Take your relationship to the next level this Valentine’s Day

February 11, 2014

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, it's not unusual for many people to contemplate the future with their loved one. Some people dream of marriage and children, while for others, purchasing a property together may come into the equation.

Mortgage Choice spokesperson Jessica Darnbrough says focusing on a shared dream of property possession can often help couples get into the market sooner.

According to Ms Darnbrough, purchasing a property with someone else, such as a partner, spouse, family member or friend, is an increasingly popular and viable way for many Australians to enter the property market.

“The latest Mortgage Choice Future First Home Buyer survey found 67% of Australians plan to buy with a partner, spouse, family member or friend – significantly higher than the 30% who said they would purchase a property on their own,” Ms Darnbrough said.

“Purchasing with someone else often makes property ownership more affordable. It is a strategy that enables potential buyers to pool their money for a deposit and utilise their borrowing power to get a loan. Co-owners can split the cost of the property and all the associated expenses, so that repayments are noticeably less than what you'd pay if you were buying solo,” she said.

So if you're thinking of taking your relationship to the next level this Valentine's Day by  purchasing your dream home with the one you love, there are a few things to consider before jumping in head first:

• Know what both parties want: When considering purchasing a property with someone else, it is important to know whether or not you both plan to live in the property, or earn income from renting it out partially or wholly. Concessions and grants along with tax breaks and other possible outcomes - both negative and positive - of an investment need to be taken into account.

• Insurance is essential: Nobody ever expects bad things to happen, especially when you are first starting your home buying journey with that special someone. That said, accidents do happen, so it is important to have both your life and home properly insured. A Mortgage Choice broker can provide you with more information.  

• Co-ownership agreement: Not everyone purchases property with their partner or spouse; many buy with friends, family and colleagues. If you're thinking of buying in co-ownership with another, an agreement should be drawn up as a cornerstone legal document for your investment. This will set out the roles and responsibilities of each co-owner and deal with all the important issues upfront, like what happens if one party wants to sell.

Whether you are buying with a spouse/partner or in co-ownership with a friend, family member or colleague, purchasing property is an incredible milestone. And, provided everything is set up well, purchasing property with a significant other can be both enjoyable and profitable. After a period of time, you and the other party/ies may be able to make a healthy gain from the initial investment and you could even use the capital or equity to buy your next property.

If you want to learn more about your home loan options, call 13 77 62. Or, visit Facebook.com/MortgageChoice or Twitter.com/MortgageChoice. 

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Lauren Booke  
Mortgage Choice Corporate Affairs
(02) 8907 0502 / 0448 240 047 
Lauren.booke@mortgagechoice.com.au

Amity Harrold 
PPR 
(02) 9818 9334 / 0434 975 868
Amity.harrold@ppr.com.au  

About the survey

The Mortgage Choice 2013 Future First Homebuyer/Recent First Homeowner Survey of 1,000 Australians who were looking to purchase their first home in the next two years or who bought their first home in the last two years ran online in September 2013.