Is a ‘friends’ mortgage’ a good idea?

In the past most people that were buying a home either did so alone or with a partner/husband, which was the traditional way of getting a first home. However, things have really changed over recent years, and these days many people cannot afford to buy a home on their own.

This means that many have had to look at alternatives when it comes to moving out from their parents or from rented accommodation and trying to get their foot onto the property ladder, and things aren’t always easy, particularly given the difficulties that many face when it comes to raising a deposit and getting a mortgage in the current financial climate.

One of the solutions that some people have considered is to get a mortgage out with a friend, whereby both friends – or a group – are all in on the mortgage and they buy the property between them. This can certainly solve a few problems, such as being able to raise the amount needed for the deposit and being able to borrow the amount required for the property.

However, this can cause issues in the event that one of the friends involved wants to sell up and move on, as it means that they would have to get rid of their share of the mortgage. Another problem is if there is a falling out, and whilst most friends hope that they will never come to blows to a degree where things cannot be resolved this can happen.

Whilst a friends’ mortgage can be a good way of getting onto the property ladder in the current financial climate it is important for anyone getting involved to ensure that they consider both the pros and cons before making any firm decision or commitment, as things otherwise turn very sour very quickly – and it could end up being a costly mistake.

For those that do not really want to get involved in a mortgage with someone else but do want to get onto the property ladder another solution is to look at shared ownership, where only part of the property is purchased and the remainder is rented through a housing association and can be purchased in stages at a later date as and when the buyer is in a financial position to buy further shares in the home. The buyer then has the choice of buying the remainder of the home until it has all been purchased or remaining a part owner and selling their share when they decide to move on.

Tags: share, friends, property, Mortgage loan, mortgage