Buying a house with my girlfriend

[Michael Caril]

My girlfriend and I live together and instead of renting another place I have been looking for a home to buy. I found one that we both like and I can afford on my own.

I am planning on purchasing the house myself and not charging her rent but instead asking her to pay the utilities/cable bills and some other non-mortgage related expenses.

Later on, would she have any claim to ownership of the house?

If so, can I further protect myself in any way, such as using a co-borrower or having my sister purchase the house and I pay the mortgage amount to her?

[Bill Walston]

In most states she would not, especially if she is not on the deed or mortgage. Do not have her make any of the mortgage payments. As a further suggestion, do not pay the mortgage from a joint bank account should you have one. You should be able to document that all payments were strictly from your own funds.

To be on the safe side, you should probably run this question by your real estate attorney :D