Viability

What It Means

In the CoBuy framework, viability is an alignment readiness classification. It evaluates whether a co-buyer group can reach and sustain consensus on the core co-ownership decisions that most often destabilize co-ownership arrangements. Viability is assessed by CoBuy as part of the CoBuy Wizard intake process and is one of two core assessments delivered in the CoBuy Decision Brief™, alongside Eligibility.

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Viability is explicitly distinct from eligibility. It does not evaluate financial capacity, market conditions, or purchasing power. It evaluates whether the group has made — or is prepared to make — explicit decisions on the structural and governance questions that define how the co-ownership will function over time.

The Four Hard Alignment Factors

Viability is assessed against four hard alignment factors. These are classified as “hard” because unresolved ambiguity on any of them commonly destabilizes co-ownership arrangements:

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Ownership structure — who holds what Ownership Share, and on what basis. This includes how Capital Contributions translate to ownership percentage and how Title is held.

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Exit mechanics — how a co-owner leaves the arrangement, how the property is valued for a Buyout, how long a departing co-owner has to complete the exit, and where the funds come from. This includes the group's Exit Strategy and protections against Forced Sale or Partition Action.

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Ongoing obligations — how Shared Expenses are allocated, who pays for repairs and unexpected costs, and what happens when a co-owner fails to meet their financial obligations.

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Decision authority — how the group makes decisions, what happens when co-owners disagree, and what mechanism resolves deadlocks. This includes Dispute Resolution provisions in the Co-ownership Agreement.

How Viability Is Classified

Viability is expressed as one of three states:

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Aligned — the group has made explicit decisions on all four hard alignment factors.

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Aligned with gaps — the group demonstrates aligned intent, but one or more hard alignment factors remain unresolved or carry placeholder answers.

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Constrained — misalignment or unresolved hard factors are likely to block the group's ability to proceed.

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Surface-level consensus — such as agreeing on all intake questions — does not override the hard factor assessment. If the group's responses include provisional, uncertain, or avoidant answers on any hard alignment factor, the viability classification reflects that constraint regardless of overall consensus scores.

Why It Matters for Co-buyers

Many co-buying groups do not have explicit conversations about ownership structure, exit terms, cost allocation, or decision authority until after they are already on title together. By that point, unresolved differences can escalate into disputes, financial exposure, or legal action.

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Viability assessment surfaces these gaps before the group commits time or money. A classification of “Aligned with gaps” or “Constrained” does not mean the group cannot co-buy — it means specific decisions must be made and documented in the Co-ownership Agreement before the group is positioned to proceed safely.

Key Points

• An alignment readiness classification that evaluates decision-making preparedness, not financial capacity
• Assessed against four hard alignment factors: ownership structure, exit mechanics, ongoing obligations, and decision authority
• Expressed as one of three states: Aligned, Aligned with gaps, or Constrained
• Distinct from Eligibility, which evaluates financial feasibility
• Surface-level consensus does not override assessment of hard alignment factors
• Together with Eligibility, forms the basis of the CoBuy Readiness Assessment in the CoBuy Decision Brief™