{"id":6400,"date":"2026-05-07T11:04:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T11:04:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandpointrealtyidaho.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/07\/could-co-buying-be-the-answer-for-some-first-time-buyers\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T11:04:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T11:04:15","slug":"could-co-buying-be-the-answer-for-some-first-time-buyers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandpointrealtyidaho.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/07\/could-co-buying-be-the-answer-for-some-first-time-buyers\/","title":{"rendered":"Could Co-Buying Be the Answer for Some First-Time Buyers?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Could\n

For a lot of would-be first-time buyers<\/a>, affordability is the thing that\u2019s standing in the way. But some buyers are getting creative and finding a way to still make the numbers work \u2013 and that\u2019s through co-buying<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Dream Is Still Alive. The Math Just Isn\u2019t Working for Everyone.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Young people haven\u2019t given up on the dream of owning a home<\/a> \u2013 not even close. According to FirstHome IQ<\/em>, homeownership still ranks among the top life goals for the next generation.<\/p>\n

The problem? 73%<\/strong><\/a> of Gen Z and millennial buyers cite affordability as the reason for not making homeownership a priority.<\/strong> And it shows. First-time buyers now make up just 21%<\/strong><\/a> of all home purchases<\/strong>, the lowest share since the National Association of Realtors<\/em> (NAR) started tracking the data in 1981.<\/p>\n

But still, some buyers are making it happen. And a portion of them are turning to co-buying to get their foot in the door.<\/p>\n

So, What\u2019s Co-Buying?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Co-buying<\/strong> means purchasing a home with someone else, like a friend, sibling, or unmarried partner. You combine incomes, split the down payment, and share monthly costs. For some people, it\u2019s a creative way to turn \u201csomeday\u201d into a concrete move-in date that\u2019s just around the corner.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s catching on fast, just look at where things stand today. According to CoBuy.io<\/em>, 64 million Americans now co-own a home with someone they\u2019re not married to. In fact, 31.5% of home purchases involve co-buyers<\/strong> (see graph below<\/em>):<\/p>\n

Why It Works<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Here are just a few of the top reasons buyers are going this route, according to NerdWallet<\/em>:<\/p>\n