Can I use super to buy a house?

Most Australians asking this are hoping the answer is yes. For regular super — the employer SG and existing balance — the answer is no. Super is preserved until you reach your preservation age (60) and meet a condition of release.

The one legitimate path: FHSS

The First Home Super Saver Scheme lets you make voluntary contributions (salary sacrifice or personal deductible) into super, then release them later to fund a first-home deposit.

• Up to $15,000 per financial year of voluntary contributions can count
• Lifetime cap: $50,000 of contributions released
• Associated earnings are also released, calculated by the ATO
• Tax on release: your marginal rate minus a 30% offset — cheaper than saving in a bank for most people

You must genuinely be a first home buyer, must intend to live in the home for at least 6 of the first 12 months of ownership, and must request release before signing a contract.

What about compassionate grounds for mortgage trouble?

Super can be released on compassionate grounds to prevent foreclosure on your primary home — up to 3 months of mortgage repayments and 12 months of interest. This is a last-resort mechanism, not a strategy.

SMSFs and property

An SMSF can buy investment property (not a home you live in). This is a complex strategy involving limited-recourse borrowing, significant setup and compliance costs, and strict arm's-length rules. Not a shortcut to homeownership.