<prompt> Human: My wife and I have stable but modest incomes and decent credit but low savings. Our friend has an irregular income that is sometimes high from his otherwise legal but under-the-table source. All of us pay way too much in rent and know that we would happily live together. Were considering all buying a house together for the following reasons:1 Real estate in the place were looking is very cheap but rent is high. Between the three of us, we probably pay somewhere around 2000month in rent but the houses were looking to purchase are all in the 100-200k range. Wed pay considerably less in mortgage payments 15 yr, taxes, and repairs to own a place. 2 We can easily afford to all of the monthly expenses on a place, and have the income requirements for a modest loan, but dont have enough to make a decent down payment on a house. Meanwhile, our friend has enough for a down payment 30k but has little credit and his income is poorly accounted for as hes thrifty and works in cash under-the-table. 3 Also, my wife and I may have to leave the city we live in within a couple of years while our friend would have to stay behind and maintain the place.Anyway, as far as we can tell, as long as were able to legally secure the loan and we can have the three of us as the legal owners of the house, its a win-win-win: We all get the equity and lower regular expenses that come with a home; he improves his credit; we all get a place to live the places were looking at all have small apartments attached; we all have more stability; he gets to travel, as is his wont, for months on end without worrying about bills being paid or having a home to come back to. However, of course, theres a big question as to how or whether this is feasible. Do my wife and I just, out of the blue, just put 30k in the bank, secure the loan ourselves, then add him to the deed? Wouldnt this be very suspicious? Do we all go into the bank together and explain our situation? Is this not at all feasible? EDIT: Were all 30-ish with kids but few debts, outside of student loans, which are modest.  <response>: Buy the house with your wife, rent a room to him. Anything else is just begging for trouble. 