Supporting Your Child's Journey to Their First Home Purchase

Todd Conklin • January 30, 2024

In the current economic environment, many parents find themselves in a position where they can offer their children a helping hand with purchasing their first home. At the same time, house prices have increased to ridiculous levels. These two factors combined have resulted in the “Bank of Mum and Dad” becoming extremely popular! Helping out the kids can make a significant difference in their journey towards homeownership. In this article, we'll explore three possible strategies you might consider to support your child in this important milestone.


A couple considerations:

  1. Before jumping in to help out, consider whether you’re inadvertently encouraging a large financial commitment they just aren’t ready for. Will your gift be a blessing or a curse in years to come? Being responsible for a mortgage, learning to budget and understanding commitment (or the perils of over-commitment!) are crucial elements of adulting that come with home ownership. You may unwittingly deprive them of learning these lessons by being to generous.
  2. What about the other kids? If you have more than one child, the family dynamics could make this very complicated. Are you able to offer the same assistance to all kids? Would that assistance look different for different kids? Is it still equitable? Are you going to cause contention down the track – perhaps even after you’re gone.


However, if the Bank of Mum and Dad is still willing to do business, here’s a few options.


Gifting them money

Pulling out money from super or other savings to donate as a cash gift can be a great way to contribute to your child's home deposit. However, it's important to bear in mind a few key points. Banks often require such gifts to be in your child’s account for a certain period, typically three to six months, so planning is essential.

Lenders will want to ensure your child is financially stable enough to manage the mortgage payments. This typically means they need a stable job or a reliable income if they're self-employed.

Remember, when you hand over the money, it’s not coming back. You might need to formally acknowledge that you don't expect repayment.

Another consideration is the impact on Centrelink. Gifts over $10,000 will still be counted as your asset for five years, so if you’re thinking that increasing your Centrelink entitlements may be a handy bonus for helping out the kids, you may have to wait a while to see the benefits.

Consider the implications if your child is purchasing a home with a partner. In the event of a relationship breakdown, the partner might retain a portion of the property your funds helped to secure.


Loaning them money

This option is quite similar, but it's important to establish a formal legal agreement between you and your child. This agreement should outline all the mutually agreed-upon terms of the loan, including:

• Repayment Amount: You have the flexibility to decide whether you want to receive repayments, and if not, this should still be documented in the agreement.

• Interest Rate: You have the option to charge interest if you wish, but it's not mandatory.

• Repayment Schedule: You can specify when the loan should be repaid in full or in installments. This private agreement allows you to set the rules, with the added advantage of being able to recall the money if needed, which can be a safeguard in case your child's marriage ends in divorce.

• Forgiveness on Death: Another available option for parents is to forgive the loan upon their death.

The primary drawback of this approach is the requirement for a formal legal agreement, which may incur some costs. However, not having such an agreement could potentially lead to unfavorable outcomes when trying to assist your children.


Joint Purchase

Some parents are happy purchasing a home with their children as co-owners, either in their own names or through a family trust arrangement. The concept behind this is that the child will gradually acquire full ownership of the property, either over time or through a single lump-sum payment, eventually assuming complete ownership of the property. You might share ownership in different proportions or include clauses regarding the future passage of your share.

This option calls for detailed legal guidance to ensure both your and your child’s interests are safeguarded. It's a good idea to set clear, mutually agreed-upon guidelines before proceeding. Further, Centrelink might consider that property as one of your assets, since your name will be on the title, which could be detrimental to your entitlements.

A few things to be aware of are:

• Your child won’t qualify for the First Home Owners Grant

• When the time comes to transfer your share to the child, there will likely be some Capital Gains tax issues. Who is going to fund that?


“Going guarantor”

Offering your property as equity through a guarantor loan is an alternative to providing cash. This option eliminates the need for your child to accumulate a deposit, as your home's equity secures the loan.

You might choose to limit your liability to a percentage of your child's property value. This can help in ensuring your release from the guarantee once certain conditions are met, like an increase in property value or partial loan repayment.

Keep in mind, if you're retired or still paying off your mortgage, this option might not be feasible. Additionally, your child needs to demonstrate their ability to maintain their mortgage payments.


The bottom line

Assisting your child in buying their first home is an incredibly supportive act, one that could set them on a path to a more stable and secure future. And if you have the means to do so, it might be a wonderful way for you to enjoy the impact in their lives instead of making them wait for the inheritance – at which time they may not need assistance any more, and you won’t be around to see the benefit. Thoughtfully consider which method aligns best with your family's needs and circumstances, and you'll be giving your child an invaluable head start in their adult life. However, no method is without its drawbacks and these need to be considered carefully. Seeking proper advice is crucial, as these decisions can have huge consequences, good and bad.


Valo Wealth is committed to guiding you on your journey through an ever-changing landscape. With our unique approach to financial services, we aim to give you the clarity you need to make good financial decisions.

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