50% of Something Is Better Than 0% of Nothing

When it comes to buying a home in California, many people get stuck chasing the dream of owning the perfect house all on their own. They wait, they save, and they watch prices climb higher and higher. By the time they’re “ready,” the dream home has moved out of reach.

But here’s the truth: owning part of something good is infinitely better than owning nothing at all. Creative, affordable solutions exist that can help you get into the market sooner, build equity, and share in appreciation — even if you can’t do it alone.

Co-Buying with Friends or Family

There are many different ways for friends and families to co-buy homes together.  

• Perhaps you and partner split 50/50 on the down payment and the monthly payments of a starter home. 

• Perhaps one partner (parents?) puts in the down payment while the other (working adult child) makes the monthly mortgage payments. 

•  Perhaps two partners buy a duplex and each live in one side.

• Perhaps two partners buy a 4-plex, each live in one unit, and rent the remaining 2 units to lower the carrying costs.

A Good Prenuptial Agreement is Essential

We always recommend partners to exchange their credit scores and put together a written partnership agreement before they buy a home together, even when partners are parent-and-child, or boyfriend-girlfriend.  Think of it as a “prenuptial agreement” for homeowners. 

The agreement spells out who owns what percentage, how costs are shared, and what happens if one partner wants to sell while the other partner wants to stay.  This protects everyone involved and makes co-buying a viable option for people who otherwise couldn’t afford a home on their own.  

Check out Nestment – a start-up helping partners decide what to buy, how to buy, and how to build a strong, lasting partnership.  They also have a team of coaches and mortgage lenders to help you along with way.

California Context - Why Partial Ownership Beats Waiting

In California, where home prices rise faster than most people can save, creative solutions are not just helpful — they’re essential. Each year you wait, the gap widens. Each year you own, your equity grows.  By embracing co-buying you can secure your place in the market now.

• Equity grows over time. Even partial ownership allows you to benefit from rising home values.

  
  

• Appreciation compounds. A modest home today can generate tax-free gains under IRS Section 121 Homeowners Tax Exclusion, which you can roll into your next purchase, perhaps by yourself without any partners.

  
  

The math is simple: 50% of the appreciation on a modest home is infinitely better than 0% of the appreciation on a dream home you never buy.

Final Thoughts

Homeownership can be stressful.   But you don’t have to do it alone.  And it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.  Consider co-buying.  Because 50% of something — equity, appreciation, ownership — is always better than 0% of nothing. And once you’re in the market, you can build from there, step by step, toward your dream home.

Contact us today to see how co-buying can put you on the path to ownership in California.

Feel free to share your experiences or insights in the comments section

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