Work through your property and finance position step by step. This calculator models the key scenarios - refinancing to keep the home, selling and splitting the proceeds, or holding the current position while you work things out. All figures are estimates for discussion purposes only.
Separation is stressful, and the finance side can feel overwhelming. This calculator walks you through your property and money position one step at a time, so you can see your rough options clearly before speaking to a broker, lawyer, or financial adviser. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere — it stays in your browser.
What this tool does
Shows your current position
Your shared property value, loan, offset, and rough equity split.
Compares three paths
Scenario A — one person keeps the home. Scenario B — sell and split. Scenario C — wait while things are resolved.
Gives a rough borrowing estimate
A very high-level indication of what you might borrow on your own.
Prepares you for the conversations
A checklist of documents to gather and questions to ask each professional.
What this tool does not do
It does not provide financial, credit, legal, or tax advice. It does not guarantee any borrowing outcome or lender approval. It does not reflect individual lender policies, credit scoring, or serviceability assessments, and it does not account for capital gains tax or stamp duty. Every figure is a rough estimate based only on what you enter.
Please read. This calculator is a general information tool only. Figures shown are rough estimates, not a lending decision, financial recommendation, or legal opinion. Individual outcomes depend on lender policy, full credit assessment, legal agreements, and your complete circumstances. Obtain independent legal, financial, and tax advice before making any decisions. If you are experiencing financial hardship or distress, the National Debt Helpline is 1800 007 007 and Relationships Australia is 1300 364 277.
Your current position
Enter your best current estimate for the shared property and loan. You do not need exact figures at this stage.
Property & loan details
If you are unsure of a value, use a reasonable estimate — you can change it any time.
Estimated property value
$
Current home loan balance
$
Offset account balanceEnter 0 if not applicable
$
Redraw availableEnter 0 if not applicable
$
Your ownership shareA legal question — use your best estimate
%
Other properties & assets (optional)
Investment property value
$
Investment property loan balance
$
Other assets (vehicles, shares etc.)
$
Estimated net equity
Net effective loan (loan minus offset)$430,000
Estimated gross equity (property value minus net loan)$370,000
Your estimated equity share$185,000
Total estimated assets (home + investment + other)$800,000
These figures are estimates only. Property values fluctuate and a professional valuation may differ. Offset and redraw balances should be confirmed with your lender. Ownership percentages may be subject to family law proceedings — seek legal advice.
Debts & commitments
List all current debts and regular commitments — even ones you expect your partner to cover. Enter credit cards at their limit, as lenders usually assess them that way.
Debt / commitment
Balance
Monthly
Home loan (from current position)
$450,000
—
Car loan 1
$
$
Car loan 2
$
$
Personal loan
$
$
Credit card 1 (limit)
$
$
Credit card 2 (limit)
$
$
HECS / HELP debt
$
$
Child support paid
—
$
Other commitment 1
$
$
Other commitment 2
$
$
Totals
Total outstanding debt (including home loan)$450,000
Total monthly commitments$0
HECS/HELP debts affect borrowing capacity. Child support paid should reflect your actual obligation. These figures are used for illustration only.
Income snapshot
Enter gross (before tax) annual income. These figures are used for rough illustration only — they are not a borrowing capacity assessment.
Your income (gross, per year)
Your base salary / wages
$
Other regular income (rental, etc.)
$
Child support received (annual)
$
Government benefits / Family Tax Benefit (annual)
$
Partner's income (optional)
Only used for the combined household figure below.
Partner's base salary / wages
$
Partner's other regular income
$
Household context
Number of dependants
Approximate monthly living expenses
$
Income summary
Your estimated total annual income$80,000
Combined household gross income$160,000
Casual, contract, or self-employed income may be assessed differently by lenders. Government benefits may or may not be accepted depending on the lender.
Scenario A — one person keeps the home
A rough estimate if one party keeps the property by refinancing the loan into their own name and paying out the other party's share of the equity.
Pulled from your current position
Loan to refinance$450,000Offset retained$20,000
Agreed property value for the buyout
$
Ownership share of the party keeping the home
%
Estimated legal / conveyancing costs
$
Stamp duty on title transfer, if anySA relationship-breakdown transfers may be exempt
$
Proposed new loan term
yrs
Indicative interest rate
%
Estimated outcome — keeping the home
Net effective loan (loan minus offset)$430,000
Estimated gross equity in the property$370,000
Estimated partner's equity share to pay out$185,000
Estimated total new loan required$638,000
New loan-to-value ratio (LVR)79.8%
Indicative monthly repayment$4,032
LVR appears below 80% — LMI may not be required, subject to full assessment.
The repayment is a simple principal-and-interest estimate, not a lender quote. The actual new loan depends on a formal valuation, a legal agreement on the split, lender serviceability, and stamp duty advice.
Scenario B — sell the home
A rough estimate of the net proceeds you may each receive if the property is sold and the loan repaid.
Based on these estimates, sale proceeds appear sufficient to repay the loan.
Selling costs vary by state, agent, and property. Capital gains tax may be payable depending on whether the property is an investment and your individual tax circumstances — these figures do not account for any CGT obligation.
Scenario C — wait and hold the current position
Some people choose to keep things as they are temporarily while legal and financial matters are resolved. There is no calculation here — just things to be aware of.
1. Mortgage responsibilities
Both parties generally remain jointly liable for the home loan until a legal agreement is finalised and the loan is refinanced or discharged. Both credit histories can be affected by missed payments.
2. Equity changes over time
Property values may rise or fall during the waiting period, which can affect settlement figures in either direction. There is no guaranteed outcome.
3. Ongoing costs
Council rates, water, insurance, and maintenance continue. It should be clear between both parties who is responsible for these costs.
4. Living arrangements
If one party moves out, rent on top of the mortgage can create financial pressure. A financial counsellor can help assess this.
5. Impact on future borrowing
The existing joint mortgage typically counts as a liability for both parties when either seeks new finance, which affects borrowing capacity for a new property.
6. Legal and family law process
Property settlements in Australia are generally formalised through a Binding Financial Agreement or Consent Orders. Waiting does not remove legal obligations — independent legal advice is important.
7. Superannuation
Superannuation may form part of a property settlement under Australian family law. Seek legal advice on whether this is relevant to your situation.
8. Support services
Relationships Australia (1300 364 277) and the Family Relationship Advice Line (1800 050 321) offer free information and referrals during separation.
Indicative borrowing position
A very rough, high-level estimate of what you might be able to borrow on your own — not a lender assessment.
This is a very rough indicative estimate using a simplified surplus method. It is not a borrowing capacity calculation, credit assessment, or lender commitment.
Pulled from earlier steps
Your annual income$80,000Monthly commitments$0Dependants0
Indicative interest rate
%
Assessment buffer (added by lenders)
%
Loan term for the estimate
yrs
Rough estimate
Assessment rate (rate + buffer)9.5%
Estimated monthly income$6,667
Monthly commitments incl. dependant allowance$0
Estimated monthly surplus for repayments$6,667
Rough indicative borrowing estimate$0
This estimate uses a simplified surplus method. It does not reflect lender HEM (Household Expenditure Measure) benchmarks, credit scoring, or full servicing assessments — and it does not deduct your general living expenses. Actual borrowing capacity may be materially higher or lower. Speak with a broker for a proper assessment.
Next steps checklist
Use this checklist to prepare for conversations with your broker, lawyer, accountant, and financial adviser. Ticks are just for your own reference.
Documents to gather
Ask your mortgage broker
Ask your family lawyer
Ask your accountant or financial adviser
Think about your situation
Your summary
A discussion aid only — not financial, legal, or credit advice. Bring this to your conversation with a broker.
Current position
Estimated property value$800,000
Net effective loan$430,000
Estimated gross equity$370,000
Your estimated equity share$185,000
Scenario comparison
A — Keep
New loan needed$638,000
Monthly repayment$4,032
New LVR79.8%
Key riskLMI if LVR > 80%
B — Sell
Net available$346,000
Your share$173,000
Monthly repaymentNot applicable
Key riskCosts & possible CGT
C — Wait
Loan positionCurrent loan continues
Your shareNo change until settled
Monthly repaymentUnchanged
Key riskJoint liability continues
Indicative borrowing vs. Scenario A
Rough indicative borrowing estimate$0
Scenario A new loan required$638,000
Gap (estimate minus loan required)-$638,000
A negative gap does not mean approval is impossible — it means a proper assessment is needed. This is not a lending decision.
Key unknowns to confirm
Formal property valuation (market appraisal or bank valuation)
Legal agreement on the ownership split and settlement terms
Stamp duty obligation on title transfer (varies by state)
Capital gains tax position, particularly if the property was not your main residence throughout
Full lender serviceability assessment under current policies
How individual lenders treat child support and government benefits
Superannuation split, if applicable to the settlement
This is where a broker helps. Lendology works with separating clients across Adelaide — checking buyout serviceability, finding lenders that accept maintenance income, and coordinating the finance alongside your legal process. Bring these numbers to a confidential, no-cost chat.
Broker summary disclaimer. This summary is a general discussion aid only. All figures are rough estimates based on information you entered. It does not constitute financial advice, credit advice, legal advice, or a lending commitment. Individual outcomes depend on lender policy, full credit assessment, legal agreements, tax advice, and your complete circumstances. Seek independent legal, financial, and tax advice. National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007 | Relationships Australia 1300 364 277.
Working through the finance side of a separation
When a relationship ends, the family home is usually the largest shared asset and the hardest decision. Most separating couples face the same three choices: one person keeps the home by buying the other out, the home is sold and the proceeds divided, or things are held as they are while legal matters are resolved. This calculator helps you put rough numbers against each path so the choice feels less abstract.
A buyout depends on whether the person keeping the home can refinance the existing loan into their own name and fund the other party's share of the equity. That turns on income, existing debts, and lender serviceability rules — the calculator's Scenario A gives a rough new loan figure and repayment, and the indicative borrowing step gives a high-level sense of what one income might support. Selling, in Scenario B, is more about the costs that come out before anyone sees a cent: agent commission, conveyancing, and preparing the property.
Every figure here is an estimate. The real numbers depend on a formal valuation, a legal agreement on how equity is split, lender policy, and tax advice. For background reading, see our separation finance guide and the walk-through on buying out your partner.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep the house after a separation?
It may be possible if you can refinance the existing loan into your own name and pay out your former partner's share of the equity. Whether you can depends on your individual income, your other debts, and lender serviceability rules. This calculator gives a rough estimate of the new loan you would need and the repayment - a broker can confirm what is actually achievable.
How is equity split when a couple separates?
Gross equity is the property value less the loan balance (after applying any offset). How that equity is divided between the two parties is a legal question settled through a Binding Financial Agreement or Consent Orders, not a fixed 50/50 rule. This calculator lets you model different ownership splits, but the actual split should be confirmed with a family lawyer.
Do I pay stamp duty when transferring property after a separation?
In South Australia, a transfer of property between parties resulting from a relationship breakdown may be exempt from stamp duty in certain circumstances. Eligibility depends on having the right legal agreement in place. Confirm with your conveyancer or family lawyer - this calculator lets you enter a stamp duty figure if one applies.
Can child support or spousal maintenance count as income for a loan?
Some lenders accept child support or spousal maintenance as income when assessing your borrowing capacity, and some do not. Treatment varies between lenders. A broker identifies the lender most likely to accept your income combination, which can make the difference in whether a buyout is serviceable.
Is this separation calculator financial or legal advice?
No. This tool is general information only. Every figure it produces is a rough estimate based on the numbers you enter. It is not a lending decision, a credit assessment, or a legal opinion. You should obtain independent legal, financial, and tax advice before making any decisions.
Working through a separation?
Speak with Jason. Confidential, no cost, no obligation.