Like a romantic relationship (or my first marriage) they all started out great.

@Felipe Giglio,Partnerships are like a marriage, but to someone you haven't fallen in love with. 

What's the best way to ensure that my future partner is not entitled to the property that I invest in prior to the marriage (including appreciation and such)?

The school near me just enacted a policy somewhere along the lines that students have to be 23 or older to live off campus unless they live with a guardian or are married (marriage incentives, right?).

Here in Mass, we must disclose when the agent is representing "kin", which is defined as blood/marriage relationships or a business partner.  

My wife and I have spoken at length about this, our marriage and family comes first.

I came in to the marriage with about 35K saved, while making 25-35K in ATL in the early 2000s and a small IRA from a 401K rollover, probably 30-50Kish.

So look at the marriage statistics (it most of the time takes both Mr and Mrs working to buy a home vs. just MR as it was in the past).Plus many times in the past parents would kick in for the down payment somehow.So with less marriages of those with stable enough jobs to buy a home, home ownership goes down.

Welcome to BP and congrats on the recent marriage!

He has 2 grown children and I have an 11 yr from a previous marriage being raised here on the property.