7 Money Conversations Every Couple Should Have Before Buying a House

Why You're Buying a Home

Well, because you're old enough, and it's about time, right? Not so much. Signing up to pay a mortgage for the next 20 or 30 years is no small agreement, and this is especially true when you will be relying on someone else to contribute, too.

April Davis, a dating expert and founder of Luma Matchmaking, urges couples to think critically and deeply about their motivations. Is it because you are both financially ready? Or are you trying to keep up with your friends? Is it better to buy than to rent in your current market?

Discussing these questions has a twofold benefit, according to Davis, who says not only do you identify your own reasons, but you also are able to see a clearer picture of your partner's perspective. "As long as both sides are honest with their partners and with themselves, it should be a great conversation to begin with, because the money talks only get trickier," she says.

What You Want in a Home

The home search is officially on! But before setting up meetings with realtors to negotiate their commission or diving into your savings accounts, psychologist Yvonne Thomas, PhD recommends taking a step back. Even if you are on the same page about why you want a home, you need to answer the "what" by identifying your top priorities for your future purchase.

If you've ever watched a house-hunting television show, you know what to think about: location, size, amenities, age of the property, and (of course) price. Be prepared for a heated discussion since it's unlikely you and your number one will agree on every little detail. The purpose here is to see if you can find a way to meet in the middle without losing your temper.

"By discussing these types of details and deal-breakers, the couple can pinpoint whether they are aligned enough or not on what they are ultimately looking for in a house to purchase," Thomas says. "This is where working together and compromising is very healthy and necessary."

How Much You Can Afford

Based on a number of factors, you and your partner may have different viewpoints on what's realistic to spend on housing. After all, some people are happy to be house rich versus house poor, meaning they want to pour more monthly income into a mortgage than anything else. If you're on the other side of the spectrum and want to spend as little as possible on housing, so you have the means to travel and purchase other items, it can be tricky to find a compromise.

"Coming to a decision on how much you both can afford to spend on a house is very crucial in making sure you both stay within your means to avoid future problems that could lead to big consequences financially and relationship-wise," Davis says.

To do this, both parties should come to the table with your honest-to-goodness financial pictures. This includes how much money you bring in each month respectively, any debt, all bills, and so on.

"Knowing how much you can realistically afford paves the way for how you will go about making the purchase because it ties into everything: what location you will settle on, how much down payment you will put towards the house, the features the house will come with, and so much more," Davis says.

Your Budget and Timeline to Save

Now that you have a ballpark estimate of your price range, it's time to team up and decide how you're going to save for a down payment and other closing costs. There is no magical percentage a couple needs to put down, but it's usually recommended to come with 20 to 30 percent, so you are paying interest rates for a shorter period of time and likely won't have to pay the additional cost of mortgage insurance.

It is very possible to save up enough cash for a house, especially with two incomes, but it takes work from both people. According to Thomas, your first goal is determining how you'll work together to make your house dreams a reality. As you go line-by-line through expenses, speak candidly about what you are willing to give up.

Can you get by on just Netflix and skip Hulu for a year? Could you go out to dinner once a week instead of twice? Do you really need to stay at a four-star hotel, or could you get by with a three? These cuts should be balanced between you and your partner since no one should have to carry the burden alone.

Who'll Be on the Deed and the Mortgage

Haines suggests thinking about whether you're both eligible to sign the mortgage. If your partner owns a company and works for him or herself, they have to be in business for at least a year in most states to be eligible for a mortgage. Or if your partner has a pretty bad credit score, for whatever reason, it could prevent them from getting a loan. These aren't the happiest convos to have, but they prepare you for any situation.

If only one name is on the deed, Haines suggests identifying potential disagreements that could sprout up, such as "This is my house, so I do what I want!"

"It can create a power differential and feelings of jealousy or resentment. There may be good reasons not to share equally in the deed and mortgage, but having open dialogue can help prevent feelings of a power differential," she says.

How You'll Split the Cost

During the house search, you discuss expenses such as the down payment, monthly mortgage bills, and closing costs. Later, once you've moved in and you're making the place your own, have a game plan and budget for home maintenance, unexpected breakdowns, and utility bills. These are all financial obligations, and each of you will be held accountable.

How are you going to split them? Is it 50-50? Or does that not make sense since you make far more than your partner? Or far less?

"There is no right way to split these—the most important thing is to get out all the expectations each other has about it," Haines says. "Make sure there is clear understanding at the outset, particularly about splitting the upkeep, so there are no surprises. And have ongoing conversations about this to ensure you are both still in alignment and there have been no major changes."

What Happens in the Event of a Breakup

Considering you're ready to take the next step and share home ownership on top of sharing an address, you probably aren't thinking about breaking up. And hopefully, you will never have to cross that bridge.

But if you do, you need a plan for how you would handle the home you purchased when you were happy and in love. You could even get this in writing with a lawyer to prevent emotions from being tied up too tightly in financial matters.

Consider how the profit or loss will be split if the house is sold, particularly if the costs of buying and maintaining the property weren't split evenly. You might also want to agree that one party will buy the other out and keep the home in the event of a breakup. Whatever the case, the key is to talk about it all sooner rather than later.