The short answer
On an FHA loan, yes. California is a community property state, and FHA requires the lender to include a non-borrowing spouse's debts when working out your debt ratio. Their credit history cannot be used as a reason to deny you.
What FHA requires
- The lender pulls a credit report for your spouse, even though they are not on the loan.
- Your spouse's monthly debts are added to yours in the debt ratio.
- Debts that state law specifically excludes are left out. The lender has to note the law it relied on.
- Your spouse's credit history is not considered a reason to deny the application.
The rule applies if you live in a community property state or the home is in one. Texas is a community property state too.
What does not count
Your spouse's income is not used to qualify unless they are on the loan. So leaving a spouse off can remove their score from the picture, but it also removes their income while keeping their debts.
What your spouse will be asked for
Because a credit report is needed, your spouse will be asked to give consent for it. Depending on state law, a spouse who is not on the loan may also sign certain closing documents.
Which documents a non-borrowing spouse signs in California: confirm before publishing.
An example
You apply alone. Your own debts are a $400 car payment and $200 in card minimums. Your spouse, who is not on the loan, has a $450 car payment and $150 in card minimums.
FHA has the lender count all four: $1,200 a month, measured against your income alone.
An illustration of the rule, not a quote or an offer.
Which states this applies to
The community property states are Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. The rule applies if you live in one of them or the home is in one.
People often ask whether debts from before the marriage count. FHA's rule does not sort debts by date. It leaves out only what state law specifically excludes. How California law treats a spouse's pre-marriage debts: confirm before publishing.
What can go wrong
- A surprise in the ratio. A spouse's car loan or card payments can push the debt ratio over the limit.
- Collections and judgments. A spouse's may be looked at too.
- Other loan types. Conventional loans handle this differently. This page covers FHA.
What I see in real files
Jamal's own words go here: two to four sentences on what he sees in real files like this. Claude does not write this part.
Questions people ask next
Does my spouse's credit score lower mine?
No. Their score is not used when they are not a borrower.
We are separated. Does this still apply?
To confirm how FHA and California law treat separation before publishing.
Is it better to put my spouse on the loan?
It depends on their income, debts and score. With both on the loan, the lower score decides. Which score counts