Do You Date Him if He Lives with His Parents?

You've been on a few dates with a man, and you really like him. Things start to progress. You're all ready to see his place for the first time, when he drops the bomb on you:

"I live with my parents."

Before you completely discount him or judge him for his situation, there are some important things to consider. Most importantly, you must determine if this is a temporary situation for him, and whether he has a definitive plan to move out.

I put together a list of questions you should ask before you decide to date someone who lives with his parents:

• How old is he? If he's young and in college, then this is likely a temporary situation. He might be avoiding racking up student loans by living at home. The real question is how old are you? If you're in college too, that's ok. If you're in your thirties and have a career, it's probably not a good idea!

• What are his plans? If he's in medical school or a residency program and this is only a temporary situation to save money, then what's to lose? As long as he's got a plan and works toward his goals, you can keep him in the picture. If he's just a couch potato and unsure of what to do with his life, then that's a red flag and you shouldn't get involved.

• Did he just go through a break-up or divorce? If he's in transition with his life, chances are he's not in the best personal or financial space to start a significant relationship. You should move on if you want to be more serious.

• Is he being secretive about why he's living with his parents? If he's 40 and has been living there for 10 years, it's ok to ask why. If there's something he's not telling you about his living situation, then likely there are other things he's keeping hidden too.

• Is he too attached to his parents? Maybe he likes to get their opinions on everything, including his choice for a girlfriend. His living with them may be a red flag that he hasn't quite grown up and moved on from needing their approval. Remember that your relationship is between the two of you, so he should treat it as such. Otherwise, move on.

Don't jump to conclusions if your date lives with his parents, but be sure to ask questions so you understand what is really going on, and what his plans are to move out. If he doesn't seem certain of an end date, then it's best to go your separate ways.