What do couples fight about when buying a house?

BUYING a property can be a highly stressful proposition.

For most of us, it’s the most expensive thing we’ll ever buy and has huge financial consequences.

Add to that the pressure of doing it with another person and you’ve got a recipe for emotional upheaval.

A survey by US mortgage broker LendingHome found that 60 per cent of couples aged 25 to 45 disagreed with their significant other when buying a house.

But what specifically do couples fight about?

Independent buyers advocate Cate Bakos says the five most common arguments she encounters are:

1. Budget

"A risk-averse person may feel anxious about their partner’s willingness to target a higher priced property brief," Bakos says. "Agreeing upfront on budget is integral."

2. Proximity

"Proximity to friends/family, sometimes an unwillingness to be ‘too close’ to family can get in the way.

Other times, the issue of choosing which person’s family to be closer to, if they aren’t on the same side of town, can be the issue."

3. Forever house v stepping stone house

"Some people are prepared to consider the property is their ‘now’ house with a view to upgrade down the track, but for others, the mere idea of compromising on their ‘forever house’ dreams can create upset," Bakos says.

4. Who’s doing the work?

"One dedicating more time to the search than the other," she says.

"Resentment can strike when one partner is doing all of the work and not feeling supported in their shortlisting and decision making.