One of the last things most home buyers think about is how to take title to their new house. It’s best to consult a real estate attorney before deciding but, unfortunately, most homeowners don’t do that. Here are the options available for holding title to your Big Bear real estate and how they affect your ownership.
1. Sole ownership
If you are single, one way to hold title to your home is in your name alone. This method is also called ownership in severalty. When a married person takes title to real property in his or her name alone in sole ownership, the spouse is usually asked to sign a quitclaim deed giving up any ownership interest in the property. This might be done when a husband invests in properties but his wife is not involved with the real estate investments. There are no special tax or other advantages to holding title in sole ownership. When the sole owner dies, any property held this way is subject to probate court costs and delays.
2. Tenants in common
When two or more co-owners take title to real estate, especially if they are not married to each other, they often become tenants in common. For example, two realty investors might select this method. Each tenant in common owns a specified interest in the property. It doesn’t have to be equal. For example, one owner might own a 50% interest, another could own a 10% interest and a third tenant in common could own a 40% share. The percentage ownership is specified on the deed. A major advantage is that each tenant in common can sell or pass his interest by his will to whomever he or she wishes. For this reason, tenancy in common is popular in second marriages, so each spouse can will his or her share to the children from a first marriage. Tenancy in common property is subject to probate. A disadvantage is that the remaining tenant in common could wind up co-owning property with a stranger. Another disadvantage (also true for joint tenancy) is that a tenant in common can bring a partition lawsuit to force a property sale if the other co-owners are unwilling to sell. The court can then order the property sold, with the proceeds split among the co-owners according to their ownership shares.
3. Joint tenancy with right of survivorship
When title is held in joint tenancy with right of survivorship, all co-owners must take title at the same time, they own equal shares and the surviving co-owner winds up owning the entire property. After a joint tenant dies, the surviving joint tenant(s) receives the deceased’s share. The deceased’s will has no effect on joint tenancy property. A major advantage is that probate costs and delays are avoided when a joint tenant dies. The surviving joint tenant(s) usually needs only record an affidavit of survivorship and a certified copy of the death certificate to clear the title. However, a major disadvantage is that a joint tenant can sell or give his property interest to a new owner without permission of the other joint tenant(s). If there are only two joint tenants, the joint tenancy is ended by such a conveyance, creating a tenancy in common.
4. Community property
Husbands and wives who acquire realty in California can take title as community property. Each spouse then owns half the property, which can be passed by the spouse’s will either to the surviving spouse or someone else. A special advantage is that community property assets willed to a surviving spouse receive a new stepped-up basis at market value on the date of death. In 1987, the IRS extended this community property stepped-up basis advantage to husbands and wives holding joint tenancy titles in community property states.
5. Living trust
Probably the best way to hold title to homes and other real property is in a revocable living trust. There are many advantages, such as avoidance of probate costs and delays. Other than the modest cost of creating a living trust (usually less than $1,000) and deeding real property into the living trust, there are no disadvantages. Until the death or disability of the trust creator, the home and other real estate in the living trust are treated normally.
Stocks, bonds, bank accounts, automobiles and other major assets can also be held in a living trust. Since the living trust is revocable, these assets can be bought, sold and financed normally. If the trustor becomes incompetent, the named alternate trustor (such as a spouse or adult child) takes over management of the trust assets. When the trustor dies, the assets are distributed according to the trust’s terms. Privacy is another major advantage to a living trust. Unlike a will, which becomes part of the public probate file, the living trust terms remain private. Still another advantage is that court challenges of living trusts are virtually impossible and will challenges by disappointed relatives occur frequently.
The five most popular methods of holding residence titles all have their pros and cons. Overall, the best method for most homeowners is the living trust, because of all its advantages. Be sure to consult with an attorney on the best way for you to hold title to your Big Bear real estate.
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