Co-Buying: How Friends and Family Are Teaming Up in 2025
What Is Co-Buying?
Co-buying is when two or more people team up to purchase a home together. In 2025, it’s more than a trend. It’s a response to rising home prices, limited inventory, and shifting priorities.
Instead of buying solo, buyers pool their savings, combine income, and share the responsibilities of homeownership.
Think about this: would you rather rent longer or co-buy and own sooner?
Why People Are Choosing Co-Buying in 2025
1. Rising Home Prices in Ontario
Home prices across Ontario continue to rise. In the Greater Toronto Area, the average home now costs over $1.1 million source: Toronto Regional Real Estate Board. Solo buyers are often priced out. Co-buying offers a solution.
By combining incomes, buyers qualify for larger mortgages. This opens access to homes in better locations with long-term value.
2. Lower Upfront Costs
Down payments are one of the biggest barriers. With co-buying, you split this cost. A 20% down payment on a $900,000 home is $180,000. Two people each save $90,000. Four people? $45,000 each.
This approach reduces the time it takes to save and speeds up your entry into the market.
3. Shared Monthly Expenses
Homeownership comes with ongoing costs:
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Mortgage payments
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Property taxes
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Maintenance and repairs
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Insurance and utilities
When you co-buy, you share these. It makes ownership manageable — and sustainable.
Who Is Co-Buying in Ontario?
Friends and Roommates
Lifelong friends and current roommates are stepping into co-ownership. They’re already used to sharing space. Now they’re sharing equity.
Siblings and Extended Family
Families want to help each other build wealth. Siblings pool resources. Parents co-buy with adult children. Cousins buy investment properties together.
Co-Workers and Business Partners
Even colleagues are co-buying. Shared values and goals make them strong partners.
How to Make Co-Buying Work
Start With a Legal Agreement
Every successful co-buy starts with clear terms — in writing. A co-ownership agreement protects everyone.
It should cover:
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Who pays what
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Who owns what percentage
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What happens if someone wants out
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Rules around renting, refinancing, or renovations
Legal templates and services like CoBuy Canada are helping buyers create formal contracts.
Choose the Right Ownership Structure
There are two common options:
Joint Tenancy: Equal ownership. If one person dies, their share passes to the other owner(s).
Tenants in Common: Ownership can be unequal. Each person’s share passes to their estate.
Work with a real estate lawyer to decide what’s right for your group. This decision affects taxes, inheritance, and refinancing.
Plan Your Exit Strategy
Not all co-owners will want to live together forever. Agree in advance:
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How long you’ll co-own
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What triggers a sale
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Buyout options
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Dispute resolution
This isn’t about trust — it’s about clarity.
Talk About Lifestyle Expectations
Buying together means living together. That takes alignment.
Discuss:
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Cleaning, chores, and household expenses
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Guest policies
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Pets
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Shared vs. private spaces
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Long-term goals
Avoid assumptions. Set expectations early.
Is Co-Buying Right for You?
Ask yourself:
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Do you have someone with similar financial goals?
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Are you comfortable sharing major decisions?
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Can you agree on location and home type?
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Are you ready to talk openly about money?
If yes, co-buying could help you move faster and smarter.
Design Matters: Making Shared Homes Work
More buyers are customizing properties to suit multiple owners.
Secondary Suites
Basement apartments offer privacy and rental income. Ideal for co-owners with different routines.
Duplex Conversions
Side-by-side living works for friends and families who want proximity without shared interiors.
Separate Entrances and Kitchens
Modular layouts provide flexibility. One home, multiple units — each with independence.
Speak to a contractor or architect about what’s possible with Ontario building codes.
Challenges to Prepare For
Co-buying isn’t perfect. You need to plan for:
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Job changes
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Relationship shifts
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Financial hardship
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Unexpected repairs
But with the right agreements and honest conversations, you reduce risk and build trust.
Real Buyers. Real Stories.
At LifestyleVideos.com, you can watch short films of real buyers who chose co-buying in the GTA. See how they:
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Found the right partners
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Designed their homes
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Structured their deals
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Built wealth together
These videos offer insights you won’t get in a brochure. They show what co-buying really looks like.
Ready to Explore Co-Buying?
Co-buying isn’t for everyone. But for many, it’s the only way to buy in today’s market.
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
At LifestyleVideos.com, you’ll find:
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Video tours of shared homes
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Advice from real estate agents
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Tools to plan your next step
For expert insights on home value, market trends, selling strategies, staging advice, negotiating tips and real estate videos, visit LifestyleVideos.com to browse properties, real estate videos, neighbourhoods insights, real estate market trends, and connect with local agents.
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