Table of Content
- Buying a Home
- Check your home buying options
- Loan options when buying a house with parents or children
- Determine How the Home Was Purchased
- Types of Ownership Interests
- Handle Potential Issues Before They Arise
- Pros Of A Joint Mortgage Loan
- What Parties Are Involved When Getting A Mortgage And Buying A House?
You will need to have some equity built in the home to pull this off successfully, but if it's an option for you, it can be a way to remove other parties from the loan and refinance to sole ownership. Escaping the legal responsibilities of a joint mortgage typically requires a refinance to remove you or the other borrower from the loan. Similarly, if your co-borrower passes away, the responsibility for the entire loan falls to you. With a joint mortgage, you get the chance to pool your income with another person's. This can potentially give you the opportunity to pursue homes that would otherwise be out of your individual price range, not to mention you'll likely be able to qualify for a larger loan. So, why would you want to get a joint mortgage loan over a loan with just your name on it?

Most couples choose to share the house equally, in a 50/50, even split. This is called "joint tenancy" or, if you choose to have the survivor inherit the house in the event of the other's death, "joint tenancy with right of survivorship" . The JTWROS option allows the house to be transferred easily to the surviving person, without needing to go through probate.
Buying a Home
Legally, the most crucial aspect is agreeing on who owns the home and how it will be passed on,” says Robertson. The right loan type will depend on which family member apply for the loan, how strong their personal finances are, how much money they plan to put down, and other factors. It involves a transaction where one family member sells their current home to another family member. If you have the cash and want to own your home outright, this is the simplest strategy. One or more parties involved can pool their funds and purchase in one name or multiple names. In a tenant-in-common co-ownership structure, each of the owners are given a portion of the ownership.
You might need a home contractor, for instance, once you receive your home inspection results. Many times, the seller will agree to pay for repairs or adjust the price of the home to offset this expense. In some cases, the real estate attorney will handle the title search instead of the title company. Once they’re satisfied that there are no liens against a property, they’ll turn the results over to a title company to issue title insurance. Once hired, the home inspector will go through the house from top to bottom with you, pointing out any problems – from major foundational concerns to smaller, more easily repairable issues.
Check your home buying options
For his thoughts on home sharing to help you decide if it’s an option worth exploring. A conventional mortgage backed by Freddie Mac will allow up to five co-borrowers and a Fannie Mae-backed loan allows up to four co-borrowers. If one co-owner loses their job and can’t afford to contribute to the monthly housing expenses, the other owner will have to cover the shortfall to ensure that all bills are paid. Keep in mind that buying a home with another person isn’t a cure-all if you have financial issues.
From there you can select someone who all owners believe are a good match. Tenancy in common can be a good option for multiple owners who want to split responsibilities or divide up ownership. It’s also a solid way to set up fair ownership expectations for people who plan to contribute unequal amounts of money into the property.
Loan options when buying a house with parents or children
It’s important to consider the factors that impact co-ownership and getting a mortgage buy a house with multiple owners. Yes, many lenders are willing to let three owners buy a house together. But the borrowers will need to meet the financial requirements of the lender.

It can be difficult to agree on certain matters, such as who is responsible for upkeep and when, and what to do if one party wants to sell the home but the other does not. The concept of buying a home with someone else is relatively simple to understand. Co-buying essentially means you are a co-borrower on the mortgage loan.
One advantage of purchasing a home with another borrower is that it may lower your mortgage rate and increase your home buying budget. It can also be easier to qualify for a loan if you’re on the borderline of being eligible. This knowledgeable realtor will offer invaluable guidance during the entirety of the home sale. If need be, they can point joint owners in the direction of trustworthy attorneys, financial advisors, accounts, and more. Even if one of the owners is a realtor by trade, it could be beneficial to consult with a third, unbiased party.
The simplest resolution would be for the partner who wants to stay in the house to buy out the other. Of course, this is reliant on the idea that the remaining owner can obtain a mortgage to cover the full cost of the house. It is becoming more common for people to consider buying a house together even for investment purposes.
That means ensuring all approvals are in writing and signed where necessary. Keep this documentation in a safe place where you can retrieve it easily if needed for legal proceedings. There are many parties who will enter the process at different times during the home buying journey. Understand the steps of the buying process and when you’ll need other professionals to jump in so you can better navigate each step. Lean on your real estate agent or REALTOR® to make recommendations – it can save you a lot of time when you need to hire a specific professional – but feel free to do your own research.
If the owners didn't specifically spell out responsibilities in the initial agreement, now is the time to lay out the rules. Selling a home is an arduous endeavor and while an experienced realtor makes it easier, the owners will still need to provide input. Through the CRES legal assistance hotline, you’ll have access to experienced and qualified attorneys who specialize in litigation in the real estate industry. Issues can arise, particularly with deceased estates, where several parties have been left a property in the will of a loved one. It’s not uncommon for parties to disagree about what should be done with the property.
However, since you own only part of the property, you’ll also be splitting up any taxes based on your percentage of ownership. So, if you’re splitting ownership between one other owner, you’ll end up cutting the total tax base of the final sale in two. Of course, if you’re a married couple that’s sharing a property under joint tenancy and filing a single tax return, you won’t have a tax advantage.
That way, each owner is fairly considered and represented by the hired real estate agent. However, when many separate groups of people buy a house together, they often don't think about the potential resale process down the line. Getting multiple parties to agree on an offer, closing date, and move out date can be difficult.
Pros Of A Joint Mortgage Loan
Buying a home with a partner, friend or family member can be very exciting. Getting a joint mortgage can make homeownership more affordable and more feasible for many people, which makes it a good option for many first-time home buyers. Since two or more people are equally responsible for making payments, however, there can be some complications that come with a joint mortgage, particularly if you ever want to get out of it. They then put both names on the deed , and both contribute toward the monthly mortgage payment. However, this only works if the one partner can fully qualify for the mortgage by himself or herself, and you probably won't be able to borrow as much as you would if both incomes were listed on the mortgage. So how do you go about getting a mortgage or buying a home by two or more people?
If not, it will cause headaches and disagreements down the road, which may need to be remedied with attorneys or through the courts. On the positive side, sharing the burden of a home loan can make homeownership accessible to those for whom it might not be possible alone. What’s more, together you can probably make a larger down payment than you would be able to if you purchased alone. In special cases, joint owners should have stipulated who will receive what percentage at the time of a sale. Perhaps one family maintained the property and believes they are entitled to a larger share. Owning a home as tenants in common means you each own an undivided share of the entire property.