Homeownership Raises Relationship Risks, Survey Shows

Unmarried couples can purchase a home together, but they lack the built‑in legal protections that marriage provides. Experts advise establishing clear ownership agreements and seeking legal, tax, and lending advice before signing a mortgage.

A recent survey of 1,000 American home‑buyers reveals that joint homeownership often strains relationships. About 26 % say the house will remain in their life longer than a partner, while 16 % would keep the home over the relationship if forced to choose. Roughly 29 % report that buying a home together has been the biggest source of relationship tension, and many millennials cite housing stress as a reason for using dating apps or feeling the home is the only thing holding the partnership together.