Can’t Afford to Wait: The Australian Homeownership Crisis and How BuySooner is Shifting the Timeline

There’s a moment in early adulthood when the future is supposed to snap into place: a steady income, a place to call home, the beginnings of a life that feels self-directed. But in today’s Australia, that moment is no longer guaranteed. A generation raised to believe in property as the cornerstone of stability now finds itself permanently priced out, relegated to a cycle of renting, saving, and hoping—while the goalposts continue to move.

The cultural weight of homeownership in Australia runs deep. It’s not just about shelter, but autonomy. It signals permanence, achievement, and belonging. Yet for many young Australians—even those with strong careers—the math no longer works. Property values have risen more than 120x over the past 60 years, increasing by over 8% per year. Meanwhile, wages have grown at less than half that pace. In cities like Sydney, the entry point now exceeds $1 million, and a 20% deposit can take over a decade to save. By the time would-be buyers are “ready,” the market has already moved out of reach again.

At the heart of this crisis lies a stark asymmetry: while 89% of aspiring homeowners still want to buy, only 11% are able to. For many, the challenge isn’t monthly affordability—it’s front-loaded capital. Saving the deposit remains the biggest obstacle to entry, cited by nearly 60% of those who haven’t yet purchased. The system penalizes early-career professionals with strong income but limited savings, creating a trap where rising prices outpace even aggressive financial discipline.

Into this breach steps BuySooner, an Australian startup reframing ownership not as a singular milestone but as a staged process. Rather than asking buyers to wait until their bank balances align with the property ladder’s bottom rung, BuySooner offers to step in now—with capital, not credit.

Access Now, Not Later

Here’s how the model works. A buyer aiming to purchase a $1 million home has $100,000 saved—half of the typical 20% deposit. Under normal circumstances, they’d be told to keep saving for several more years. Instead, BuySooner contributes the missing $100,000, enabling the buyer to immediately qualify for a home loan. In return, BuySooner becomes a temporary (quasi) equity partner, holding a minority stake (by private contract, but the whole home title stays with the homebuyer)—often just 6–9% of the property.

BuySooner’s profit comes from its share of the home’s capital appreciation, not interest payments. The homeowner retains full title. Over time—usually within three to five years—they can refinance and buy out BuySooner’s stake, often with ease: the property has risen in value, the mortgage has amortized, and income has typically grown. Buyers are actively encouraged to exit the agreement early, with built-in incentives that reward faster buybacks.

This is a fundamental departure from legacy shared-equity models, which often aim to maximize capital gains by staying in the deal as long as possible. Some competitors remain on title for up to 12 years, capturing as much as 33% of capital growth. In contrast, BuySooner’s model is deliberately short-term, enabling capital to recycle and help more buyers more quickly.

The Double Boost Option

While many customers use BuySooner solely for deposit support—called the Deposit Boost—others opt for a Monthly Boost, in which BuySooner contributes to ongoing mortgage payments. In both cases, the company acquires a proportional equity stake in the home. And for buyers facing both barriers, BuySooner offers a Double Boost, providing support at both the entry and sustainment stages.

This flexibility is crucial for those who might otherwise be priced into fringe markets or forced to delay their life milestones. Unlike high-interest second mortgages or private lending arrangements, BuySooner’s structure includes no monthly repayment, no compounding interest, and no credit degradation. It is participation, not debt.

Standing In the Gap Where Policy Ends

BuySooner’s arrival also fills a void left by well-meaning but constrained public policy. Government programs like the Help to Buy scheme and 5% Deposit Guarantee have helped some—but their reach is limited as banks don’t lend more, so saving on lenders mortgage insurance, is not enough to make the properties you want affordable. The shared equity scheme is budgeted for just 10,000 homebuyers per year, or roughly 3% of the market. It is also restricted to individuals earning under $100,000 or couples earning under $160,000, and excludes properties priced above regional caps. In contrast, BuySooner’s customers are often early-career professionals with high upward income trajectories, and the homes they target are often above the government’s caps—precisely where appreciation is strongest.

In this way, BuySooner complements the public sector rather than competes with it—targeting the capital-poor but income-strong cohort that traditional policy cannot reach. Its home loan offerings are integrated into the model, and its equity structure avoids stamp duty and capital gains tax in most regions. Regulatory approvals and compliance are in place through operating under both an Australian Credit License and Australian Financial Services License.

A Rewritten Timeline

For buyers, the benefit isn’t just earlier access—it’s regained dignity. The housing market is more than an economic system. It’s a framework that defines who gets to build a life, and when. To participate earlier is to reclaim agency in a system that increasingly feels out of reach.

BuySooner’s approach doesn’t ask buyers to be richer. It simply asks: what if they didn’t have to wait?