Buying Solo vs With a Partner: Mortgage and Legal Structure

Buying with a partner doubles the borrowing power and the things that can go wrong if you split. Give both salaries, the property price and that you are unmarried, and you get both routes modelled with the legal detail: joint tenants versus tenants in common, percentage splits, a deed of trust, and how joint income changes borrowing. For couples deciding how to buy together safely.

I'm deciding whether to buy my first property alone on my salary of {SOLO_SALARY} or jointly with {PARTNER_NAME} who earns {PARTNER_SALARY}. The target property is {PROPERTY_PRICE}. We are not married.

Model both scenarios with rigorous financial and legal detail. For the joint purchase: compare joint tenants versus tenants in common (including percentage splits and a deed of trust), how joint income affects borrowing capacity, and the legal exposure if the relationship ends. For the solo purchase: show the maximum I can borrow, schemes that might bridge the gap, and whether adding a guarantor or using a joint borrower sole proprietor mortgage is viable. Conclude with a decision framework based on relationship stage, income ratio, and risk tolerance.