When Is A Mortgage Approval An Approval?

March 24th, 2019
approved

When is an approval really an approval? When is an approval only a conditional approval? Below are the different levels of “loan approval” you can get for a mortgage:

1. Pre-Qualification:

This is done before you make an offer on a home. This is only a loan officer analysis, and supporting financial documents are not required. This is a review of the applicant’s income and debts using standard methods of determining housing and debt ratios to indicate the maximum loan amount for which an applicant would qualify, subject to the satisfactory appraisal, further verifications of income, employment and credit history.  This is the lowest form of analysis you can have done.

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Automated Underwriting Versus Human Underwriting

August 5th, 2018
approve or reject

When you’re ready to buy a new home, one of the first things you have to do is take steps to get your financing in place. Mortgage approval is based in part on an automated underwriting process. Unless you plan to pay in cash, you need to secure a mortgage loan. It is beneficial to get a pre-approval letter from a mortgage lender before you even make an offer. Having your loan pre-approved can show a seller you are a serious buyer with adequate funds. You can also reduce the risk of the contract falling through.

Lenders typically use one of two underwriting processes for mortgage loans: automated and manual. Understanding the basics of how these types of loan approval work can give you confidence when applying for your mortgage.  Read the rest of this entry »

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How Much Documentation Needs To Go Into a Pre-Approval Letter?

July 15th, 2018
paperwork stack

Today’s real estate market can be competitive for everyone, no matter what price point you’re shopping at. That’s why it’s important to understand the ins and outs of the home buying process before you hit the market. Let’s talk about what getting a mortgage pre-approval letter involves, how you can do so, and why it’s a good idea for anyone heading into the market for a new home. Read the rest of this entry »

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Why Do Sellers and Realtors Want Me To Be Pre-Approved?

June 24th, 2018
pre approval approved

Homeownership is a major component of the American dream as it provides you with your own piece of property to put down roots and live your life. You might think the process starts when you first go out hunting for houses or condominiums, but it often begins long before the initial meeting with a realtor when you contact a lender for pre-approval. Homes are major purchases, and it’s understandable that you have to meet certain qualifications before the transaction goes through. Here are a few reasons why the seller and realtor might want you to get pre-approved, as well as an overview of the entire process. Read the rest of this entry »

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Pre-Approval Letter Versus Pre-Qualification Letter: What Is the Difference?

June 3rd, 2018
qualification

When you’re beginning the home-buying process, figuring out what you need to get your mortgage loan can seem complicated. You may even be tempted to find your dream home first before you apply for a mortgage. However, going through the pre-qualification and pre-approval processes at the start of your search can make the entire experience go more smoothly.

 

Before you meet with a lender or mortgage broker, you should have a good understanding of how the loan process works and what you’ll need to provide in your application. This guide covers the basics of loan application, qualification, and approval. Read the rest of this entry »

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Interest Rates And Your Monthly Mortgage Payment

April 21st, 2018

Interest Rates And Your Monthly Mortgage Payment Is Impacted

 

Many people are very focused on interest rates these days and are wondering where they are headed next and how it may affect their mortgage payment. Interest rates have been historically low for a very long time, and people are starting to fear that they may increase and have an outsized impact on the cost of purchasing a home.

 

You can see a chart of the long-term history of interest-rates by clicking here.  This chart shows that we are definitely near the bottom of where interest-rates have been over a long period of time. On the other hand, if interest-rates start to go up does it have as much of an impact as people think? Read the rest of this entry »

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Self-Employed Mortgage Borrowers Need 1 Or 2 Years Of Tax Returns?

March 11th, 2018

Self-Employed Mortgage Borrowers Need 1 Or 2 Years Of Tax Returns?

 

I constantly get questions about whether or not someone who is self-employed needs a minimum of two years of tax returns, or if they can get away with one year of them, when qualifying for a mortgage. I thought I would answer this question and put it to rest. Please realize guidelines can change in the future. As of the date of this blog, the hyperlinks below are guidelines related to the history that self-employed people need, and the number of years of tax returns they need to document their income. Read the rest of this entry »

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Watch Out For Wire Fraud In Mortgage Transactions!

February 22nd, 2018

Watch Out For Wire Fraud In Mortgage Transactions!

New home purchasers can get caught up in a wire fraud scam in a mortgage transaction by cyber criminals if they aren’t careful!  This type of fraud is happening more often.  Some borrowers are fortunate enough to have a bank that recognizes that money is being sent to a suspicious account and the wire gets stopped. Otherwise, the mortgage borrower can lose their entire down payment on the house.  Once a wire goes out to another bank it’s almost impossible to pull it back, even when Read the rest of this entry »

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7 Warning Signs You’re Not Ready To Buy A Home

October 28th, 2017

Buying a home is the most important and expensive decision that most of us will undertake.  It is surprising to me how many people are not prepared to buy a home. A potential homebuyer should do extensive amounts of research and give a lot of thought to what they want to buy, and when they feel they’ll be ready. Below are some of the warning signs that you might not yet be ready to buy a home and you may need to do some more research. Read the rest of this entry »

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