If you’re a homebuyer—or a first-time homebuyer—making strong income and thinking about purchasing a home on your own without your significant other on the loan, I want to offer some perspective before you pull the trigger.

It’s a common thought process:
“I’ll buy the home in just my name, and that way my partner can still qualify as a first-time homebuyer down the line.”

On the surface, this seems like a savvy move. After all, there are several first-time homebuyer programs that require no down payment or offer significant benefits. Keeping your partner’s name off the loan now could preserve their eligibility later.

But here’s the part you’ll want to think twice about…

The Down Payment is Just One Part of the Equation

Let’s say you’re looking at a $600,000 home. If you’re using a 3% down payment program, that’s $18,000 out-of-pocket—not a small amount, but doable for many strong buyers.

But what are you giving up?

The Real Trade-Off: Purchasing Power

If you leave your partner off the loan—even though they have good credit, solid income, and stable employment—you’re giving up what I like to call income velocity. That’s the multiplier effect of combining two incomes to qualify.

More income means more house.
More house means more options.
And in this market, options matter.

Qualifying solo means you’re capping yourself at a certain loan amount based on just your income, even though the cost of living and housing prices continue to rise.

Is Preserving First-Time Buyer Status Worth It?

Sure, keeping your partner’s name off the loan might preserve their “first-time homebuyer” status, which could make them eligible for certain programs later. But if you’re sacrificing your ability to get the home you truly want now—or end up stretching financially because of the limited budget—that marginal benefit may not be worth it.

Especially because many first-time buyer programs are income-restricted. So if you and your partner are both high earners, it’s possible that by the time they’re ready to buy their own place, they may no longer qualify for those perks anyway.

When It Might Make Sense

Now, if your income is high, your credit is excellent, and you’ve got the down payment dialed in without needing your partner’s help, then by all means—go solo. In some cases, this can be a strategic move.

But if you’re doing it only to preserve a future benefit without considering the cost to your current opportunity, that’s where you’ll want to pause.

Final Thoughts

Buying a home is a major decision—one that should balance today’s goals with tomorrow’s possibilities. If the goal is to get the best home you can afford right now, using both incomes and credit profiles is likely to give you more runway.

The good news? You’ve got options, and I’m here to help you weigh them. Whether you’re flying solo or buying with a partner, let’s structure the deal that works for your long-term plan.

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