Co-Buying Calculator

Co-buying is purchasing a property with one or more other people who are not your spouse or partner. It could be siblings, friends, a parent and adult child, or any combination of up to four buyers. Each person owns a defined share of the property.

Yes. Since 2022, the First Home Guarantee allows friends, siblings, and other non-related applicants to apply jointly. All applicants must still be first home buyers, and the scheme is limited to two applicants per loan. If more than two of you are buying, only two can access the First Home Guarantee - the others must fund their share with a standard deposit.

Joint tenants own the property as a whole with equal shares and a right of survivorship, meaning if one owner dies, their share automatically passes to the remaining owners. Tenants-in-common each hold a defined percentage share that can be unequal, sold independently, or left in a will. For unrelated co-buyers with different contributions, tenants-in-common is usually the more appropriate structure.

It depends on the state. In New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania, at least one buyer must be a first home buyer - the grant is paid in full regardless of the other buyers' status. In Victoria and the Northern Territory, all buyers must be first home buyers, so a single non-first-home-buyer in the group disqualifies everyone from the grant. The Australian Capital Territory has no FHOG. Eligible buyers may instead pay no stamp duty under the Home Buyer Concession Scheme, which has no income threshold or property price cap from 1 July 2026. Every buyer, and each buyer's partner, must not have owned property in the last 5 years, and the ACT Revenue Office makes the final eligibility determination.

Each person contributes to and withdraws from the FHSS scheme independently. If two of you are first home buyers, you can each contribute up to $15,000 per financial year and $50,000 in total to your own super fund, then request a release when you are ready to purchase. Your combined FHSS savings pool is the sum of each person's individual release. Non-first home buyers in the group cannot use the FHSS scheme.

Under tenants-in-common, each owner can sell their share independently - however in practice finding a buyer for a partial interest is difficult. The most common exits are: a buyout (one party buys the other out), a full sale to a third party, or a refinance arrangement where the departing party stays on title while the others refinance the loan. A Co-Ownership Agreement drafted before purchase should specify exactly how exit scenarios are handled to avoid disputes.

Each co-owner calculates CGT independently on their share of the capital gain. If you lived in the property as your main residence for the full ownership period, your share is generally exempt. If you moved out and rented the property, a partial exemption may apply, and the ATO's 6-year rule may allow you to claim a main residence exemption for up to 6 years of rental absence. A 50% CGT discount applies if the property was held for more than 12 months. Each owner's individual income and occupancy history determines their CGT outcome - estimates only, see a registered tax agent for advice specific to your situation.

No. This tool provides general information only and is not tax advice, financial advice, or legal advice. CGT, stamp duty, and scheme eligibility calculations are estimates based on general rules and may not reflect your individual circumstances. Before co-buying, obtain independent legal advice and a Co-Ownership Agreement, and consult a registered tax agent about your specific CGT and scheme eligibility position.