Mortgage Guidelines on Non-Occupying Co-Borrower?

FHA and Conventional loans are the two most popular home mortgage programs in the nation that allow non-occupant co-borrowers to be added to the main borrower on a home purchase and/or refinance mortgage.

There are three government-backed mortgages:

  1. FHA loans
  2. VA loans
  3. USDA loans

Government-backed mortgages are for owner-occupant homes only. You cannot finance second homes and/or investment properties with government-backed loans. One of the hurdles facing many homebuyers is running into a high debt-to-income ratio. This holds especially true for homebuyers with large student loan balances, self-employed borrowers, or borrowers with cash income. Lenders are very strict when it comes to qualified income.

Cash income is non-existent in the mortgage world. Many self-employed borrowers take advantage of taking write-offs. Unreimbursed expenses can save self-employed people thousands of dollars but is bad when they are qualifying for a mortgage. Lenders use adjusted gross income which is the net income after tax deductions.

Part-time jobs, other jobs, second jobs, and other sources of income cannot be used unless the borrower has a two-year history of making such other income and reflects on the income tax returns. The good news is lenders allow non-occupant co-borrowers to be added to the main borrower on FHA and Conventional loans. FHA is the only government loan program that allows non-occupant co-borrowers.

VA and USDA do not allow non-occupant co-borrowers on VA and USDA loans. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac allow non-occupant co-borrowers to be added on conventional loans. In this article, we will discuss and cover non-occupant co-borrower mortgage guidelines on FHA and Conventional loans.

Non-Occupant Co-Borrower Mortgage Guidelines On FHA Loans

In this paragraph, we will go over the non-occupant co-borrower mortgage guidelines on FHA loans. HUD, the parent of FHA, sets the HUD Agency Guidelines on FHA loans. Before we delve into the non-occupant mortgage guidelines on FHA loans, lets define what a non-occupant co-borrower is. Non-occupant co-borrowers are co-signers of a home mortgage.

Non-occupant co-borrowers do not live with the main borrowers. They have their own homes and/or apartments. The purpose of non-occupant co-borrowers is in the event the main borrower default and/or forecloses on their mortgage, the lender will hold the non-occupant co-borrowers liable for the defaulted debt. HUD allows as many non-occupant co-borrowers to be added to the main borrower’s home loan. Non-occupant co-borrowers do not have to live nearby the main borrowers.

FHA Requirements on Non-Occupying Co-Borrower

There is no distance requirements of the main borrower and non-occupant co-borrowers to live nearby. Non-occupant co-borrowers can live out of state. Non-occupant co-borrowers need to meet all HUD Agency Guidelines in order to qualify. This includes meeting HUD Agency Guidelines with regard to minimum credit scores, debt-to-income ratio, and other credit/income requirements.

Non-Occupant Co-Borrower On Relationship Requirement To the Main Borrower

HUD Agency Guidelines allow both family members and good friends and/or associates of the main borrower to become non-occupant co-borrowers. However, for the main borrower to qualify for a 3.5% down payment home purchase FHA loan with non-occupant co-borrowers, the non-occupant co-borrower needs to be related to the main borrower by blood, marriage, and/or law.

Otherwise, if non-occupant co-borrowers are not related to the main borrower by law, marriage, or blood, HUD requires a 25% down payment on the home purchase. The following people are considered as being family and the relationship by law, blood, and marriage applies:

  • Children, parents, or grandparents
  • Spouse and/or domestic partner
  • Foster child and/or foster parent
  • Brothers and/or stepbrothers
  • Sisters and/or stepsisters
  • Uncles and/or aunts
  • Legally adopted child – includes child placed with the borrower by an authorized agency for legal adoption
  • Son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law

HUD’s definition of children is a son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter. The definition of parents or grandparents includes a step-parent or grandparent as well as a foster parent or foster grandparent.

HUD Requires A 25% Down Payment On FHA Loans With Non-Occupant Co-Borrowers

If the co-borrowers are not related to the main borrower by law, blood, and/or marriage, HUD allows non-family members to become non-occupant co-borrowers but the main borrower needs to put a 25% down payment versus a 3.5% down payment and/or have at least a 75% loan to value of the purchase price and/or appraised value, whichever is less.

Here are situations where HUD requires a 25% down payment and/or 75% LTV of the home purchase price and/or appraised value on FHA loans:
  • Having non-family members as non-occupant co-borrowers
  • Purchasing and/or refinancing a two to four-unit multi-family owner-occupant primary residence home
  • Family member selling to a family member who will be a non-occupying co-borrower

Purchasing and/or refinancing a two to four-unit home and family member selling to a family member who will be a non-occupant co-borrower will limit family member co-signors to 75% as well.

Eligibility Requirements

There are no limits on the number of non-occupying co-borrowers to be added. However, all non-occupant co-borrowers need to meet the minimum HUD Agency Mortgage Guidelines. This includes with regards to the minimum credit score requirements, debt-to-income ratio caps, and waiting period after bankruptcy and/or foreclosure.

The qualifying credit score is used with the middle credit score of the borrower with the lowest credit score. This is whether the main borrower and/or co-borrowers have the lowest credit scores.

If you’re looking to buy a home with someone who will not be living in the property – known as a non-occupying co-borrower – there are some special mortgage guidelines you’ll need to be aware of. In this blog post, we’ll outline what these guidelines are and how they can impact your home-buying process.

When it comes to getting a mortgage, lenders will typically want to see that the borrower has a strong financial profile. This means having a steady income, good credit history, and enough saved up for a down payment and closing costs. However, if you’re working with a non-occupying co-borrower, the lender will also take their financial profile into consideration.

The general rule is that a non-occupying co-borrower can help you qualify for a loan if they have a strong enough income and credit history. In some cases, having a non-occupying co-borrower can even help you get a lower interest rate on your loan.

However, there are some restrictions to be aware of when it comes to using a non-occupying co-borrower. First, the maximum loan amount you can qualify for will be limited to 90% of the purchase price of the home. This means that if you’re looking to buy a $200,000 home, the maximum loan amount you could qualify for would be $180,000.

Second, you’ll need to occupy the property as your primary residence in order to use a non-occupying co-borrower. This means that investment properties and second homes are not eligible for this type of financing.

And finally, most lenders will require that the non-occupying co-borrower sign a mortgage note pledging to make the payments on the loan if the primary borrower is unable to do so. This protects the lender in case of default and helps to ensure that the loan will be repaid.

If you’re thinking about using a non-occupying co-borrower to help finance your home purchase, be sure to talk to one of our senior loan officers about the specific guidelines and requirements. We will be able to help you determine if this type of financing is right for your situation.

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Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac Non-Occupant Co-Borrower On Conventional Loans

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Non-Occupant Co-Borrower Mortgage Guidelines allow for non-occupant co-borrowers to be added on owner-occupant primary conventional loans. Unlike FHA Loans, conventional loans do not require non-occupant co-borrowers to be related to the main borrower by law, blood, and/or marriage. You can have friends, co-workers, business associates become non-occupant co-borrowers.

Conventional loans require a 3% down payment on a home purchase for first-time homebuyers. A first-time homebuyer is defined as a home buyer who did not have any homeownership interest in the past three years. Otherwise, owner-occupant homebuyers need a five percent down payment on a home purchase on conventional loans.

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Peter is a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator and Realtor. He helps people to meet FHA guidelines and obtain a financing for their dream home.

6 Comments

Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances and student loan debt, I am currently in a chapter 13 bankruptcy. I just passed the 2 year mark. I should be done November 2021. My fiancé did try to purchase a home on his own about 2 years ago, unfortunately because it was based solely on his income that fell through. I am wondering what are options are, and if it is even possible for me to purchase a home during this time.

Thank you!

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Thanks to you.

Loan information:

Full Name: Jennifer Forrester
Email Address: Jchristopher21212@hotmail.com
Phone: 8652998400
State: Tennessee
Estimated Purchase Price or Home Value: $140,000 – $150,000
Estimated Loan Amount: $140,000 – $150,000
Type of Loan Needed: Purchase
Estimate your credit score: Poor 580 – 639
Bankruptcy Within Past 2 Years: No
Are You Working with a Realtor? No
Comments:

Jennifer
I am connecting you with Michelle (815) 593-4122 who can help with your mortgage. You can also start by completing her online application here.

Hi There!

Mr. Cho,

I had a business-related Chapter 7 bankruptcy that was discharged on 4/1/2020. I am hoping to qualify to buy a house in another five months at the two-year mark of my bankruptcy discharge. We surrendered our previous house to the banks as part of the bankruptcy and it went to foreclosure because it was tied to a $1.4M business loan for the next 20 years.

I have a credit score of 680-700, almost no debt, and an income of about $140,000 to $150,000 a year.

1) Will I be able to get an FHA loan at the 2-year mark?

2) Are there any other types of loans I might qualify for?

Thank you,

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