should i buy a house with my boyfriend?

Jamie, yes, unmarried couples buy homes together all the time, and you can both be on the mortgage. The lender will look at both of your incomes, credit, and debts, so talk to a lender early and run the numbers both ways. The bigger decision is how you hold title. The two common options are joint tenants with right of survivorship, where if one of you passes the other owns the whole house, and tenants in common, where you each own a share that can be unequal if one of you puts in more money. Your settlement company or an attorney can explain which fits you. I've lived this one. My wife and I bought two houses together before we were married, and we signed and notarized a cohabitation agreement that covered the house, among other things. Her family helped with the down payment, so it put everyone's mind at ease, and it was never mentioned again. I'm not an attorney, so have one draft yours, but put in writing who put in what, how you'll split costs, and what happens if one of you wants out. One more lesson from my own story: if you get married, take another look at the deed. About 12 years later, while we were buying an investment property, our title rep noticed both houses still had the wrong vesting for a married couple. A few hundred dollars in recording fees fixed it, but it's easier to handle on your own schedule than in the middle of a deal. Plan for the what-ifs while you're both still getting along. Mike Fielder, REALTOR® | The Key Home Team of Cummings & Co. Realtors

Whether you "should" or not, is probably a question that only you can answer. But, unmarried couples purchase homes together all the time. The key is making sure the financial and legal details are clearly established from the beginning. There are three separate pieces to think about: 1. The mortgage You can absolutely apply for and sign a mortgage together. The lender will evaluate both borrowers’ income, debt, and credit, and the weaker credit profile can affect the loan terms and interest rate. It’s also important to understand that each borrower is responsible for the entire mortgage obligation—not simply 50% of the payment. If one person stops contributing, the lender can still look to the other for the full amount due. 2. The title This determines how you legally own the property, and it deserves just as much attention as the mortgage. Two common options are joint tenancy, which generally provides equal ownership with survivorship rights, and tenancy in common, which allows ownership percentages to be divided differently—for example, 60/40 if one person contributes more toward the purchase. The way title is structured can also affect what happens to each person’s interest upon death. For unmarried buyers, getting this right is especially important. It's easy to accomplish though; your title clerk can do this for you at the settlement table. 3. A co-ownership agreement Before closing, it’s smart to put the “what ifs” in writing. A co-ownership agreement can spell out who contributes what toward the down payment and monthly expenses, how unequal contributions are treated, what happens if one person wants to sell, how a buyout would be valued, and what happens if one owner is temporarily unable or unwilling to contribute. It may not be the most romantic conversation you'll ever have, but a little planning now can prevent some very expensive and ugly disagreements later. I’m a Realtor, not an attorney, so I recommend having a Pennsylvania real estate attorney advise you on how to take title and prepare the appropriate co-ownership agreement. Best of luck!

Hi Jamie. Buying together can be a smart move over renting, and yes, two unmarried people can absolutely sign for a mortgage and take title together. The lender will look at both of your incomes, debts, and credit scores, and often the lower of the two credit scores drives the rate, so it is worth both of you knowing your numbers before you shop. The more important part, and the part most couples skip, is deciding on paper what happens if life changes. Start with how you hold title. Unmarried co-buyers usually take title as tenants in common, which lets each of you own a defined share (it does not have to be 50/50 if one of you puts in more), or as joint tenants with right of survivorship. How you vest affects what happens if one of you dies or wants out, so choose deliberately rather than by default. Then put the what-ifs in a written cohabitation or property agreement, ideally drafted by an attorney. Spell out who pays what share of the down payment, mortgage, taxes, and repairs, how you would value and divide the home if you split, whether one person gets the first right to buy the other out, and how you would handle a sale, including who lists it and how proceeds are split. It feels unromantic, but it is exactly what protects the relationship if things get complicated, because you decided the rules while you both felt generous. One financial note: you are both fully liable for the whole mortgage, not just your half, so if one stops paying, the lender looks to the other and both of your credit is on the line. Next step: talk to a lender to confirm what you qualify for jointly, and have a local real estate attorney prepare a co-ownership agreement before you close. Pennsylvania title and property rules differ from California, where I am licensed, so please confirm the local specifics with an agent or attorney licensed in Pennsylvania. Alla Novytska, Realtor®, JohnHart Real Estate, DRE #02254775

Hi Jamie, you can purchase a home with your boyfriend before marriage, but you should approach the decision as both a relationship commitment and a legally binding business arrangement. Yes, you can apply for a mortgage together; the lender will evaluate both of your incomes, credit histories, debts, employment, and financial obligations. It is important to understand that each borrower is responsible for the entire mortgage payment, not merely their half. If your boyfriend stops paying, the lender can still hold you responsible for keeping the loan current, and missed payments could damage both of your credit reports. Before purchasing, have an attorney prepare a written co-ownership or property agreement to show each person's down-payment contribution and ownership percentage, responsibility for the mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs, and improvements; what happens if one person wants to move out; how a buyout is calculated; how long the remaining owner has to refinance; when the home must be placed on the market; how sale proceeds or losses will be divided; and what happends if one person dies, becomes disabled, or stops making payments. Something to think about.

1. Yes — you can both sign for the mortgage Lenders allow: Unmarried couples Friends Family members Business partners As long as both of you qualify financially, you can be co‑borrowers on the loan and co‑owners on the deed. Your relationship status doesn’t affect your ability to buy. 2. But signing together means you’re legally tied to each other This is the part most people don’t think about: If both names are on the mortgage: You’re both 100% responsible for the payment If one person stops paying, the other is still fully liable Late payments affect both credit scores You can’t sell or refinance without both signatures Buying a home together is a financial partnership, even if you’re not married yet. 3. Protect yourselves with a simple co‑ownership agreement This is the smartest move you can make. A real estate attorney can draft a short, clear agreement that outlines: Who pays what What happens if you break up How buyouts work How equity is divided What happens if one person wants to sell and the other doesn’t How repairs and upgrades are handled Think of it as a relationship insurance policy — it protects both of you and prevents messy situations later. Top agents recommend this every time two unmarried buyers purchase together. 4. If you break up later, you have three clean options A. One buys out the other You refinance into one person’s name and pay the other their share of equity. B. You sell the home and split the proceeds This is the simplest and most common path. C. You keep the home jointly as an investment Only works if the relationship stays amicable and the agreement is strong. 5. If you get married later, ownership is easy to adjust You can: Add a spouse to the deed Refinance together Update your ownership structure Marriage simplifies the legal side, but it’s not required to buy. 6. The calm truth Buying together can be a smart financial move — but it’s still a business decision. When you combine love and real estate, clarity is your best friend. A strong agent and a real estate attorney will help you structure this in a way that protects both of you, supports your future, and keeps the process smooth.

Hi Jamie, great question, and Tyler's caution about putting things in writing is the right instinct. Let me fill in the mechanics, because unmarried couples buy homes together all the time and it works fine when it is set up deliberately. Three separate things to understand: - The mortgage: yes, you can both sign. Keep in mind the lender will underwrite both of you, and your rate is generally driven by the lower of your two credit profiles. Also, both of you are each fully responsible for the whole payment, not half. If one person walks away, the bank still expects 100 percent from the other. - The title: this is the part couples skip. You will choose how to hold ownership, commonly joint tenancy (equal shares, survivorship if one of you passes) or tenants in common (shares can be unequal, say 60/40 to match unequal down payments, and each share passes by will). Since you are not married, this choice matters a lot. - The agreement: before closing, sign a simple co-ownership agreement covering who pays what monthly, how unequal contributions are credited, what triggers a sale, how a buyout price gets set (for example, an appraisal at the time), and what happens if one of you cannot pay for a few months. It feels unromantic for an afternoon and protects you both for years. I am a real estate professional, not an attorney, so have a Pennsylvania attorney paper that agreement and advise on how to take title. I am based in Los Angeles, in the South Bay, but I am happy to connect you with a great agent in the Pittsburgh area from my network if you would like local guidance. Zoltan

Yes you can, but I have seen this go south many times so I would advise to proceed with caution. If you do end up breaking up, you'll both need to agree to either one person buying the other out, or selling and splitting the proceeds. It wouldn't be a bad idea to put this in writing ahead of time in case things don't end amicably. Hopefully you just get married and it's all good, but that's your judgement call. Short answer, yes you can buy a home together.