{"id":103647,"date":"2026-02-08T10:32:35","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T18:32:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?p=103647"},"modified":"2026-02-10T11:02:48","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T19:02:48","slug":"unmarried-couple-buying-a-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/unmarried-couple-buying-a-house\/","title":{"rendered":"Buying a House as an Unmarried Couple: 8 Steps to Plan and Protect Your Investment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Buying a house as an unmarried couple can be a smart financial move, especially as the\u00a0 <\/span>cost of living<\/span><\/a> continues to rise. More couples today are choosing to buy a home together before getting married because it makes financial sense, but it does come with a few extra challenges around mortgages, legal protections, and ownership. In fact, unmarried couples are the group most likely to struggle with housing costs\u2014<\/span>76%<\/span><\/a> of those who live together report having trouble making payments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re searching for a home in <\/span>Austin, TX<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Seattle, WA<\/span><\/a>, or <\/span>Atlanta, GA<\/span><\/a>, this guide will help you navigate the process of buying a house as an unmarried couple and make informed decisions along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n

A quick comparison of buying a home unmarried vs. married<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Aspect<\/b><\/td>\nUnmarried couple buying a house<\/b><\/td>\nMarried couple buying a house<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ownership<\/span><\/td>\nMust choose how to hold title (joint tenancy or tenants in common)<\/span><\/td>\nGenerally considered joint property by default<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Legal protection<\/span><\/td>\nNo automatic rights if you separate or one partner dies\u2014requires legal documents<\/span><\/td>\nProtected by marital property and inheritance laws<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Financing<\/span><\/td>\nCan apply for a joint mortgage; both are equally responsible for repayment<\/span><\/td>\nCan apply jointly; liability and ownership typically shared<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Taxes<\/span><\/td>\nCannot file taxes jointly; limited deductions<\/span><\/td>\nCan file jointly and access certain tax benefits<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Separation<\/span><\/td>\nMust agree or go to court to divide property<\/span><\/td>\nDivision handled through divorce laws<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

1. Get aligned on the home you want to buy<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before diving into the logistics of buying a home as an unmarried couple, you want to start with your vision and goals as partners. This early alignment helps avoid disagreements later and ensures you’re making decisions as a team from the start.<\/span><\/p>\n

Questions to ask each other include as you begin browsing listings on Redfin:<\/span><\/p>\n