Who's in? People may express great interest in buying a house with you over a wonderful dinner, but the day after their second thoughts kick in. You'll want to know who's up for the deal first by talking about the kind of property you're looking for, how much you'll put down and what kind of payments would work for you. If you can negotiate a point where the two, three or more of you are comfortable with basics, you may be ready to move onward.

Some topics that need to be aired out with your partners include:

• Finances -- Has anyone been through a bankruptcy? Are there any tax liens outstanding that could attach to the property? How secure is everyone's financial position?


• Access -- If you're picturing the house as a place to spend Christmas every year, you'd better clear that before finding the property. Co-ownership generally means making concessions. After all, the house belongs to all of you.


• Responsibilities -- Buying a house takes time and energy and if only one of the partners is doing most of the leg work, resentment can build up. Divide up jobs and schedule regular meetings, whether in person, online or over the phone to discuss the progress.

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