Buying a farmhouse with informal care? Free advice!

Questioner

hello My wife and I want to buy a farmhouse together with an uncle as part of informal care. Our ages are around 50 and our uncle is 80. We want to buy it together, each getting half. What is the best thing to do without being faced with surprises later on?

Lawyer

What kind of surprises are you talking about? I assume you mean the situation in which your uncle dies. His share of the property will go to his heirs. This could mean that they can claim that half, which would mean that the house would have to be sold if you cannot buy him out. This could be remedied by a usufruct granted by your uncle. It might also be worth considering that you and your wife buy the house and let your uncle live with you, possibly in return for rent. This will give you considerably more certainty regarding the retention of the house. These are just two thoughts that I am presenting to you. If you can ask your questions more specifically, then I can give you a more specific answer.