Considering co-signers to help your mortgage may be a very smart thing to do in regards to money-saving, however, this advantage may come with some potential risks that may end up consuming some of those savings or even worse, potential legal conflicts.
A good family that I know wanted to buy a house to stop renting, they had been renting for a long while and they wanted to start owning, however, their income was insufficient to prove affordability to a lender that they would be able to repay the requested mortgage. They have saved for their down payment, their credit was ok, It was only the insufficient income.
They approached a good friend in whom they trusted enough to ask to help them being a co-signer so that they could qualify to purchase the home for their family. He would need to commit to their mortgage obligations and responsibilities, except that he wouldn’t be paying the monthly mortgage payments unless the couple couldn’t make them.
The family was able to qualify and purchase their home, they were able to make the payments and live a better life, build some wealth and save more money than when renting. The co-signer was offered a very small percentage of the value of the property for the diligence of being included in the property title.
Suddenly, the good friend that was the father to a teenager passed away, this brought some complications and extra legal work and expenses to the family a couple of years after as they were planning to refinance their mortgage, and they needed to remove the co-signer from the title.
This is an example why it is wise to accept the mortgage protection plan offered with your mortgage.