Buying your first home is exciting and nerve‑racking. Between inspections, interest rates, and down payments, it’s easy to push “legal planning” to the bottom of the list. But if you’re a first‑time homeowner who is getting married, a tailored prenuptial agreement can protect your biggest investment: your home. A modern online prenup with First helps you decide together what happens to the house, the equity, and the mortgage if life doesn’t go according to plan.
Why first-time homeowners should consider a prenup For first‑time homebuyers, the house is often the largest asset either partner has ever owned. That makes clarity about ownership and responsibility even more important. A prenup lets you talk through “what if” scenarios before emotions are running high.
Your first home is likely your biggest asset For many couples, a home’s value, including future appreciation, can outpace savings and retirement accounts. Without a prenup, default state law may decide who gets the house or how equity is split if you separate, regardless of who paid for what. Clarifying home ownership in a prenup can also make it easier to refinance, borrow against equity, or sell later, because you both know the rules you agreed on at the outset of your marriage.
Debt, down payments, and uneven contributions If two partners are collaborating on home ownership, it’s common for one partner to bring a larger down payment (from savings, gifts, or family help) while the other contributes more to monthly expenses. A prenup can spell out whether that initial contribution is reimbursed off the top, shared equally, or handled another way if the home is sold or the relationship ends. You can also address responsibility for the mortgage, property taxes, and major repairs so that one partner isn’t left carrying everything if things go wrong.
Key prenup clauses for first-time homeowners A good prenup for first‑time homeowners doesn’t just say “who gets the house.” It walks through ownership, equity, improvements, and what happens if one of you wants to keep the property while the other wants out.
Who owns the house, and in what shares? Decide whether the home is separate property (owned by one partner) or marital property (owned together), and put that in writing in your prenup. If the two of you co‑own your home, you can choose to own 50/50 or in another percentage that reflects your contributions or plans. You can also indicate in your prenup how you want any appreciation to be divided if one or both spouses contribute to improvements or renovations of the home.
How will you divide equity and future appreciation? There are a myriad of ways you and your partner can decide to treat equity and future appreciation of a home. You can agree that the partner who made the down payment first gets that amount back, then you share the remaining equity 50/50 (or another ratio). If one person owned the home before the relationship, your prenup can distinguish premarital equity from equity built during the marriage. You can also decide whether major renovations or upgrades, like a new kitchen or finished basement, change how equity is divided, especially if one partner pays more.
Protecting family help, gifts, and inheritances First‑time homeowners often rely on parents or relatives for help with the down payment, closing costs, or even co‑signing. A prenup can make sure that assistance is treated the way your family intends. You might also expect to inherit a house or other property in the future. In your prenup, you can designate that inheritance will be separate property , even if it is used by both partners or by any kids you and your partner have.
How First makes “house + prenup” planning easier Talking about prenups and homeownership doesn’t have to feel intimidating or adversarial. First ’s online platform is designed to guide couples through these decisions in a structured, low‑stress way. First walks you through key topics related to real estate ownership, so you don’t have to guess what to cover. You can work through the questions at your own pace, on your own devices, which makes it easier to have honest conversations without pressure.
A modern prenup that fits your budget and timeline With closing costs, moving expenses, and furnishing a new home, legal fees can feel overwhelming; an online prenup service like First offers a more affordable path than starting from scratch with hourly billing . Because the process is streamlined, you can move from “we should probably get a prenup” to a clear draft in less time, which is ideal if your wedding date or closing date is approaching.
Buying your first home together is a huge milestone. A thoughtful, home‑focused prenup turns that milestone into a foundation: it protects each partner’s investment, clarifies expectations, and reduces the risk of ugly disputes if life changes. With First, you can create a prenup that fits your budget, your timeline, and your new home, so you can enjoy your keys, your couch, and your happily‑ever-after with more peace of mind.
