Buying a two-family house with friends

That's what we're doing - we have been renting the same house for many years. That is exactly why we all want a solution that is fair to all parties involved.

I absolutely understand the basic idea, but with ownership there are different dependencies. You can end a rental agreement at any time and the landlord is on the other side. If you were to show details of your idea here, other people would certainly point out pitfalls and risks one after another, and not because everyone thinks narrow-mindedly, but because these are real and not unlikely. In addition, such a misjudgment can completely turn your life upside down or you can go bankrupt because of another person; none of this happens with a rental. Have you clarified whether land and living spaces can be divided?

I absolutely understand the basic idea, but with ownership there are other dependencies. A rent could be terminated at any time, and the landlord is on the other side. If you showed details of your idea here, other people would certainly point out pitfalls and risks one after another, and not because everyone thinks in a narrow-minded way, but because these are real and not unlikely. In addition, such a misjudgment can completely turn your life upside down or you could go bankrupt because of another person; none of this happens with a rental. Have you clarified whether the property and living spaces can be divided?

Yes, I absolutely agree with you – we are all aware of the risks involved. In the end, nobody can give a guarantee. We do have separate financing, but as I said: the liability is joint.

Basically, we can make a division declaration, yes. We have been searching for a suitable property for years, and now one of the participants has parental leave coming up – and that would mean a financing commitment for the next 12 months would initially be off the table – hence the time pressure.

So the 60:40 split of the property would probably not be okay for me if one apartment is in significantly worse condition. Who knows how land prices will develop in 30 years.... Is it possible to split the crucial part of the property 50:50 and not the protected areas? Unfortunately, I don't quite understand the notary's alternative solution. Overall, I would NEVER do something like this jointly liable. Not even with my sister.... I also don't understand why you are doing this?

So you get my financing because it’s not possible, otherwise you would get it. If you split it, everyone could expand at their own pace and according to their possibilities.

Basically, we can make a partition declaration, yes.

If you do that, there are still enough risks, but at least everyone is their own master then.

We are all aware of the risks involved

Don’t get me wrong, but I don’t believe that. Only when you are actually knee-deep in it do you really become aware. At the moment maybe the euphoria is still there, which is not bad, but building a house project requires objectivity. Because…… you also want security with a house, and that’s exactly what you then don’t have.

In the end, no one can give a guarantee.

But the question is why and with what risk I expose myself to this danger? I am sure there are other options even if they are not quite as comfortable, but they are more sustainable.

The liability is joint.

In my opinion, that is the absolute deal breaker. I really get stomach pains, even though it’s none of my business.
Without a partition, I would never do it; I had something similar myself 6 months ago, suddenly it was supposed to become joint ownership by fractions on the part of the owner, and then I backed out..... luckily. By the way, the notary also explained to me the risks this can bring. You don’t live together as now; financially you merge to some extent, and if one falls, the other falls too.

I agree with Pagoni. You write that you are aware of the risk. By that you mean that you have heard that it can also go wrong. Of course, that will not be the case with you ;-) If you were to consider that it might get serious with you, then joint liability would not be an option.

You understandably find it difficult because this is a difficult situation with many risks. My question is whether it really cannot be divided into individual condominiums, so that everyone is responsible for their own part? One possible option would be co-ownership in shares, but this also carries significant dangers. Things and especially people (including oneself) change....... I would never undertake such a project if it were not clearly divisible so that I or my family will always be self-sufficient no matter what happens on the other side.

What would be the advantage of co-ownership in shares?