If you are a part owner, you will have to sign a mortgage over the property. Are you prepared to go into a mortgage? If your family does not pay, do you have the ability to meet the mortgage payments? If they don't pay and you can't, the house will have to be sold....

If you have entered into an agreement with your family then you will have more certainty as to what you get back. You will have at least discussed the problem. The most common problem is that often the property has not increased in value by the amount that you have...

Getting your money back will be the problem. Whether you are a part owner or a lender, the money can usually only be found by selling the house. Are you strong enough to say to the family member that you want them to sell their house to pay you back. This may cause...