Change is the name of the game in life. You get married, you buy a home together, and then you wonder how you can ensure that both names go on the mortgage. We get this question a lot from clients who want to ensure equal rights to property ownership without the expense and inconvenience of refinancing. In particular, situations involving an FHA loan or HECM loan in SC can raise unique questions about the best way to proceed.
The answer is simple: it depends.
Adding your spouse to the mortgage is not as easy as changing the name on the property deed or the mortgage itself, but in some cases, it is possible. Many people ask, can I add my spouse to my mortgage without refinancing? The answer depends on your lender’s requirements and the terms of your current loan. Allow BrickWood Mortgage to help!
Title vs. Mortgage
Before we can explore your options for adding your spouse to the mortgage, you first need to understand the difference between the property deed and the mortgage.
The property deed is what grants ownership of the property to you and your spouse. By adding your spouse to the property deed through a quitclaim deed, you can both have equal ownership of the property.
The mortgage is what grants you credit for the home you purchased. By adding your spouse to the mortgage, you both become equally liable for the mortgage.
The Quitclaim Deed Option
If you’re exploring how to add a spouse to a mortgage without refinancing, understanding the quitclaim deed option is essential.
If you want to add your spouse to the property deed and want to grant equal ownership of the property, then the option is to get a quitclaim deed. This is a simple and inexpensive way of granting equal ownership of the property to both you and your spouse.
However, there’s a catch. Although your spouse now owns the house, they won’t be responsible for making mortgage payments. You’ll still be the only person making payments. Most importantly, there’s usually a clause in the mortgage contract that requires you to pay off the mortgage in full if you sell the house to someone else. This is usually referred to as the due-on-sale clause.
The Assumption Process
The process of adding your spouse to the mortgage requires something referred to as an assumption. However, not all mortgage contracts offer this option. Therefore, you’ll need to check your mortgage contract or get in touch with your lender.
If you’re allowed to assume the mortgage, then your spouse will also need to qualify for this mortgage. We’ll explain this in detail to you at BrickWood Mortgage. The lender will check the credit score of your spouse, their employment record, and their income level. They’ll also check the combined debt-to-income ratio to ensure that you can afford the mortgage payments.
Potential Roadblocks
One common point of confusion for homeowners is the difference between adding a name to a mortgage and simply updating the property deed, as these are distinct legal actions with different implications.
From our experience working with couples seeking to add a spouse to the mortgage without refinancing, there are several common problems that can occur in the process. The lender may not be willing to assume the mortgage if the new co-signer has poor credit or unstable employment history. In addition, if you own an FHA mortgage or a VA mortgage, then you’ll face even more restrictions in the assumption process.
Lastly, if you’re currently enjoying low mortgage rates that are far below the current market rate, then the lender may not be willing to assume the mortgage because they’ll lose out if you refinance at the current rate.
Before proceeding further, it is recommended that you contact your mortgage company and ask the following questions: Does your loan allow assumptions? What is required in order to add a co-borrower to the loan? What costs will you incur by assuming the loan? Will adding your spouse invoke any conditions of your loan contract?
Summary
By having this information on hand, you can better determine whether or not assuming the loan is the best option for you or whether refinancing is the better option for you to pursue.
We are here to help you through this and provide you with the best possible solution for your situation!
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This material is not from HUD or FHA and has not been approved by HUD or any government agency.