conversation: User (HaveFaithInWe): "I'm 23 years old and looking to buy my first home. This has become a more and more necessary investment as my rent goes up every year. The only problem is, the house is 840 sq ft. It's closer to the city, which means it's definitely a solid investment financially, but I'm worried it'll be a tight fit for my lifestyle. I have a dog, I'll also have a non-romantic roommate in the home. It's 2 bedroom/ 1.5 bath. Living room is 14x12, my bedroom would be 12x12 if that gives you an idea. I've already decided it will be necessary to get rid of my king size bed and switch to a queen (preferably a storage bed) Do you think two adults and a medium dog can live comfortably here? The crawl space seems very spacious (I could walk in there) so could that potentially become extra storage space? The kitchen is 10x8, but appears to be less cramped and better designed than kitchens that happen to be a bit larger so I don't think the kitchen will be an issue. Any advice or things to consider is much appreciated. \n\n****Allow me to add a bit more clarification. Location is 10 minutes to downtown. The home, although small, is 100% renovated as of a year ago new roof and all. Hardwood floors, granite countertops, tile bath, updated modern sinks, stainless steel appliances. There's a very large window in the living room to allow in light, it looks similar to the size of a glass patio door. The owner has been renting the property out for $1400 a month, which is $500-600 more than my payment would be including taxes, insurance, etc. Similar properties in the area are listed at $50,000 more than the purchase value of this one. This all has bearing on the inherent value, but not necessarily quality of life. Thank you so much for all the thoughtful input. "
  Self: "My advice to you if you do plan on buying an 840 sqft. home is to make sure that the purchase price is low enough that you can afford it without a roommate contribution. At this point in your life, having a roommate may seem like a solid financial decision and in many cases it is. What you will most likely learn in time (probably faster in such a small space) is that you are going to find yourself becoming cramped and not able to completely live how you want with a roommate. Especially once you're out of college.\n\nYou can almost forget about having a boyfriend/girlfriend move in with you in the situation you're describing. The flip side of this is that your roommate may decide they want a bf/gf moving in with them. \n\nTwo people (if you're a couple) and a dog can probably make 840 sqft. work. Two people (roommates) and a dog can probably make it work for awhile. Trying to add a third person into the equation will not be sustainable."
  User (HaveFaithInWe): "Thank you for your input. I would not be okay with my roommate moving in an SO, and as the homeowner I'm *hoping* I have the reasonable right to make that objection. I've told him upfront I don't have the intention of living with a couple. If I ever did move in an SO I think I would no longer have a roommate, but that is not in my foreseeable future. The purchase price is more than I'd like to pay for a home that size, but with market value in my city it's certainly the most affordable thing I've found that isn't falling apart. I think I'm absolutely capable of paying the mortgage by myself, even if it would be a bit of a stretch it's currently cheaper than my cost of renting alone. My roommate is very eager though and has volunteered to help me pay off the mortgage more quickly so we may pay extra onto the principle each month when we're able. "
  sockalicious (sockalicious): "&gt; the homeowner I'm hoping I have the reasonable right to make that objection.\n\nNot homeowner.  Landlord.  And in most cases, the Fair Housing Act, not you, gets to decide what kind of family members, and how many, your tenant can move in.  Reason doesn't enter into it: if you own a property and rent part of it out, you are a landlord and have a tenant, with every fun little legal detail that comes with it.\n\nSince you are considering becoming a landlord, you need to look into landlord-tenant law now, before your actions become constrained by it, and certainly before you start making plans to violate Federal statutes.\n\nBe careful, by the way, about accepting extra money from a tenant with the express purpose of 'paying down the principal of the mortgage.'  If this is the agreement and your tenant keeps accurate records, you may be surprised in a few years to learn that he or she owns part of your house - yet has no obligation to pay the mortgage or cost of upkeep.\n\n"
  User (HaveFaithInWe): "If I write out a lease with set rent and he is the only person on the lease, he has no right at all to move in another person. Same with apartment complexes, I've known people to get evicted because they were not on the lease. It may be an ugly eviction process if it comes to that, but I don't see that being the case with my roommate. He's single as of right now anyway. Paying rent does not entitle anyone to equity. The only scenario where that -may- hold weight is if we were a couple for several years, that's not anywhere near the case. If it were, he'd have to pursue it similar to a divorce. But maybe I'm wrong, I've tried to do a lot of research on this topic and it doesn't seem to be a common issue outside of romantic relationships. "
  sockalicious (sockalicious): "&gt; If I write out a lease with set rent and he is the only person on the lease, he has no right at all to move in another person. \n\nWell, I have a real estate license, and if you are in the United States, I am afraid that I must disagree with you.  Indeed, if you prevented your tenant from moving a qualified family member into his rented domicile, the ensuing lawsuit would be open and shut, with you on the losing side.  Same goes for service animals.  If you tried to evict someone on these grounds you'd be in for a punitive damage award.\n\nIf your roomie becomes disabled are you funded for necessary disabled-access renovations?  (Is the place ADA compliant already?)\n\n&gt;Paying rent does not entitle anyone to equity\n\nRight!  That's why an agreement to "help out with the principal" is such a bad, bad, bad idea.  Because money paid by the tenant to the landlord for that purpose is *not* rent.\n\nIf you would like to lecture an expert some more on your wrong ideas about landlord-tenant law, feel free, but it's not going to make you right."
  User (HaveFaithInWe): "I'm not sure where your attitude is coming from or the idea that I'm "lecturing" you. I do have a qualified real estate agent of my own to consult. "Qualified family member" is not the same thing as a girlfriend. Anyone over the age of 18 must be on a lease to live in a rental, I'm sure your expert knowledge tells you that much. I'm no expert, but I have plenty of them in my corner and I'm sure they'd question your comparison of a short-term girlfriend to a service animal. Not the same thing at all. I have family members with service animals. Not getting to sleep with your girlfriend every night doesn't make you disabled, in fact it makes you more independent. "
  sockalicious (sockalicious): "I think you may have misinterpreted some of the things I said.  I'm sorry if I upset you, please feel free to take what was useful and ignore what was not."
  User (HaveFaithInWe): "Is it possible that considering my roommate a "lodger" rather than a "tenant" will afford me more rights in my own home? "
  Pinot911 (Pinot911): "Absolutely. Lodgers are different than tenants, sockalicious is not taking this into account. It also depends on your jurisdiction."
  