Signs You're Ready to Move In Together
Bottom Line: Research shows readiness depends more on relationship quality and shared intentions than timeline. Key indicators include strong communication, aligned future goals, and making a conscious decision rather than "sliding" into cohabitation.
Communication & Conflict Resolution
The only significant predictor of relationship dissolution was interparental relationship communication at baseline reported by mothers in a 10-year study. If you can discuss difficult topics, handle disagreements constructively, and communicate openly about expectations, you're demonstrating readiness.
Shared Future Vision
Most married adults (66%) who lived with their spouse before they were married say they saw cohabitation as a step toward marriage when they first started living with their now-spouse. Both partners should have similar expectations about what moving in together means for your relationship's future.
Financial Readiness & Discussion
About three-in-ten cohabiting adults who are not engaged but say they would like to get married someday cite their partner's (29%) or their own (27%) lack of financial readiness as a major reason why they're not engaged or married. You should have discussed money management, bill splitting, and feel financially stable enough to handle shared expenses.
"Deciding" vs "Sliding"
Making a clear, thought-out decision together is what is important here; being honest and clear about your readiness and reasons you want to live together. Research shows many couples report that living together just sort of happened or that they slid into it, which predicts poorer outcomes.
High Relationship Satisfaction
Married individuals were 12 percentage points more likely to report being in the high relationship satisfaction group, 26 percentage points more likely to report being in the highest stability group, and 15 percentage points more likely to report being in the highest commitment group compared to cohabiting couples. Start from a place of high satisfaction.
Trust & Emotional Security
About eight-in-ten married adults (78%) say they feel closer to their spouse than to any other adult in their life; a narrower majority of cohabiters (55%) say the same about their partner. You should feel emotionally secure and prioritize each other.
Right Motivations
80% of cohabiting women cite love as a major factor, compared with 63% of cohabiting men. It can become a messy situation if you're wanting to move in because you're ready to take the relationship to the next level, and they want to move in because of financial reasons like saving money.
Red Flags: Poor communication, financial instability, mismatched expectations, or using cohabitation primarily for convenience rather than relationship progression.
