Australian homeownership rates among those aged 25–34 years have declined by over one-quarter since 1981. The major hurdle aspiring home-buyers face is saving for the deposit.
A standard home loan deposit is 20% of the property purchase price, and in today’s housing market, with prices often exceeding $1 million, can mean you need $200,000 upfront or more.
This is no easy task. In Australia, the time needed to save a deposit for a typical property has grown a lot since the 1990s, and it is longer again in cities like Sydney and Melbourne.
This is where the OwnHome Deposit Boost Loan can help. So, let’s look at how the loan works and what you need to know.
How does OwnHome work?
OwnHome offers a Deposit Boost Loan, which is a loan that covers the 20% deposit you need for a traditional loan. We loan you the amount you need for a deposit, and that sum can then be paired with a regular 80% LVR home loan from another lender.
The OwnHome Deposit Boost Loan helps Aussies with good incomes and credit scores access 80% LVR home loans - without needing hundreds of thousands in savings. This way, you can get onto the property ladder sooner and buy your dream home.
Upfront costs of the OwnHome Deposit Boost Loan
The OwnHome Deposit Boost Loan has a Low Deposit Premium of up to 2.2% of the purchase price (minimum $9,500).
All homebuyers in Australia must pay some additional government upfront fees. When purchasing a home, OwnHome customers will also need to pay:
- Stamp duty
- Loan application charges like transfer and registration fees.
Check out our Upfront Cost Calculator to see how we stack up against traditional lending options.
You will also need to pay for your own conveyancer or solicitor, as conveyancing is not included. OwnHome covers the rest of the deposit
What is included in the Deposit Boost Loan Low Deposit Premium?
When you pay your Low Deposit Premium upfront, it also covers:
- An OwnHome Buyer’s Agent. Our licensed Buyer’s Agents will guide you through home-buying from property-hunting to settlement and move-in. The expert team will handle all real estate agent communications, including negotiation and auction.
- Building and pest reports, plus strata report reviews (up to four reports). While we hope every report comes back with a clean bill of health, we’ve seen it all before, and we’ll advise you on the next steps if there are any red flags.
OwnHome’s goal is to make homeownership more accessible, affordable and fun!
How do the OwnHome Deposit Boost Loan repayments work?
The OwnHome Deposit Boost Loan is a principal and interest, variable rate loan with a 15-year term. It can cover a home deposit amount of up to 20% of the purchase price — your standard home loan from a first mortgage lender covers the balance of the property price.
For the first fifteen years of your (usually 25 or 30-year) mortgage, you will make repayments on your Deposit Boost Loan as well as on your primary mortgage.
OwnHome Deposit Boost Loan eligibility criteria
The Deposit Boost Loan isn’t for everyone. If you have enough funds saved for 20%, we encourage you to explore more traditional home loan offers.
Instead, the OwnHome Deposit Boost Loan is designed to suit high-income Australians with strong credit scores who can service their mortgage repayments but are unable to access a traditional home loan because they don’t have the 20% deposit.
To qualify for the OwnHome Deposit Boost Loan, home buyers must have:
- Australian citizenship or permanent residency (At least one applicant)
- An income high enough to service the Deposit Boost Loan plus an 80% LVR home loan
- An excellent credit history.
- Enough funds to cover the Low Deposit Premium and Stamp Duty.
Additionally, the property price must meet our criteria and be located in an area that we currently serve.
Who is this great for?
Renters in property markets like Sydney may find they have to spend most of their income on their housing costs anyway — paying off someone else’s home loan without accruing any equity or genuine savings of their own.
Even if you earn a high income, saving for this massive upfront cost can be hard without money from family members or a guarantor.
While first-home buyer government support schemes, like the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme (formerly the First Home Guarantee), are a valuable resource for many, they have eligibility rules and property price caps that leave a portion of aspiring homebuyers unserved.
What’s more, if you buy with a deposit smaller than 20%, you risk paying the steep costs of Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) — not to mention the higher interest rates on loans with a high loan-to-value ratios (LVRs).
Is OwnHome rent-to-own?
No, OwnHome does not offer a rent to own product any more. The rent-to-own service was replaced by the deposit boost loan in 2023.
The target market for this product will be found within the product’s Target Market Determination, available here.
Please note that a Deposit Boost Loan is not suitable for all situations. To get personalised advice for your specific circumstances, please speak to a financial advisor or mortgage broker.
