What does owner-occupancy mean for a mortgage loan application? | Better Mortgage (2024)

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What does owner-occupancy mean for a mortgage loan application? | Better Mortgage (2024)

FAQs

What does owner-occupied mean on mortgage? ›

What Does “Owner-Occupied” Mean? An owner-occupied property is a piece of real estate in which the person who holds the title (or owns the property) also uses the home as their primary residence.

Who is an owner occupant for loan purposes? ›

Owner-occupants are residents who own the property where they live. Some loans are only available to owner-occupants and not absentee owners or investors. To be considered owner-occupied, residents usually must move into the home within 60 days of closing and live there for at least a year.

What is occupancy on a mortgage? ›

Owner-occupancy refers to the concept of living in the home that you own. It is crucial information from the lender's point of view because if you weren't planning to live at the home you were purchasing or refinancing, you would be classed as an absentee owner.

Why would a mortgage company verify occupancy? ›

Essentially, banks need to ensure that occupants have vacated the property under foreclosure and are not squatting. Similarly, if a tenant misses a mortgage payment, banks may schedule an Occupancy verification inspection to see if the tenant has abandoned the property.

What percentage is considered owner-occupied? ›

What are the Requirements for Owner Occupied Commercial Real Estate? For SBA (U.S. Small Business Administration) lending purposes, a property is considered owner occupied when 51 percent or more of the property's space is occupied by the owner's business, and the owner pays at least 51 percent of the rent.

What is considered non owner-occupied? ›

A non-owner-occupied property is one in which the owner does not occupy the property. Non-owner-occupied properties have higher loan rates than properties that are owner occupied.

How do I get around owner occupancy? ›

Lending companies cannot force a homeowner to live in a home when they have legitimate reasons –– or even desires –– to move. However, to get out of the owner-occupancy clause on a primary residence home loan, the owner should be able to prove that they had every intention of occupying the home at the time of purchase.

What is an example of owner-occupied property? ›

For example, if an individual buys a house and lives in the house while renting out the basem*nt, the property is considered owner-occupied because the landlord lives in the property.

What is the meaning of owner occupier? ›

: a person who owns the dwelling he or she lives in. renters and owner-occupiers.

Is occupancy the same as closing? ›

The period between occupancy (i.e. when you move into a new house) and the final closing (i.e. when you will take title of the property and thus require a mortgage), is called the “interim occupancy period.” During this time, buyers don't live in the home for free but instead pay the builder a monthly interim occupancy ...

What does occupancy mean in finance? ›

Occupancy rate is the ratio of rented or used space to the total amount of available space. Analysts use occupancy rates when discussing senior housing, hospitals, bed-and-breakfasts, hotels, and rental units, among other categories.

How do you explain occupancy? ›

occupancy
  1. : the fact or condition of holding, possessing, or residing in or on something. ...
  2. : the act or fact of taking or having possession (as of unowned land) to acquire ownership.
  3. : the fact or condition of being occupied. ...
  4. : the use to which a property is put.
6 days ago

What is occupancy verification? ›

Verification of Occupancy strengthens investigations to quickly identify areas of potential exposure to mortgage occupancy risk while speeding research time and occupancy verification, fortifying occupancy fraud prevention and lowering investigative costs.

Do Fannie Mae loans require owner occupancy? ›

Typically, the borrower shall occupy, establish, and use the principal residence within 60 days after the execution of the security instrument. Refer to the applicable state security instrument form for requirements. Visit Fannie Mae's Security Instrument page to locate the applicable form.

What is the owner occupancy clause on a refinance? ›

Owner-Occupancy Requirements

When you refinance, some lenders attach an owner-occupancy clause to the loan. Specifically, this means that the lender requires you to live at the property for a certain period of time.

What is the owner occupancy clause? ›

The mortgage occupancy clause requires you to make your home your primary residence. Occupancy statements are there to protect the value of the home and the lender from losing money. If you lie about your property being owner-occupied, you'll be committing mortgage fraud.

What does occupying property mean? ›

Living in or using premises or property as a tenant or owner; includes someone who lives in or uses abandoned property with the intention of acquiring ownership.

What is an owner-occupied property held by an owner for? ›

Owner-occupied property is property held (by the owner or by the lessee as a right-of-use asset) for use in the production or supply of goods or services or for administrative purposes.

What is a non occupant borrower? ›

A non-occupant borrower is anyone, such as a parent, who is willing and financially able to be a borrower on the mortgage, but who will not live in the home. Sample Scenario: Loan Underwritten in Desktop Underwriter® (DU®) A millennial couple is buying their first home, and his mother would like to help.

Which of the following loans would be exempt from the Truth in Lending Act? ›

What Is Not Covered Under TILA? THE TILA DOES NOT COVER: Ì Student loans Ì Loans over $25,000 made for purposes other than housing Ì Business loans (The TILA only protects consumer loans and credit.) Purchasing a home, vehicle or other assets with credit and loans can greatly impact your financial security.

How does a non occupant co borrower work? ›

A non-occupying co-borrower is similar to a guarantor. They ultimately have no claim on the home – meaning they can't take actual possession of it – but as a non-occupying co-borrower on the mortgage, they are financially responsible for paying back the loan if the primary borrower is not able to do so.

What is the penalty for lying on a mortgage application? ›

Mortgage fraud can get you a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison, up to $1,000,000 in fines, or a combination of these punishments, according to the FBI. Falsifying income, assets, debt, your identity, or the value of real estate to sway a mortgage lender's decision constitutes criminal activity.

What is occupancy misrepresentation? ›

Homebuyer occupancy misrepresentation is now the most common form of mortgage application fraud in California. Occupancy misrepresentation occurs when the buyer of a property to be funded by a mortgage lies about whether the property they're purchasing will be used as their primary residence. [

Can you have two primary residences? ›

Can you have two primary residence mortgages? No, you cannot legally have two primary residences. Even if you split your time equally between two places or in between places while relocating for work, the IRS requires you list one property as a primary residence while filing taxes.

Which of these property types can be owner-occupied? ›

Owner-occupied properties can include single-family houses, multi-family homes, condos, duplexes, and more.

Which of the following statements best describe owner-occupied property? ›

Which TWO of the following statements best describe 'owner-occupied property', according to IAS40 Investment property ? The correct answers are "Property held for use in the production and supply of goods or services" and "Property held for administrative purposes". IAS40 para 5 defines owner-occupied property.

What is the difference between investment property and owner-occupied? ›

As the names imply, the difference between owner-occupied residences and investment properties comes down to what you intend to do with them. When you're buying a home or apartment you intend to live in, it's called an owner-occupied property. If you plan to rent it to tenants or flip it, it's considered an investment.

What is the difference between owner and occupier? ›

Owner or operator means any person who owns, leases, operates, controls, or supervises a facility, source, or air pollution control equipment. occupier in relation to a property, shall mean a person in actual occupation of the property, whether or not that person has a right to occupy the property.

What is the difference between co applicant and occupier? ›

Applicant 2 shall therefore contributes to paying to service the loan of the house, i.e. he/she has a share in owning the unit. An occupier co-lives in the unit but does not contribute to the paying of the house, and therefore legally he/she does not have a share owning the unit.

What is the difference between occupier and occupant? ›

Occupant means any person or persons over the age of eighteen years in possession of the property. Permitted Occupier means any person on the Premises for any period expressly or by implication with the Tenant's authority or permission.

What does occupancy mean in banking? ›

The occupancy rate is the ratio of rented units to the total number of available units in a building, tower, housing unit, state, or city. It is one of the critical concepts for those investors who are fairly interested in dealing with real estate transactions.

Is occupancy the same as resident? ›

Simply put, a resident has signed the lease and is legally obligated to pay the rent and follow the terms of the lease, while an occupant is someone living in an apartment without necessarily signing or being added to the lease.

What does occupancy at close mean? ›

As mentioned, many buyers take occupancy on the day of closing — meaning they are officially handed the keys and can move in. But, there may be cases where the sellers need more time to finalize the purchase of their next home or, in rare circ*mstances, the buyers may request to take possession before closing.

What is included in occupancy? ›

Occupancy costs can vary by tenant and lease, but they usually include some combination of: base rent, property taxes, insurance, utilities, common area maintenance, and tenant improvements.

What does occupancy mean on a form? ›

the act, state, or condition of being or becoming a tenant or of living in or taking up quarters or space in or on something: Continued occupancy of the office depends on a rent reduction. the possession or tenancy of a property: You can have occupancy on June 1st.

Why is occupancy rate important? ›

Occupancy rates are important to business owners because they can signify success - or failure - of the property in question. If a hotel that has consistently low occupancy rates, for example, it may mean that property has significant problems that make it unattractive to the general public.

What does occupancy status mean? ›

Occupancy status defines the legal situations of households concerning the occupancy of their main residence.

What is occupancy in property law? ›

The taking possession of those things corporeal which are without an owner, with an intention of appropriating them to one's own use. The title by which one acquires property in a thing which belongs to nobody by taking possession of it with the design of acquiring.

What is your current occupancy meaning? ›

Full Definition of Current Occupancy

The current percentage of units in a building or property that is leased.

What does a certificate of occupancy mean in Florida? ›

A Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is issued for new construction or change of use (i.e. from a school to a restaurant), while a Certificate of Completion (CC) is needed for remodels, renovations and shell buildings. NOTE: When you are in iBuild, your permit application will indicate whether a CO or CC is required.

What is a certificate of occupancy in California? ›

A Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) is a document issued by the Building Division which certifies that a commercial space or newly constructed residential building has been inspected for compliance with the California Building Standards Code and local ordinances which govern construction and occupancy.

What is an occupancy check Canada? ›

Visual Cursory Inspection of a Property. We will travel to a property and visually inspect it to determine whether or not it is occupied. If the property is occupied, we will endeavor to determine who occupies the property.

Does FHA have an owner occupancy clause? ›

FHA Occupancy Requirement

Under FHA rules and guidelines, the property being financed must be occupied by the owner. This means that rental and seasonal properties do not apply. The FHA uses this rule to prevent investors from benefiting from the program.

What is the owner occupancy ratio for Fannie Mae? ›

Financial institution-owned REO units that are for sale (not rented) are considered owner-occupied when calculating the 50% owner-occupancy ratio requirement.

Is an owner-occupied property held by an owner? ›

Owner-occupied property- is property held (by the owner or by the lessee under a finance lease) for use in the production or supply of goods or services or for administrative purposes.

When must a borrower move into an owner-occupied primary residence? ›

This can vary by state. Typically, the borrower shall occupy, establish, and use the principal residence within 60 days after the execution of the security instrument. Refer to the applicable state security instrument form for requirements.

Is an owner-occupied home also known as a principal residence? ›

Your primary residence (also known as a principal residence) is your home. Whether it's a house, condo or townhome, if you take up occupancy there for the majority of the year and can prove it, it's your primary residence, and it could qualify for a lower mortgage rate.

What does owner-occupied mean in Fannie Mae? ›

Defining Owner-Occupied

The owner of the property must occupy the home for the major portion of each calendar year. Borrowers for Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac mortgage loans must sign and certify that they will occupy the property as their primary residence.

What is it called when a person owns property alone? ›

SOLE OWNERSHIP. Sole ownership may be described as ownership by an individual or other entity capable of acquiring title. Examples of common vesting cases of sole ownership are: A Single Man/Woman: A man or woman who has not been legally married. For example: John Buyer, a single man.

How do lenders know if its your primary residence? ›

The type of house you buy can influence two things: the type of mortgage loan you apply for and what your lender will look for during the mortgage approval process. Mortgage lenders consider your primary residence the place you move into within 60 days of purchase and live in for most of the year.

What does principal place of residence mean? ›

Principal residence means the dwelling where the borrower and, if applicable, Non-Borrowing Spouse, maintain their permanent place of abode, and typically spend the majority of the calendar year. A person may have only one principal residence at any one time.

Is owner-occupied property considered as an investment property? ›

Another important of example of investment property is land held for a currently undetermined future use. If an entity has not decided whether it will use the land as owner-occupied property or for short-term sale in the ordinary course of business, the land is regarded as investment property.

What is principal residence defined by IRS? ›

For tax purposes, a principal residence is the dwelling that a person inhabits most of the time. It does not matter whether it is a house, apartment, trailer, or boat, as long as it is where an individual, couple, or family lives most of the time. It is also referred to as a primary residence or main residence.

What is the difference between owner and property? ›

The term "owner" refers to the individual who has full legal and physical possession of a certain asset, whether it be physical property, real estate, or intellectual property. A "landlord" is a property owner who rents out their building to tenants. Owning something is not limited to the domain of physical property.

What is the difference between an investment property and a primary residence? ›

A primary residence is typically your long-term home. It's where you live, sleep, raise you family and watch TV. An investment property might be fully capable of serving as a home, but it's instead used as a means of generating income.

What is the difference between an investment property and a home? ›

Both terms refer to a property aside from your primary residence, but the difference is in how you intend to use that property. A second home is a home you intend to live in during part of the year. An investment property is one you intend to rent out rather than live in.

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