Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

As tenants in common you both have the same right and obligations as to the house. your decision not to live there does not mean tha she has to pay the full amount of the mortgage and expenses. Her obligation remains at one half of the expenses. Your not living there does not result in your giving up your half ownership interest.

Mr. Sher's should be more selective in what questions he answers so that his answers are more useful and correct. You are right to be concerned about your situation. Mr. Shers is correct that absent any agreement, your sister is only obligated to pay 1/2 of all expenses. He is also right that you do not give up your half ownership interest. That does not, however, mean that you won't lose equity. Because your sister is only obligated to pay half of the expenses of the property, when you move out and she starts paying all the expenses, if you don't have an agreement then she starts accumulating reimbursement rights against your half. For that very reason it is common for tenants in common where one is going to occupy the premises and the other is not, to have exactly the sort of agreement you are proposing.