Non-occupant

What It Means

A non-occupant is a Co-borrower or co-owner who will not occupy the property as their primary residence after closing. In co-buying, non-occupant status is common — for example, when a parent co-borrows to help an adult child purchase a home, or when one co-buyer in a group does not intend to occupy the property, even if another co-buyer will.

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Non-occupant status is a lender classification with direct consequences for loan terms. It is not simply a lifestyle choice — it changes how the lender underwrites the loan and what programs the group qualifies for.

How Non-occupant Status Affects Financing

Most residential mortgage programs require at least one borrower to occupy the property as a Primary Residence. When one or more co-borrowers are non-occupants, the lender may impose stricter requirements — including higher Down Payment minimums, higher interest rates, and tighter debt-to-income thresholds. Some loan programs (such as certain FHA products) limit or restrict non-occupant co-borrower participation entirely.

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The lender evaluates each co-borrower's occupancy intent individually. Misrepresenting occupancy status on a mortgage application is mortgage fraud — a serious federal offense. Co-buyers must accurately disclose whether each party intends to occupy the property.

Why It Matters for Co-owners

Non-occupant co-owners raise governance questions beyond financing. A co-owner who does not live in the property may have different priorities regarding maintenance, improvements, and Shared Expenses than an occupant co-owner. The Co-ownership Agreement should address how occupancy status affects expense allocation, decision-making authority, and use of the property.

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The agreement should also define what happens if occupancy status changes — for example, if an occupant co-owner moves out or a non-occupant co-owner wants to move in — and whether such changes trigger adjustments to ownership percentage, expense splits, or Exit Strategy provisions.

Key Points

• A co-borrower or co-owner who will not occupy the property as their primary residence
• Non-occupant status may result in higher down payment requirements, interest rates, and underwriting thresholds
• At least one borrower typically must occupy the property for primary residence loan programs
• Occupancy status must be accurately disclosed on the mortgage application
• Non-occupant co-owners may have different priorities regarding expenses and property use
• The Co-ownership Agreement should address occupancy changes and their effect on expenses and governance