The problem: no down payment

Bill Coberly and his wife, both lawyers in their late thirties, couldn't afford a down payment on a house near Frederick, Maryland.

The solution: buy with in-laws

His wife proposed buying a house together with her parents.Her parents would provide the down payment, and Bill and his wife would cover more than half of the mortgage.

“How would you feel about buying a house with my mom and dad?”

Finding the right house

They searched for months for a place with bedrooms on both floors, crucial for the in-laws in their late sixties.

How the space was divided

Upstairs, Bill and his wife had three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a laundry space.Downstairs, the in-laws had the main kitchen and living room, a small den, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a small back kitchen.

Learning to live together

The first months were chaotic with boxes everywhere.Bill's wife and mother-in-law argued about furniture for shared spaces.

Privacy and finances work

Despite sharing a house, Bill and his wife have ample privacy in their large bedroom and the basement, where they built a library.

Unexpected benefits emerge

Bill's mother-in-law makes dinner most nights for all four of them.The in-laws watch their pets when they travel.

The long-term plan

When Bill and his wife have children, grandma and grandpa will be there to help. As his in-laws age, they will be there to assist them. The plan is never to move again.

“The arrangement has turned us into a family and given us more financial security, and the plan is never to move again.”