800-555-2098
Congratulations! You passed the pre-approval stage for getting a home, but what happens next?
Once you have a pre-approval letter from your lender, you can start looking for a home to purchase. Keep in mind that the letter is only good for 60 to 90 days, depending on the type of approval you received.
Why Should I Get Pre-Approved?
A pre-approval gives you an edge when shopping for a home because realtors and home sellers know you are already qualified to buy, according to a lender’s standards. It also means your time from agreeing to buy and closing will be faster, since approval is already done. During your search, keep the lender estimates in mind. It is an amount you can comfortably afford for a home. It is not advisable to go above it.
Once you have found a home that meets your needs and your pre-approval amount, you can start the sale process by giving the seller the pre-approval letter and making an offer on the house. If the seller accepts your offer, the next step is to start the underwriting process.
What is the Mortgage Underwriting Process?
Now that you have an accepted offer on a house, you will work with your loan officer to sign an official mortgage application. This will start the loan process and allow us to submit your application to underwriting for approval. If you have not yet provided the supporting documentation to verify the information on your application you will need to do this now. These documents will include income, assets, and credit documentation.
Required Documents to Apply for a Mortgage
- Drivers License
- Social Security Card
- 1 Month Paystubs
- Most Recent 2 Year W2 Statements
- Most Recent 2 Years Tax Returns (if self employed or commission)
- 2 Months Bank Statements
- Most Recent Quarterly Retirement Statement
- Home Owner Insurance Quote
(Additional Documentation may be required in Underwriting. Not all borrowers will need to present these documents – Ask us about our Automated Home Loan process where we electronically verify your information.)
Once your application is signed (we use electronic signatures to speed up the process), then your loan is submitted to an underwriting. The underwriter will review the information to confirm that it matches what was submitted on your application. They may have questions or request additional documentation at this time. Once your loan is “Conditionally Approved” in underwriting we will move to the appraisal.
What Happens During the Appraisal Phase?
An appraisal takes into account the interior of the home, the exterior, and the value of surrounding homes in the neighborhood. Once the appraisal is over, the loan can be processed. An underwriter will process the loan and clear the loan for closing. The appraisal must come in either greater than or equal to the value of the purchase price. If it comes in low you may need to bring additional cash or renegotiate with the sellers.
Once through processing, your loan will be scheduled to close. This is where you will sit down with an escrow agent or a notary to make everything official and legal.
The Final Stretch: Closing Costs
The last part of the process, before you can start packing up your moving boxes, is the closing. Closing costs are what you pay for outside of the home itself. So, if you get an appraisal, the appraiser needs to be paid for their services. In addition, there is title insurance fees, taxes, tax services, and other fees that come with closing. These fees can range anywhere from 0-5% of the cost of the loan.
If you negotiated that the sellers will pay these closing costs and pre-paid items then they will cover them at the closing otherwise these fees will need to be paid by you at the time of the close. If you are short on cash, ask your loan officer if you qualify for lender paid closing costs. This is where we will give you a credit at the close to cover some or all of your 3rd party fees. You will always need to cover your own down payment funds (unless a special program allows differently).
In summary, to start buying a home, the first step is the home loan pre-approval. Be sure to make an appointment with a Riverbank Finance professional loan officer today by calling (800) 555-2098.