Co-owning a home: Pros, cons, and how to start
You’re considering becoming a homeowner but aren't sure you can afford to do it alone. This is where Here is what you need to know about co-ownership, including how it works, its benefits and drawbacks, the differences between co-ownership and whole home ownership and how to get started. What is co-ownership? Co-ownership occurs when two or more parties jointly own an asset such as a home. In this arrangement, all owners are listed on the asset's title, signifying that each holds a specific percentage of ownership. Opting for co-ownership means entering into a legal and financial partnership with the other buyers and an agreement about shared property access. How does co-ownership of a house work? Co-owners of a house share obligations like property taxes and mortgage payments. Each co-owner must agree to decisions like renovations made to the property. Co-owners are also typically Shared ownership homes may work through either a joint tenancy structure or a What is a co-owned home? A co-owned home is a property purchased and owned jointly by two or more people. All owners are included on the title of the home, and all parties hold a portion of ownership in the property. When you buy a shared ownership house with other buyers, you enter into a financial and legal partnership and a new living arrangement. Why is co-ownership on the rise? Co-ownership has traditionally involved a group of friends or family members coming together to buy a second home, or a child inheriting a house from their parents or grandparents. While co-ownership isn’t a new concept, it has become a more viable Types of co-ownership There are different Tenancy in common A tenancy in common (TIC) is for two or more people with an ownership interest. Tenants may have unequal investment stakes. For example, one owner might have an 80% interest with two co-owners at 10% apiece. Often, this corresponds to the financial investment contributed at the original purchase. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the deed, TICs do not have rights of survivorship. Property shares pass to an heir if a tenant dies instead of the remaining tenants. Tenancy in common is available for everyone, regardless of their marital status. Joint ownership All tenants are granted their deeds at the same time and, upon death, agree to pass the property on to their co-owners via survivorship rights to avoid probate. Owners must demonstrate the “four unities” to qualify: Community property Married couples may co-own title as community property in nine states: Arizona, Texas, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington and Wisconsin. These states recognize couples as a single financial entity. A right of survivorship must be specified so that when one spouse dies, the other can automatically take over the title. Unlike JTWROS, there’s no guarantee of automatic survivorship rights. Tenancy by the entirety Married couples can also choose tenancy by the entirety (TBE) as their co-ownership model. TBE is a type of joint tenancy that comes with survivorship rights. This ensures the property avoids a costly probate process and passes immediately into the widowed spouse’s hands. Tenancy by the entirety views couples as one financial entity, so the property is considered to be owned by “one person.” Modern co-ownership Pacaso is an example of modern co-ownership, the new way to co-own luxury vacation homes. Modern co-ownership comes with some key differentiators, such as: Pros and cons of co-owning a home As an alternative to buying a whole second home, co-owning a house offers owners a unique set of benefits for buyers, as well as things to consider: What’s needed to start a co-ownership agreement? Whether you are doing Common elements of a successful co-ownership agreement include: Types of co-owners You can co-own a home with a family member, friend and even a stranger. The people you’re looking to co-purchase a home with could influence the type of co-ownership. For example, friends, partners and strangers might consider a TIC or joint ownership, while married couples might benefit from community property and TBE. Buying a home with other people is a major undertaking, regardless of the co-owner. Not only is DIY co-ownership challenging, but it also presents factors outside of your control. Job changes, financial disruption, health issues and other major life and lifestyle changes could impact each person’s commitment to the second home. Co-ownership mortgage differences If you decide to purchase a home through co-ownership, you and your co-owners will likely take out one mortgage loan — unless you plan on paying all in cash. Advantages of co-ownership mortgages include: But you’ll also need to consider: If you are co-purchasing a home part of a TIC, you may qualify for a fractional loan that reduces your financial responsibility to only your loan and not your co-owner’s. However, Differences between a co-signer and co-buyer A co-buyer (or co-owner) is different from a co-signer regarding ownership and payment. Co-signers take full responsibility for a loan along with a primary signer, but they do not have any ownership rights to the home. In contrast, a co-buyer has equal or similar rights to other buyers co-owning the home. Another difference is that co-buyers are responsible for payment from the start of the loan. Co-signers, however, only assume responsibility if the primary signer is unable to make their mortgage payments. Selling a home with co-owners If you decide to sell your home, there are scenarios to consider: The first is where all owners want to sell, and the second is when one owner wants to sell their ownership interest but the others do not. If all owners of a co-ownership property decide to sell, the situation is less complicated, as there would be no debate over the right to sell. Outlining these terms in the co-ownership agreement from the beginning is critical. What happens when only one person wants to sell? With certain co-ownership models like tenancy in common or joint ownership, you have the right to sell your interest in the home. While you cannot sell without the permission of the other owners (as you do not hold sole ownership), you can still share your share at any given time once approved. The buyer of your share — which could be another co-owner — would take on the same portion of ownership that you held in the property. H2: Co-ownership vs. fractional ownership While co-ownership and However, unlike timeshares, co-ownership and fractional ownership models provide deeded ownership, Tips for co-buying a house If you’re thinking co-buying is for you, here are some additional tips to consider: Co-own a home today Co-owning a home empowers people to own property and build equity while lowering the financial and logistical burdens of buying and owning a whole house.
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