The Unmarried Couple’s Guide to Buying a House Together

Waiting until you’re married to buy a home together isn’t necessarily standard practice for couples anymore. These days, almost a quarter of long-term relationships are common law, according to Statistics Canada. In fact, Canada has the highest share of couples living together without being married, driven by Quebec, where 43% of couples have common-law unions.

Whatever the reason, buying something together is a big decision, and it’s important for couples to be ready for the financial and emotional commitment—and to be aware of some considerations unique to unmarried buyers (because there are definite differences in the eyes of the law.) 

We talked to a REALTOR®, a mortgage agent, and two couples’ therapists who all shared helpful insights for unmarried couples thinking about buying a home together. All four of our experts agreed that couples must:

• be emotionally ready;

• be financially aware;

• understand legal considerations; and

• be able to talk everything through before making the decision to buy.

  
  

Be transparent about your financial situation

Money is one of the biggest sources of conflict in a relationship, says Emily LeMoine, a registered psychotherapist at Grey Couch Counselling. Before making any big decisions, it’s crucial to have an honest conversation about your full financial pictures: be transparent about your income, debt, credit scores, and financial goals. Do the two of you have similar savings priorities and spending habits? How much of a strain will financial stress put on your relationship?

Not being up front about debt or a less-than-stellar credit history will only result in conflict—especially since applying for a mortgage means any issues will come to light pretty quickly.

“If anyone has a poor credit score or a lot of debt, it will come out in the mortgage application,” says Amanda Dindayal, mortgage agent, financial coach, and owner of RedPocketBook.ca. “All assets and debts need to be disclosed, so being honest about money now can reduce stress later.” 

She also says whoever is on title has to be on the mortgage application, so if either partner has a credit score that can impact their eligibility, it’s good to know that going in. Plus, if one of the partners is self-employed, it’s important to ensure all their taxes are up to date and they can show proof of consistent income.

Discuss how you’ll split living expenses

If you feel you’re ready to take the financial leap of buying a property together, it’s time for part two of the financial conversation: the specifics of how you’ll pay for the home and cover ongoing costs. Will you split the down payment and mortgage 50/50 or come up with a different arrangement? It’s up to you, but whatever you decide, be sure to document everything so you’re on the same page. 

“Couples should decide in advance how they will split the down payment, mortgage payments, maintenance costs, and other expenses,” says LeMoine. “A joint account for shared costs can work well, but it’s important to set clear guidelines before you buy, especially if you have significantly different salaries or have different priorities when it comes to purchases, renovations, and other big expenses. If one partner contributes more, documenting it can help prevent misunderstandings down the line.”

Have conversations about future financial goals

“A home is a big financial investment, but it’s also a significant emotional one,” says Ria Gulati, who’s also a registered psychotherapist at Grey Couch. “Explore everything from why you want to buy to how ready you both really feel. It isn’t uncommon to find that one partner is a lot more gung-ho about the idea than the other.” 

She recommends you also discuss your expectations for the future: while you may or may not be planning to get married, it’s important to talk about other things that will impact your future. 

• Do you plan to have kids?

• What are your career trajectories?

• Do you want to stay in the same place long-term?

• What would happen if one of you lost your job, got sick, or if your relationship ended?

Most couples don’t want to talk about money or the negative stuff like what happens if they break up—that’s understandable. They want to remain optimistic, but avoiding the negative now can mean unspoken differences and expectations, and a bunch of unpleasant conflict down the road. It’s crucial to make sure you’re on the same page from the beginning. 

Couples who have effective, consistent, open conversations about their emotional needs are more equipped to purchase a home together than those who avoid, suppress, or withhold emotional content, says LeMoine.

Should you put both names on the home title?

You might think laws around common-law relationships would entitle both partners to half if there’s a split, but that’s actually not the case. Common law couples aren’t automatically required to split property acquired during their relationship. Being listed on the title is the only way to ensure legal ownership of the home.

So what happens if, say, one person covered the whole down payment or paid more of the mortgage? If there’s no agreement in place from the start, things can get messy. 

“I would encourage an unmarried couple buying a property together to discuss each person’s financial contributions,” says Julian Kashani, a broker and REALTOR® at Property.ca. “They should draw up a contract based on these financial responsibilities and include future buyout terms.” 

He recommends unmarried couples go with one of two options: 

1. A joint tenancy, where both own the property 50/50.

2. For unequal ownership shares, a Tenants in Common agreement allows percentages to be specified.

   
   

Talk to a lawyer about your joint homeownership

Nobody plans to split up, but it’s prudent to protect yourself in case things don’t go according to plan. A legal professional can help you navigate the complexities of property ownership, draft a fair cohabitation agreement, and ensure both partners’ rights are protected.

Find a REALTOR® you both like

Are you working with a real estate professional who represents both of your interests? If one partner has a close connection with a REALTOR® who’s a friend or family member, the other partner might feel left out, resentful, or as though their needs and wants won’t be taken into consideration. It’s a good idea to select someone neutral who prioritizes both partners’ interests.

Buying a home together is a wonderful milestone in your relationship. To ensure the purchase is one that works for both of you now and in the long term, thoughtful planning and plenty of open communication will help ensure you end up in a place that works well for both of you. 

The information discussed in this article should not be taken as financial or legal advice. This article is for informational purposes only.

-Credits: Realtor.ca (30/04/2025) Tamara George The Unmarried Couple’s Guide to Buying a House Together