Investing in the American Dream: A Guide for Couples Buying a First Home

Owning a home in America is never left behind. It symbolises the American dream. But for couples, the dream becomes more strategic rather than a fairy tale.

Yes, you can invest in the USA as a couple, but it’s not easy. Why? Well, buying from outside the USA is not a joke. You need to calculate a lot of things with laws. So, you can’t just go and buy stuff in the USA. There is much more that you need to know and understand.

Things To Consider For Couples To Buy A Property In The USA

So yes—couples can absolutely buy property in the U.S., whether you’re married, engaged, or just long-term partners. There’s no legal rule that says only individuals can own property. But like with most big purchases.

There are a few important things to keep in mind. Don’t worry—we’re breaking it all down in simple terms

Decide How You Want to Hold the Title

Before signing anything, decide how you want to own the home together. There are a few common options:

You both homeowners have the home equally, and if one partner passes away, the other automatically gets full homeownership.
You each own a specific share. This works well if you’re contributing different amounts toward the purchase.
Only available to married couples in some states. It offers more legal protection from creditors.

Choose what feels right for your relationship and finances. A quick chat with a real estate attorney can help make it clear.

Credit & Mortgage: Two Scores, One Goal

If you’re applying for a mortgage together, both of your credit scores will be reviewed. That means:

If both scores are strong, you’re golden.
If one score is much lower, it could impact your loan terms or interest rate.

Some couples choose to apply under the stronger credit score only, but that means only one person’s name is on the loan. Weigh the pros and cons carefully.

Down Payment and Costs: Be Honest About Budget

Talk openly about how much each of you can (and wants to) contribute to the down payment, closing costs, and ongoing expenses. It helps avoid awkward surprises later.

Also, remember: owning a home comes with more than just the mortgage. Think about taxes, insurance, utilities, and repairs. Teamwork matters here!

Legal Protections for Unmarried Couples

If you’re not married, it’s smart to draw up a co-ownership agreement. It can cover:

What happens if one partner wants to sell or move out
How expenses will be split
What to do in case of a breakup

Yeah, not the most romantic chat—but super important in real life.

Be Ready with the Paperwork

To buy a home together, you’ll need:

Valid photo ID (driver’s license or passport)
Income verification (pay stubs, tax returns)
Credit reports
Proof of funds for your down payment

Having this stuff ready early makes the process way smoother.

Where Should You Invest?

Honestly? That depends on what you and your partner are looking for. Some couples want the buzz of the city. Others dream of quiet suburbs or cozy coastal towns.

But if you’re both watching the budget (and let’s be real—most of us are), Delaware is a pretty smart pick.

Why?

Well, mostly because the average home price is around $303,000, which is way more manageable than many other East Coast states. The Cost of living is about 9% lower than the national average.

The tax thing is the most fun,

There is no state sales tax, which is a big win when you’re furnishing a new home or making upgrades.

If you’re planning long-term, Delaware checks a lot of boxes—especially for first-time buyers or couples starting fresh together.

Are you looking for warmer weather? Do you want to be closer to family? Your ideal spot might be different, but if “affordable and peaceful” is your goal, Delaware deserves a look.

Top U.S. Cities for Newly Married Couples

So you got everything ready. Now it’s time to decide where you should invest. No worries, it isn’t rocket science either. We’ve got some lists for you,

Delavan, Wisconsin

Delavan is a small lakeside city with big appeal. It’s especially popular during summer months, thanks to Delavan Lake, which attracts weekenders from nearby Chicago and Milwaukee. This makes it a great spot for vacation rentals.

Property prices here are very reasonable compared to bigger lake towns. That means you can get more space for your money. Delavan is a great place to start if you want a peaceful getaway with solid short-term rental potential.

Stillwater, Minnesota

Stillwater is like stepping into a postcard. Located along the St. Croix River, it’s one of Minnesota’s most visited towns. The downtown area is full of charm. Think of it historic architecture, cozy cafes, and antique shops.

It’s a hot spot for weekend tourists from Minneapolis-St. Paul. So, rental properties. It is especially those with character who can perform well here.

Prices are moderate, but demand is strong. A solid choice if you want an investment that feels personal and profitable.

Austin, Texas

Yes, Austin’s growing fast—but it’s still full of charm and character. If you and your partner love music, food trucks, and outdoor fun, this city will feel like home. Plus, no state income tax means more room in the budget for home upgrades or spontaneous getaways.

Also the home price is pretty convenient starts from $455,000. The Cost of living is Slightly above average, but balanced by job growth. It’s a perfect match for newly married couple.

Boise, Idaho

Boise might surprise you. But it’s a rising star for young couples. It offers a mix of affordability, outdoor lifestyle, and a growing economy. You’ll find a strong sense of community, plenty of hiking trails, and a slower pace that’s perfect for building a future.

The average cost of the house starts from $375,000. And the Cost of living is about 5% below the national average. On top of that, if you are so concerned about your safety, then you’re happy to know that the low crime rates and super friendly locals

3 Steps To Buy A Home

Decide where to invest? Great now it’s time to make a deal,

Hire a Real Estate Agent Who Works with Foreign Buyers

Look for a realtor in your target U.S. location who has experience helping international clients. They’ll guide you through:

Finding properties
Making offers
Guiding legal paperwork

Make an Offer and Sign a Purchase Agreement

Once you find the right property:

Submit an offer through your agent
If accepted, you’ll sign a purchase agreement
Send your earnest money (deposit) via international wire

Complete the Closing Process

During closing, you’ll finalize payment, transfer ownership. Pay closing costs (usually 2–5% of the purchase price) This can often be done remotely or via a power of attorney if you’re in Lithuania.

Final Thoughts

Buying U.S. property from Lithuania is very achievable with the right plan and support. From charming lake towns to urban investments, the U.S. offers many possibilities. Just be sure to work with experienced professionals and research taxes, locations, and long-term goals.

This post may contain affiliate links. Financial Panther has partnered with AwardWallet and CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Financial Panther, AwardWallet, and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact on how and where card products appear on the site. The site does not include all card companies, or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

More Recommended Ebike/Scooters

Check out these other ebikes and scooters I've reviewed:

Urban Arrow Ebike – Last year, I made one of the largest purchases I’ve ever made – I bought a $9,000 electric cargo bike from Urban Arrow. In my Urban Arrow review, I will discuss what it is and why I decided to buy this bike, as well as discuss how impactful a bike like this can be on your journey to financial independence.
Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Ebike – The Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is a fat-tire ebike that I’ve had the pleasure of riding for a while now. It has amazing power, great looks, and awesome range. If you’re looking for a great fat-tire ebike that offers a lot for the price, the Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is definitely one for you to consider. Check out my Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Review.
Hovsco HovBeta Ebike – The HovBeta is a folding ebike with great specs and a lot of interesting features, and importantly, it’s sold at a good price point. I’ve had a blast commuting with it and using it to do deliveries with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Check out my Hovsco HovBeta Ebike Review.
Vanpowers Manidae Ebike – The Vanpowers Manidae is a fat tire ebike that I’ve been riding as my primary winter commuting bike and have also been using it to do food delivery with apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. After clocking in a decent number of miles with this ebike, I wanted to write a post sharing what my experience with the Vanpowers Manidae ebike has been like. Check out my Vanpowers Manidae Review.
Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding EBike Review – A Great Value Folding Ebike – The Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding Ebike is an entry-level folding ebike that offers a lot of value for the price point. I’ve been riding the Sohamo S3 for a while now, putting the bike through its paces, and I have to say, this bike has exceeded all of my expectations. Check out my Sohamo Review.
KBO Flip Ebike – The KBO Flip is an excellent bike. I’ve had a great time riding it and think it’s a versatile bike that can be used for a lot of purposes and can fit a variety of lifestyles. It’s worked out great for me as a general commuter bike and as a food delivery bike. Check out my KBO Flip Review.
Hiboy P7 Commuter Ebike – The Hiboy P7 is an excellent electric commuter bike that’s offered at an affordable price point. The range and speed of this bike are both very good, so you won’t have any trouble getting anywhere you need to go with it. As a food delivery vehicle, this is also good – with how much range it offers, you’ll be able to work all day on a single charge. Check out my Hiboy P7 Commuter Electric Bike Review.
Himiway Escape Ebike – The Himiway Escape is an interesting bike for anyone looking for a moped-style ebike. If you’re a gig economy worker, the Himiway Escape is particularly interesting and it’s possible to think of it as an investment, especially if you can opt to do deliveries with the Himiway versus using a car. It’s not cheap, but you can definitely make your money back when you compare the mileage you’ll put on your car versus using an ebike. Check out my Himiway Escape Bike Review.
Espin Sport Ebike – The Espin Sport is a good ebike for someone who is looking for an ebike that feels and rides more like a regular bike. There are many ebikes that are really only bikes in name. In reality, they’re basically electric mopeds. The Espin Sport, by contrast, is a bike you could probably ride without the battery and you’d feel like you’re just riding a regular bike. Check out my Espin Sport Review.
Varla Eagle One Scooter – The Varla Eagle One is an excellent scooter that can make sense for a lot of people. It can work as a primary mode of transportation. You can use it to work on gig economy apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. And it can also be a recreational vehicle if you’d prefer to use it for that. Check out my Varla Eagle One Review.
Varla Falcon Scooter – The Varla Falcon is an excellent scooter that offers a good amount of power at a lower price point compared to more powerful scooters. It’s not exactly an entry-level scooter, nor is it a high-powered scooter. I think it fits somewhere in-between those two categories – an intermediate scooter if I had to give it a category. Check out my Varla Falcon Review.
Hiboy S2 Scooter – The Hiboy S2 is an excellent entry-level commuter scooter that's perfect for someone looking to save some money in transportation costs and improve their commute. Check out my Hiboy S2 Review.
Hiboy S2R Scooter – The Hiboy S2R is one of the more interesting electric scooters I’ve been able to test out. It’s not a high-powered scooter, but for an everyday transport option, it’s very useful, especially given some of the unique features that it has. Indeed, for the price, the Hiboy S2R might be the best value scooter I’ve used. Check out my Hiboy S2R Review.
Fucare H3 Scooter – The Fucare H3 is a fun scooter and I’ve enjoyed testing it out. For a daily commuter or quick trips or errands, the Fucare H3 is probably the scooter I’ll use. It’s portable and easy to maneuver, so it’s just easier to take on the road when I need it. Check out my Fucare H3 Scooter Review.

More Recommended Investing App Bonuses

For additional investing app bonuses, be sure to check out the ones below:

M1 Finance ($100) – This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account. Check out my M1 Finance Referral Bonus – Step-By-Step Guide.
SoFi Invest ($25) – SoFi Invest is an easy brokerage account bonus that you can earn with just a few minutes of work. Use my SoFi Invest referral link, fund your SoFi Invest brokerage account with just $10 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
Webull (20 free stock shares) – Webull's current promotion gives you 20 free shares valued between $3-$3,000 each if you open an account using my referral link. Here’s a guide I wrote about how to earn your free shares using Webull.
Moomoo (15 free stocks) – Moomoo is a free investing app currently offering 2 different referral bonuses if you open an account using a referral link. Read my Moomoo referral bonus guide for more information.
Robinhood (1 free stock) – Robinhood gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$225 if you open an account using my referral link.
Public (1 free stock) - Public gives you a free stock valued between $3-$70 if you open an account using my referral link.

More Recommended Bank Account Bonuses

If you’re looking for more easy bank bonuses, check out the below options. These bonuses are all easy to earn and have no fees or minimum balance requirements to worry about.

Upgrade ($200) – Upgrade is a free checking account that’s currently offering a $200 referral bonus if you open an account and complete a direct deposit. These bonus terms are easy to meet, so it’s well worth doing this bonus as soon as you can. Here’s a post I wrote with more details: Upgrade $200 Referral Bonus – Step By Step Directions.
Ally Bank ($100) – Of all the banks out there, Ally is, without a doubt, my favorite. At the moment, Ally is offering $100 to customers who open an eligible Ally account and meet the requirements. Here are the step-by-step directions to earn your Ally Bank referral bonus.
Fairwinds Credit Union ($175) – Fairwinds Credit Union is offering a referral bonus for users that sign up using a referral link. Fairwinds has no fees or minimum balance, so this is a particularly easy bonus to earn. Since this is a smaller credit union, my gut instinct tells me this offer won’t be around long, so if you’re in a position to meet the bonus requirements, grab this bonus before it’s gone. Here is my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Fairwinds Credit Union bonus.
Chime ($100) - Chime is a free bank account that offers a referral bonus if you use a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $200 or more. In practice, any ACH transfer into this account triggers the bonus. This bonus is easy to earn and posts instantly, so you’ll know if you met the requirements as soon as you move money into the account. I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Chime referral bonus that I recommend you check out.
US Bank Business ($900) – This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, since there are no direct deposit requirements. In addition, you can open the Silver Business Checking account, which comes with no monthly fees. Check out how to earn this big bonus here.
GO2Bank ($50) - GO2Bank is an easy bank bonus that I recommend people take advantage of if they have an easy way of meeting the direct deposit requirement. I like that it’s easy to open the account and that the bonus pays out quickly. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your GO2Bank $50 referral bonus.
Current ($50) – Current is a free fintech bank that’s offering new users a $50 referral bonus after signing up for an account using a referral link. Current is an easy bonus to earn and also gives you access to three savings accounts that pay you 4% interest on up to $2,000. That means you can put away up to $6,000 earning 4% interest. That’s very good and makes Current an account I recommend to everyone. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Current Bank bonus.
Novo Bank ($40) - Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. In addition to being a good bank bonus, Novo is also a good business checking account. It has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements and operates a good app and website. Indeed, it’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog. Check out my post on how to easily open a Novo account.
Varo ($25) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $25 bonus to new users that open a new Varo account with a referral link. The bonus for this bank is very easy to meet, all you need to do is spend $20 within 30 days of opening your Varo account. Check out my step-by-step guide to learn how to earn this bonus.

Kevin is an attorney and the blogger behind Financial Panther, a blog about personal finance, travel hacking, and side hustling using the gig economy. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer.

Kevin is passionate about earning money using the gig economy and you can see all the ways he makes extra income every month in his side hustle reports.

Kevin is also big on using the latest fintech apps to improve his finances. Some of Kevin's favorite fintech apps include:

SoFi Money. A really good checking account with absolutely no fees. You'll get a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi Money account with a referral link, and an additional $300 if you complete a direct deposit.
5% Savings Accounts. I'm currently getting 5.24% interest on my savings through a company called Raisin. Opening a Raisin account takes minutes to complete, it's free, and all of your funds are FDIC-insured. I explain how it works, why I'm now using it to store my emergency fund and any other cash savings I have, and why I recommend everyone check it out in this review.
US Bank Business. US Bank is currently offering new business customers a $900 signup bonus after opening a new account and meeting certain requirements.
M1 Finance. This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account.
Empower. One of best free apps you can use to monitor your portfolio and track your net worth. This is one of the apps I use to track my financial accounts.

Feel free to send Kevin a message here.