Agreement as to Tenancy-in-Common Ownership of Premises with
neither Owner to Sell or Rent Premises without Other’s Consent
Agreement made on the _____________ (date) , between _______________________
(Name of Owner One) of _______________________________________________________
______________________ (street address, city, county, state, zip code) , referred to herein
as Owner One , and ____________________ (Name of Owner Two) , of __________________
______________________________________________________________ (street address,
city, county, state, zip code) , referred to herein as Owner Two , Owner One and Owner Two
being jointly referred to herein as Owners .
Whereas, each Owner has contributed to a common fund and have acquired the fee title
to the premises located at _______________________________________________________
______________________ (street address, city, state, zip code) , hereinafter called the
Premises, said Premises being more fully described in Exhibit A, which is attached to and made
a part of this Agreement; and
Whereas, each Owner has an equal and undivided one-half interest in the Premises;
Now, therefore, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this
agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is
hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1. Ownership
Each party to this Agreement shall own an undivided 50% interest in the Premises, and
shall share equally in mortgage payments, household insurance, taxes, utilities, maintenance, or
improvements (except telephone) related to, or to become a part of, the Premises.
2. Improvements, Sale or Mortgage of Premises
The written consent of both Owners shall be required in order to improve, sell, or
mortgage the Premises and any such improvement, sale, or mortgage shall be of the entire
Premises, except as provided in Section Six.
3. Sharing of Expenses
Each Owner shall advance, or cause to be advanced in a timely fashion, their one-half
share of the money required to pay for the maintenance and operation of the Premises,
(including interest and principal on the mortgage liens), and for the cost of any improvements.
All accounts for repairs and improvements (plumbing, paint, etc.) shall be put in the names of
both Owners, and a single account book showing these expenses will be kept. If, after
agreement of the Owners that an improvement benefits only one Owner, or benefits one Owner
more than the other, the costs shall be paid in proportion to the amount of benefit to each
Owner. The Owner contributing more than 50% of the costs of the improvement shall be entitled
to a credit for the amount that this contribution exceeds 50% of the total cost, at the time the
property is sold or otherwise disposed of.
4. Default in the Sharing of Expenses
If either Owner fails to contribute his or her one-half share of the common expenses
(including mortgage, principal, interest, and taxes), the other Owner shall have the right, after
giving the defaulting Owner ______ (number) days notice in writing, to exercise either the
following Options:
A. Option One: Buy the defaulting Owner's interest in the Premises for an amount
not to exceed 50% of the defaulting Owner's equity, or $_________, whichever is less, in
the property, or to sell the property with the defaulting Owner receiving not more than
50% of his or her equity, or $_________, whichever is less. In either case, defaulting
Owner will deliver a deed at the request of the non-defaulting Owner. In the case of a
sale of the Premises under this provision, defaulting Owner's equity shall be calculated
by subtracting from the defaulting parties equity, any costs of the sale, including broker's
commission, if any, legal fees, and missed contributions of the defaulting Owner.
B. Option Two : Subtract the amount of defaulting Owner's unpaid share from his
equity, accruing interest at the rate of _____% from the date the debt is incurred. If the
defaulting Owner's equity in the Premises is reduced to zero by failure to pay his share,
the defaulting Owner shall deliver a deed to the non-defaulting Owner for his or her
respective interest.
5. Renting
Neither Owner shall rent to a third party their portion of the property without the written
consent of the other Owner. Should either Owner move, and choose to keep their portion as
income property, he shall act as landlord, collecting rent, maintaining the property, and fulfilling
landlord responsibilities, along with maintaining all other responsibilities under this Agreement.
6. Sale of the Premises
If, and when, either Owner wishes to sell their respective share of the property, he shall
give no less than _______ (number) month’s written notice to the other Owner. The non-selling
Owner shall have the option to purchase the other Owner's equity. The fair market value of the
Premises is to be determined by no less than two appraisals, using MAI Designated
Independent Fee Appraisers. The selling Owner shall have his name removed from the
mortgage, deed, all common bills (utilities, etc.), and any other related documents. The consent
of the non-selling Owner to the sale must be secured to make any contract to sell effective. This
consent cannot be unreasonably withheld. If the non-selling Owner fails or refuses to consent to
two proposed purchases, the selling Owner is not required to secure non-selling Owner's
consent to the third proposed buyer, and may sell his or her respective share, as long as all
other terms of this Agreement are met.
7. Death or Incompetence
If either Owner should die or become mentally incompetent while in co-ownership of the
Premises, the estate of the deceased or mental incompetent will give the other Owner a one-
year option, from the date of death or mental incompetence, to buy the deceased or mental
incompetent Owner's interest in the premises. Owner One shall execute and deliver a durable
power of attorney to __________________ (Name of Agent of Owner One) . Owner Two shall
execute and deliver a durable power of attorney to ___________________ (Name of Agent of
Owner Two) . The powers of attorneys are to be exercised only for the purpose of conveying the
incompetent Owner's respective share if this option is exercised. The attorney-in-fact shall be
bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Should it be determined that a court order
is required to consummate a conveyance in the case of mental incompetence, the costs of
securing this order shall be shared by both Owners, or their estates.
8. Long-Term Disability
In the event of long-term disability of either Owner, the provisions of Section Four shall
apply. The non-disabled Owner shall be obligated to present bills for the disabled Owner's share
of expenses to the disabled Owner, or his representative.
9. Life Insurance
Each Owner shall carry a $_________ term life insurance policy naming the other
Owner as beneficiary.
10. Rights of Transferee
Should the interest of either Owner be acquired by any individual, the shall be subject to
all terms of this Agreement, with the same force and effect as if the transferee owned such
interest at the time this Agreement was executed, and as if the transferee was a party to and
signed this Agreement at that time.
11. Termination of Agreement
This Agreement shall terminate on the sale of the Premises, and the distribution of the
net proceeds of such sale to the Owners, and according to this Agreement, or at such other
times or dates, as may be agreed on, in writing, by the parties.
12. Severability
The invalidity of any portion of this Agreement will not and shall not be deemed to affect
the validity of any other provision. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, the
parties agree that the remaining provisions shall be deemed to be in full force and effect as if
they had been executed by both parties subsequent to the expungement of the invalid provision.
13. No Waiver
The failure of either party to this Agreement to insist upon the performance of any of the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, or the waiver of any breach of any of the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, shall not be construed as subsequently waiving any such terms
and conditions, but the same shall continue and remain in full force and effect as if no such
forbearance or waiver had occurred.
14. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the
laws of the State of ______________.
15. Notices
Any notice provided for or concerning this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed sufficiently given when sent by certified or registered mail if sent to the respective
address of each party as set forth at the beginning of this Agreement.
16. Attorney’s Fees
In the event that any lawsuit is filed in relation to this Agreement, the unsuccessful party
in the action shall pay to the successful party, in addition to all the sums that either party may be
called on to pay, a reasonable sum for the successful party's attorney fees.
17. Mandatory Arbitration
Any dispute under this Agreement shall be required to be resolved by binding arbitration
of the parties hereto. If the parties cannot agree on an arbitrator, each party shall select one
arbitrator and both arbitrators shall then select a third. The third arbitrator so selected shall
arbitrate said dispute. The arbitration shall be governed by the rules of the American Arbitration
Association then in force and effect.
18. Entire Agreement
This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties and any prior
understanding or representation of any kind preceding the date of this Agreement shall not be
binding upon either party except to the extent incorporated in this Agreement.
19. Modification of Agreement
Any modification of this Agreement or additional obligation assumed by either party in
connection with this Agreement shall be binding only if placed in writing and signed by each
party or an authorized representative of each party.
20. Assignment of Rights
The rights of each party under this Agreement are personal to that party and may not be
assigned or transferred to any other person, firm, corporation, or other entity without the prior,
express, and written consent of the other party.
21. In this Agreement, any reference to a party includes that party's heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns, singular includes plural and masculine includes
feminine.
WITNESS our signatures as of the day and date first above stated.
________________________ _________________________
(P rinted name) (P rinted name)
________________________ _________________________
(Signature of Owner One) (Signature of Owner Two)
(Acknowledgment form may vary by state)
State ______________
County of _______________
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned authority in and for the said county and
state, on this _____ day of ______________, 20____, within my jurisdiction, the within named,
_______________________ (Name of Owner One) , who acknowledged that he executed the
above and fore going instrument.
_____________________
NOTARY PUBLIC
My Commission expires:
______________________
State ______________
County of _______________
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned authority in and for the said county and
state, on this _____ day of _____________, 20____, within my jurisdiction, the within named,
________________________ (Name of Owner Two) , who acknowledged that he executed the
above and fore going instrument.
_____________________
NOTARY PUBLIC
My Commission expires:
______________________