Today, 18% of first-time buyers are unmarried couples, the National Association of Realtors found. Because of that, unmarried buyers need to take extra care to protect themselves and their finances before jumping into joint home ownership, Fiffik said. "For unmarried people buying a property, there are no laws or rules that govern what happens when that relationship breaks up," he said. Get honest about your financesBefore you even consider buying a home together, Fiffik suggested getting very honest about your finances. But unmarried couples have a few options when it comes to official ownership of the home, Fiffik said:Only one partner is on the deed and mortgage .

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Persons: homebuyers, Mike Fiffik, Fiffik, homeownership, —, they're, you've Organizations: NAR, Service, National Association of Realtors, Fiffik Law Locations: Wall, Silicon