 TITLE: How to Buy a House Together—Even If You’re Not Married CONTENT: Draw Up an Agreement\n--------------------\nOnce you've determined how you will title the home, you should put everything about your purchase into writing. This is sometimes called a cohabitation agreement or a \"no-nup\" (as opposed to a prenup).\nYour agreement should outline who's covering which expenses (taxes, insurance, mortgage payments, utilities, etc.) during your tenancy, as well as what will occur in a variety of unforeseen circumstances, including a death, breakup or loss of income. Additionally, if one person is funding the down payment, they might want to include a schedule for repayment from the other party.\nSome questions your agreement should address: What happens if one of you loses your job? What if you break up and one or both of you want to remain in the house? Can one party buy the other out, and if yes, how long do they have to do so? Who will get the furniture and other items within the home?\nIf you want the agreement to stand up in court, it might be wise to have a real estate attorney draft or review it. No matter what, it's better to run through these scenarios now, when you're both feeling conciliatory and generous—because if you can't agree later, you'll have to let a court decide for you, which could result in a mountain of legal fees. END