Who can be a co-borrower on a Philippine home loan?

Banks generally require a co-borrower to be a direct relative of the principal borrower. Some lenders will also consider domestic partners and fiancés, but this depends on each bank's lending policy. Importantly, most banks automatically add a married spouse as a co-borrower on the home loan, so your spouse's income and obligations are factored in whether you nominate them or not.

When do I need a co-borrower for a housing loan?

A co-borrower is most often needed when the principal borrower's monthly income isn't enough on its own to buy the property they want. Banks compare your income against the property value and check that it covers the monthly repayments while still leaving you enough to live on — your debt-to-income ratio. If your income falls short, adding a co-borrower combines incomes and can lift you over the line.

Does my spouse automatically become a co-borrower on our home loan?

Usually, yes. Most Philippine banks automatically add a married spouse as a co-borrower on the home loan, which means the bank also assesses your spouse's income and obligations. It also means that if there are unresolved marital issues with a previous spouse, those can cause complications. If that applies to you, it's best to discuss your intention to buy before applying, so issues don't surface later and stall approval.

Does adding a co-borrower increase how much I can borrow?

Often, yes. Because the bank can count the co-borrower's income alongside yours, your combined borrowing capacity is typically higher than going it alone. This can be the difference between qualifying for the property you want and falling short. The exact uplift depends on each lender's policy and on both parties' incomes and existing debts, which is why comparing banks matters.

Can adding a co-borrower delay or complicate my home loan?

It can. Including co-borrowers is sometimes tricky and can delay the loan process if not done correctly — for example, mismatched documents, an ineligible co-borrower, or unresolved issues with a former spouse. That's why it helps to have a home loan expert like Nook guide you. A dedicated Nook consultant reviews your circumstances, structures the co-borrower correctly, and runs the whole application so it moves smoothly.

Does it cost anything to get Nook's help with a co-borrower home loan?

No — Nook is 100% free to you. As the Philippines' original and award-winning mortgage broker, Nook is paid a commission by the partner bank only once your home loan is released, so you never pay us a fee. We compare 20+ banks, advise on whether and how to add a co-borrower, and manage the entire application end to end at no cost to you.

When Do You Need a Home Loan Co-Borrower?

Q: What is a co-borrower on a home loan in the Philippines?

A co-borrower is someone who jointly takes out a home loan with the principal borrower to buy a property. They share the liability of repaying the loan to the bank, and they share the risks and rewards of the property purchase. In effect, two or more people team up to buy the one property, and the bank assesses their combined income and obligations when deciding the loan.

Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions you'll ever make — and sometimes you don't have to do it alone. A co-borrower can help you qualify for a home loan you couldn't get on your own income, but they also share the responsibility of paying it back. By the end of this guide you'll know exactly what a co-borrower is, who can be one, and when you'll actually need one.

What is a co-borrower?

A co-borrower is someone who will jointly take out a home loan with the principal borrower to purchase a property. They share the liability of repaying the loan to the bank, and they share the risks and rewards of the property purchase. Put simply, it's like two or more people teaming up to buy the one property — and the bank assesses everyone's income and obligations together when it decides the loan.

Who can be a co-borrower?

Generally, banks need the co-borrower to be a direct relative of the principal borrower. However, some banks will consider domestic partners and fiancés as eligible co-borrowers — it depends on each bank's lending policy.

One important point: a married spouse is automatically added as a co-borrower on the home loan by most banks. So if a marital issue exists with a previous spouse, it can cause complications in the home loan process. If that's applicable to you, it's best to discuss your intention to purchase a property with your previous spouse before applying for the loan — there may be issues down the track that prevent the loan from being approved if it isn't sorted out first.

Including co-borrowers on a home loan can be tricky and can delay the process if it isn't done correctly. That's exactly why it helps to have a home loan expert like Nook guide you through the application and make sense of your particular circumstances.

When do you need a co-borrower?

Co-borrowers are most often used when the principal borrower's monthly income isn't enough on its own to buy the property they intend to purchase. Banks look at your income versus the value of the property and decide whether your income is enough to cover the monthly loan repayments while still leaving you with enough money each month to live on.

This is called your debt-to-income ratio. If your income falls short of what the bank wants to see, adding a co-borrower combines two incomes — which can be the difference between qualifying for your dream home and being told you can't borrow enough. (We explain the maths in our separate guide, Debt-to-Income Ratio: Why Home Loan Borrowers Need to Know.)

Not sure if you need a co-borrower?

Chat with a Nook loan consultant and we'll work out whether your income qualifies on its own — or whether adding a co-borrower gets you over the line. Then we handle the whole application. 100% free.

Chat to an agent →

💬 Live consultants · 9am–9pm daily · No obligation

The catch: getting it right is harder than it looks

Choosing the right co-borrower — and structuring the application correctly — isn't always straightforward. The wrong choice of co-borrower, mismatched documents, or an unresolved issue with a former spouse can all stall an application that should have sailed through. And because every bank has its own policy on who counts as an eligible co-borrower and how combined income is assessed, the same arrangement can be approved by one lender and declined by another.

On your own, the only way to find out is to apply to a bank, wait for their decision, and start again with the next one if they say no. That's slow and stressful — especially when a co-borrower is involved.

There's a faster way — and it's free

This is exactly what a mortgage broker like Nook does for you. When you chat with us, a dedicated loan consultant reviews your circumstances, advises whether you need a co-borrower at all, and — if you do — structures it correctly for the banks most likely to approve you.

From there, Nook compares 20+ banks, matches you to your best-fit lender, and then runs the entire application on your behalf. You don't fill in bank forms, queue at branches, or chase follow-ups — Nook handles all of it, including the back-and-forth with the bank, so you can stay home while your loan moves forward.

Best of all, it costs you nothing. Nook is the Philippines' original and award-winning mortgage broker, and the service is 100% free to you because the bank pays Nook a commission only once your home loan is released. If you're getting started on your home loan journey and want to avoid common co-borrower issues, that's the simplest way to do it right the first time.