheme.

The full rules, including buying back the government’s share, selling, renovating and renting out, are in the Help to Buy guide.

Grants and stamp duty you can add

Help to Buy can be combined with a first home owner grant, stamp duty concessions and the First Home Super Saver Scheme. In Western Australia:

• First Home Owner Grant: $10,000 for a new or substantially renovated home. From 7 May 2026 the value cap is $800,000 south of the 26th parallel, which includes Perth, and $1,000,000 north of it.
• First home owner duty rate: From 7 May 2026, no duty up to $600,000 and a concessional rate up to $800,000, on new or established homes. The duty concession no longer depends on the grant cap.
• Off-the-plan concession: For contracts from 12 March 2026 to 30 June 2028, all buyers get up to 100% off the duty on an off-the-plan home up to $800,000 (75% once construction has started), tapering above that and capped at $50,000.
• How WA treats the government's share: RevenueWA ignores Housing Australia's contribution for duty, the grant and land tax: duty is charged on the full value, the concession is assessed as if you bought alone, the grant isn't affected, and buying the share back attracts no duty.
• First home buyer stamp duty on an established home: no duty up to $600,000, with a reduced rate up to $800,000 (first home owner rate of duty, from 7 May 2026).

You can’t combine Help to Buy with the 5% Deposit Scheme or a state shared equity scheme.

The state’s own scheme

Keystart shared ownership: SharedStart, GoodStart and Sole Parent loans offered; Urban Connect Shared Equity launched 8 October 2025. Urban Connect: new apartments and townhouses up to $730,000, government share up to 35% or $250,000. Official page.

Keystart's Urban Connect is for new apartments and townhouses, while Help to Buy also covers houses. Compare both on your numbers; you can only use one.

Every scheme and its status is in our guide to shared equity schemes in Australia.

How to apply

Apply through a participating lender or a broker that works with one: Bank Australia, Commonwealth Bank, Teachers Mutual Bank Limited, Queensland Country Bank. The lender’s conditional approval reserves a place for 90 days, and your contract must allow at least 30 days to settlement.