Buying a Home With Friends: How to Build a Strong Partnership for Success
Hey everyone, Kristina here! I’m so excited to kick off this conversation as part of my "Buying With Friends" series.
If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you know I am diving deep into this topic and trust me, it’s one of my favorite ways to make homeownership more accessible.
Mindset Shift: There’s No One Right Way to Buy a Home
Let’s start with a simple truth: there is no one-size-fits-all way to buy a home.
A lot of people think homeownership has to follow the traditional path—saving for years, buying alone, and carrying all the responsibility yourself. But that’s just not the case.
Buying a home with a friend, sibling, or co-worker can open doors (literally!) that wouldn’t be possible on your own. You’re combining experiences, financial power, and resources to make a smarter investment and create a better life together.
The Reality of the Market: Challenges & Opportunities
The housing market is constantly evolving. Home prices are holding steady, interest rates are shifting, and competition is still fierce.
This is why I’m such a big believer in creative real estate strategies like buying with friends. It’s not just about affordability—it’s about building wealth and lowering financial stress.
Think about it:
✔️ You share the down payment.
✔️ You split monthly expenses.
✔️ You support each other financially and emotionally.
But while the benefits are huge, I won’t pretend this strategy is for everyone. It requires trust, alignment, and real conversations.
How to Find the Right Real Estate Partner
I developed a framework called the "Preferred Partnership Split"—a tool that helps you break down the financial and emotional aspects of buying with someone else.
Think of it like a compatibility test for co-ownership. You and your partner(s) should balance each other out in these four key areas:
1️⃣ Talent – Are you the one who loves research, managing renovations, or designing spaces?
2️⃣ Cash – How much money can each person contribute upfront and over time?
3️⃣ Buying Power – Who has the credit score and income to secure the loan?
4️⃣ Time – Who is willing to put in the effort to manage the property?
A strong partnership is built on balance. Maybe you bring the financing, and your friend handles property management. Or maybe one of you is the big-picture visionary, and the other is all about the details.
This is NOT about having equal amounts of money—it’s about leveraging each other’s strengths.
Challenges of Buying With Friends: Real Talk
Let’s be honest—co-owning a home isn’t always smooth sailing.
Before jumping in, ask yourself:
🔹 Are you comfortable having tough conversations?
🔹 How will you handle disagreements?
🔹 What happens if one of you wants to sell before the other?
I’ve seen friendships thrive through co-ownership, but I’ve also seen people fall out because they didn’t set clear expectations upfront.
That’s why in Part 2 of this series, I’ll cover how to legally protect yourself in a partnership, identify red flags, and create a solid operating agreement.
My Personal Experience: Buying With My Sister
To give you a real-life example, I bought a home with my sister in Seaside, Florida.
It wasn’t easy. It took us four years to go from idea to closing. We had different priorities at times, and we had to navigate a lot of external challenges. But we did it. Here’s a link to checkout our airbnb listing!
And now? That home is one of my favorite places on earth. It’s not just an investment—it’s a space that generates income and holds so many incredible memories.
💡 If you’re thinking about buying with a partner, ask yourself:
👉 How would owning this home improve my life?
👉 Am I more focused on equity growth or living in the home?
👉 What kind of partnership structure would set me up for success?
Make This Actionable: What Do You Bring to the Table?
Here’s my challenge for you: Figure out what YOU bring to a real estate partnership.
Write down which of the four categories you align with the most:
✔️ Talent
✔️ Cash
✔️ Buying Power
✔️ Time
This will help you position yourself when pitching the idea to friends, family, or potential co-buyers.
What’s Next?
If you’re excited about the idea of buying with a friend but not sure where to begin—you don’t have to figure it out alone.
The Open House community is where women across the country are connecting, learning, and forming real estate partnerships that actually work.
Inside, you’ll find:
👯♀️ A private space to meet potential co-buyers and accountability buddies
📅 Monthly live events like partnership deep dives, deal reviews, and Q&As
💬 Real-time conversations with women who are asking the same questions you are
📂 Resources to help you explore your buying power, structure deals, and move forward together
Whether you’re looking for clarity, strategy, or just someone to bounce ideas off of—you’ll find it here.
✨ Join the community and start connecting with women who get it →
Let’s make your next move the one that opens the door to something bigger.
Final Thoughts
Buying a home with friends is one of the smartest and most accessible ways to get into real estate. If you’re ready to explore it, I’m here to help.