HI. Glad you found my website useful. I would say it would behoove your friends to talk with a loan officer to see if they would qualify for a loan and how much of a loan. The potential of having a roommate paying toward the mortgage would have to be addressed by them. I don't know that they would be able to use that to get them qualified. The loan process has changed so much, best to just have a chat over the phone to be prequalified first. There would be no obligation and it would just take a few minutes. Do you have a lender? I have a list of suggested service people on my website too. Certainly makes sense to buy something now!! Homeownership is still the American Dream :) - Sun Aug 23 2009, 11:22