You can most likely use a co-borrower (relative) to help qualify for an FHA loan at 3.5% down. 

They did mention getting a co-sign from their father.

I recall needing a CO for a conventional mortgage in NJ.

I'm thinking of asking for a co-signer, who will have to pay for a credit check to qualify.One more tidbit: They said when I call for rental history that his friend and his dog are not on his current lease.

Of course if you can't get a mortgage on your own that becomes an issue, especially if you can't find a co-signer.Those are just a couple of ways to get into the biz.

However, if you can't live in the house without a CO, then how can you do an owner occupied?

There have been a lot of stuff going on, divorce and stuff and I should probably be more calm when I was doing this.I found through a co-worker an apartment where she is living right now but she was moving out at the end of the month, and I really was interested on it.

Your city will likely require a CO and perhaps a landlord license, and maybe even a roof/chimney/furnace certification.

My girlfriend is listed as the primary borrower and I am listed as a co-borrower.

Katrina , I would check into a small , local bank , you very well may be able to get a co-signer (I did) to carry the loan with you and be able to refi it that way.In my area, a small local bank will let me cashout refi it with a co-signer, and after a year let me take it over in the name of my own LLC.