Should couples buy a house before marriage?

Luis (No)

While couples can do whatever they want if they agree on the decision and feel good about it, it isn’t recommended to buy a house before getting married. After all, it's a highly complicated and often stressful decision that could create vast and unnecessary emotional turmoil between the couple, negatively impacting the relationship. In fact, experts have said that taking such a step before marriage tends to become a burden if the relationship deteriorates, as it complicates the decision to break up as the couple is now financially entangled with the property they bought.

Buying a house before getting married increases the financial risk involved in such a huge move, considering that sharing a mortgage is always a risk when one of the two has a difficult time contributing financially. Also, buying a house before marriage opens the risk of inheritance issues, considering that if a partner dies, the surviving one will face many problems regarding inheritance and ownership rights as they won’t benefit from the legal protections of marriage.

Moreover, taking such an important action before getting married can lead to legal complications if the couple breaks up, as dividing the jointly owned property can be expensive and complex without the marriage’s legal framework. Finally, buying a house before marriage can disincentivize long-term commitment, which is crucial for such a big financial decision.  

People’s decisions regarding their relationships are entirely respectable, as there’s no concrete strategy for happiness and stability. However, if we’re talking about buying a house, getting married first can make it all easier.

Emily (Yes)

In the past, serious relationships followed the same progression path: first, get married, then purchase a house and move in together. Since this order had been the norm for so long, marriage might seem like a necessary requirement for couples looking to purchase real estate. However, the qualifying factors for a mortgage are income, credit, and assets, meaning anyone in good standing can qualify regardless of marital status.

Additionally, it’s becoming increasingly common for couples to purchase real estate before marriage. In 2020, 38% of millennials said they would buy a home without being married to their partner. In 2023, it was reported that 70% of married couples lived together before marriage. Should a couple feel ready to buy a house, they should. In fact, the purchase puts them at a significant advantage as they can start building equity. Additionally, the longer one waits, the more expensive it will be to purchase property later. For example, the average home price in the US in 2022 was $348,079, which increased to $412,000 in 2023.

Furthermore, buying a house can strengthen relationships as the process offers financial clarity as everything gets put on the table. While being completely transparent with money may be intimidating for some, discussing this information early is better, as financial problems are a leading cause of relationship issues. While being married may come with certain legal benefits, couples in a committed relationship can be just as dedicated to each other as those who are married. Marriage is always an option, should they desire it, but that dream house may not be if they wait too long.