On shows such as HGTV’s “House Hunters” and in discussions with my contemporaries, I see an increasing trend of unmarried people cementing their relationship by jointly purchasing a home.

Last night on “House Hunters”, the female half of the couple said of their purchase, “Now you’re stuck with me.”. Isn’t marriage supposed to bond two people? When did drywall replace wedding vows?

Perhaps the starter home is the new starter marriage. People can test the strength of their commitment, and their personal compatibility with cohabitation, with the biggest purchase they will probably ever make, before they say the two most important words they’ll ever say: “I do.”.

Purchasing a home is a big undertaking fraught with flooded basements, sinking foundations and disappearing contractors. These are problems that could fortify your commitment or tear it asunder. Would you want your relationship to fail because you couldn’t decide on marble or granite counter tops?

I’m not a “smug married” person. I don’t think everyone needs to get married. However, buying a house together is not a guarantee of a lasting liasion. It’s still far easier to sell a house than to get a divorce.