preview

Primary Borrower

Decent Essays
Open Document

1527 × 2289
Caption
A mortgage opened by two people is commonly referred to as a joint mortgage.
Alternate Text
Group

Relationships are all about making a commitment. After saying the "I-do's" and committing to each other, couples may want to take the step toward homeownership, requiring another type of commitment: the mortgage. When two people open a mortgage together, one is named the primary borrower and the other the secondary borrower. Determining who will be the primary and secondary borrowers depends on the type of joint mortgage opened and whether the borrowers are co-owners or co-signers. Both have an obligation to pay the mortgage debt and collection actions are taken against both if they default on the loan.
Co-Owners

In joint mortgages where the two people are married or cohabitating and will share ownership of the home, the primary borrower is designated based on credit score and income. Lenders have done away with the antiquated method of automatically assigning the husband as primary borrower, assuming he makes the most money and has a better credit score. Now the primary borrower is the person with the best credit score, because a higher credit score equals a better interest rate. If both borrowers have similar credit scores, lenders will list the person with the higher income as the primary borrower.
Co-Signers …show more content…

In these cases, the person opening the mortgage and who will own the home would list himself as the primary borrower and the co-signer as the secondary borrower. The primary borrower can use the co-signer's credit score to help get a better interest rate and qualify for the loan. Co-signers have no ownership interest in the property being purchased in these situations, and they do not appear on the deed to the home.

Get Access