My girlfriend refuses to move into my paid-off house and wants me to sell so we can buy a new house together. Am I being unreasonable for saying no?

Instead, Katie wants Justin to sell his home and use the money so they can buy a new home together. In Katie’s mind, her contributing to picking — and paying for — a new home will keep her and Justin on equal footing.

However, Justin is rejecting this idea, arguing it doesn’t make sense for him to enter into a mortgage on a new home when he already owns one. Is he being unreasonable?

Deciding whether to move in together or sell

There are legitimate advantages and disadvantages to moving into or selling Justin’s home.

A fully paid-off house is a major asset and gives people the financial freedom to beef up their savings and invest in their future. For Justin, inheriting a fully paid-off home has removed the stress of taking on a mortgage, seeking out loans and diverting his savings or investments. Having his girlfriend move in with him means he will continue to reap the financial benefits of his inheritance.

For Katie, moving into Justin’s home will also come with financial benefits. Since the house is already paid off, the couple can avoid having to take on a mortgage. She can move in with Justin rent free and with little financial concern. This arrangement can also allow her to beef up her savings and investments, since it will remove her immediate housing expenses.

However, this arrangement could leave Katie feeling like she’s living in Justin’s home rather than creating a new life with her partner. If she moves into Justin’s home, she will have no legal rights to it. Since she is not on the title, she will not have a say in property decisions unless Justin considers her input.

“I don’t think either of them is being unreasonable,” Megan McCoy, a financial therapist and professor at Kansas State University, told Moneywise. “I can understand why [Justin] would think, ‘Why would we give up this incredible financial advantage?’ But Katie’s concerns are equally understandable. There is a psychological difference between moving into someone’s house and choosing a home together.”

McCoy points out that there is also a financial concern for Katie. If she contributes financially to the home, say through repairs, she won’t reap the benefits when the home is sold, meaning Justin will continue to build wealth while she accumulates no equity.

Still, buying a house together will put a financial strain on the couple. It also may not make Katie an equal partner.

“If they purchase a new house using the proceeds of his house, then it still could be considered more his house than hers,” Domenick D’Andrea, founder of DanDarah Wealth Management, told Moneywise. “If she wants it to be considered an equal owner then she would have to come up with 50% of the new purchase price and the bills that come along with the new house.”

How Justin and Katie could approach this

So what should this couple do? Justin has considered adding Katie to the title of his home to make her feel more comfortable. McCoy, however, says he should slow down before doing this and consider the implications.

“Putting her name on it isn’t simply a symbolic way of saying, ‘This is your home, too,’” she says. “Justin could be giving Katie a legal ownership interest in a $450,000 asset, so they should understand the legal, financial, tax and estate-planning implications first.”

Adding Katie to the title can provide important protection for her if she contributes significant money to the home, and it helps with the power imbalance, but that will mean she has a significant financial stake in the home as well — a potential risk for Justin.