EP. 1479 FIRST HOME BUYER ASSET PROTECTION

In this episode, Mark Novak and Billy Drury explore asset protection strategies for parents helping their children enter the property market, especially first-home buyers. They highlight common concerns parents face—such as protecting financial contributions from future relationship breakdowns or ensuring fairness among siblings—and offer practical ways to assist without putting large sums of money at risk. One key strategy is using a formal loan agreement instead of gifting funds, which ensures legal protection in the event of separation or disputes. Another is using a guarantee on the child’s loan, where the parents back the mortgage without giving cash, which can be removed once enough equity is built.

Billy shares his personal experience with a guarantor setup, explaining how it allowed him to buy his first home without needing lender’s mortgage insurance—saving thousands—while his parents bore no financial burden in the long run. They stress the importance of using skilled brokers and solicitors to set up agreements properly, so everyone involved understands the risks and protections. The conversation underscores that helping children into property doesn’t always require a cash gift and that with the right structure, families can protect assets and support each other wisely.