Sometimes sharing a major asset with a stranger is easier than with friends or family. Buying a major investment with anyone means that you should discuss some difficult issues before going ahead, such as what is the exit strategy and how are you going use the asset? With friends or family these are often not discussed until much too late because to discuss them at all feels like an implied lack of trust. With a stranger, there is no obvious trust, so these issues can be discussed openly from the outset.

To many people the most important advantage of sharing with a stranger is that if things do go wrong, you haven't lost a friend or upset the family!