Any joint borrower on the mortgage loan.
A co-borrower is any joint borrower on the mortgage loan. If two borrowers are married, the co-borrower goes on the same loan application. If the borrowers are not married, there will be separate loan applications.
The co-borrower takes on shared financial and legal responsibility for the loan. Their income, assets, and ongoing debt obligations will be combined with the borrower's for qualification. The co-borrower can occupy the property or be a "non-occupying" borrower who will not live in the property. Non-occupying co-borrowers are oftentimes added to a loan to assist a primary borrower in qualifying for the loan, by contributing more income (than debts) and/or more assets.
Please note that some loan products prohibit non-occupying co-borrowers from the mortgage loan application.