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Pre-Qualification
Mortgage
Programs and Rates
The
Application
Processing
Required
Documents
Credit
Reports
Appraisal
Basics
Underwriting
Closing
Summation
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Pre-Qualification
Pre-qualification starts the loan process. Once
a lender has gathered information about a borrower’s income
and debts, a determination can be made as to how much the borrower
can pay for a house. Since different loan programs can cause different
valuations a borrower should get pre-qualified for each loan type
the borrower may qualify for.
In attempting to approve homebuyers for the
type and amount of mortgage they want, mortgage companies look at
two key factors. First, the borrower’s ability to repay the
loan and, second, the borrower’s willingness to repay the
loan.
Ability to repay the mortgage is verified
by your current employment and total income. Generally speaking,
mortgage companies prefer for you to have been employed at the same
place for at least two years, or at least be in the same line of
work for a few years.
The borrower’s willingness to repay
is determined by examining how the property will be used. For instance,
will you be living there or just renting it out? Willingness is
also closely related to how you have fulfilled previous financial
commitments, thus the emphasis on the Credit Report and/or your
rental payment history.
It is important to remember that there are
no rules carved in stone. Each applicant is handled on a case-by-case
basis. So even if you come up a little short in one area, your stronger
point could make up for the weak one. Mortgage companies couldn’t
stay in business if they didn’t generate loan business, so
it’s in everyone’s best interest to see that you qualify.
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Mortgage
Programs and Rates
To
properly analyze a Mortgage Program, the borrower needs to think
about how long they plan to keep the loan. If you plan to sell the
house in a few years, an adjustable or balloon loan may make more
sense. If you plan to keep the house for a longer period, a fixed
loan may be more suitable.
Shopping
for a loan is very time consuming and frustrating. With so many
programs to choose from, each with different rates, points and fees,
an experienced mortgage professional can evaluate a borrower’s
situation and recommend the most suitable Mortgage Program. Thus
allowing the borrower to make an informed decision.
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The
Application
The application is the true start of the loan process and usually
occurs between days one and five of the start of the loan process.
The borrower completes, with the aid of a mortgage professional, the
application and provides all Required Documentation.
The
various fees and closing cost estimates will have been discussed
while examining the many Mortgage Programs and these costs will
be verified by the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and a Truth-In-Lending
Statement (TIL) which the borrower will receive within three days
of the submission of the application to the lender.
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Processing
Once the application has been submitted,
the processing of the mortgage begins. The Processor orders the Credit
Report, Appraisal and Title Report. The information on the application,
such as bank deposits and payment histories, are then verified. Any
credit derogatories, such as late payments, collections and/or judgments
require a written explanation. The processor examines the Appraisal
and Title Report checking for property issues that may require further
investigation. The entire mortgage package is then put together for
submission to the lender.
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Required
Documents
If you are purchasing or refinancing your home, and you are salaried
you will need to provide the past two-years W-2s and one month of
pay-stubs: OR, if you are self-employed you will need to provide the
past two-years tax returns. If you own rental property you will need
to provide Rental Agreements and the past two-years tax returns. If
you wish to speed up the approval process, you should also provide
the past three-months bank, stock and mutual fund account statements.
Provide the most recent copies of any stock brokerage or IRA/401k
accounts that you might have.
If
you are requesting cash-out you will need a "Use of Proceeds"
letter of explanation. Provide a copy of the divorce decree if applicable.
If you are not a US citizen, provide a copy of your green card (front
and back), or if you are NOT a permanent resident provide your H-1
or L-1 visa.
If
you are applying for a Home Equity Loan you will need to, in addition
to the above documents, provide a copy of your first mortgage note
and deed of trust. These items will normally be found in your mortgage
closing documents.
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Credit
Reports
Most people applying for a home mortgage need not worry about the
effects of their credit history during the mortgage process. However,
you can be better prepared if you get a copy of your Credit Report
before you apply for your mortgage. That way, you can take steps to
correct any negatives before making your application.
A
Credit Profile refers to a consumer credit file, which is made up
of various consumer credit reporting agencies. It is a picture of
how you paid back the companies you have borrowed money from, or how
you have met other financial obligations. There are five categories
of information on a credit profile:
Identifying Information
Employment Information
Credit Information
Public Record Information
Inquiries
NOT included on your credit profile is race, religion, health, driving
record, criminal record, political preference, or income.
If
you have had credit problems, be prepared to discuss them honestly
with a mortgage professional who will assist you in writing your "Letter
of Explanation." Knowledgeable mortgage professionals know there
can be legitimate reasons for credit problems, such as unemployment,
illness or other financial difficulties. If you had problems that
have been corrected (reestablishment of credit), and your payments
have been on time for a year or more, your credit may be considered
satisfactory.
The
mortgage industry tends to create its own language and credit rating
is no different. BC mortgage lending gets its name from the grading
of one’s credit based on such things as payment history, amount
of debt payments, bankruptcies, equity position, credit scores, etc.
Credit scoring is a statistical method of assessing the credit risk
of a mortgage application. The score looks at the following items:
past delinquencies, derogatory payment behavior, current debt levels,
length of credit history, types of credit and number of inquires.
By
now, most people have heard of credit scoring. The most common score
(now the most common terminology for credit scoring) is called the
FICO score. This score was developed by Fair, Isaac & Company,
Inc. for the three main credit Bureaus; Equifax (Beacon), Experian
(formerly TRW), and Empirica (TransUnion).
FICO
scores are simply repository scores meaning they ONLY consider the
information contained in a person’s credit file. They DO NOT
consider a persons income, savings or down payment amount. Credit
scores are based on five factors: 35% of the score is based on payment
history, 30% on the amount owed, 15% on how long you’ve had
credit, 10% percent on new credit being sought and 10% on the types
of credit you have. The scores are useful in directing applications
to specific loan programs and to set levels of underwriting such as
Streamline, Traditional or Second Review, but are not the final word
regarding the type of program you will qualify for or your interest
rate.
Many
people in the mortgage business are skeptical about the accuracy of
FICO scores. Scoring has only been an integral part of the mortgage
process for the past few years (since 1999); however, the FICO scores
have been used since the late 1950’s by retail merchants, credit
card companies, insurance companies and banks for consumer lending.
The data from large scoring projects, such as large mortgage portfolios,
demonstrate their predictive quality and that the scores do work.
The
following items are some of the ways that you can improve your credit
score:
Pay your bills on time.
Keep Balances low
on credit cards.
Limit your credit
accounts to what you really need. Accounts that are no longer needed
should be formally cancelled since zero balance accounts can still
count against you.
Check that your
credit report information is accurate.
Be conservative
in applying for credit and make sure that your credit is only checked
when necessary.
A borrower with a score of 680 and above is considered an A+ borrower.
A loan with this score will be put through an "automated basic
computerized underwriting" system and be completed within minutes.
Borrowers in this category qualify for the lowest interest rates and
their loan can close in a couple of days.
A
score below 680 but above 620 may indicate underwriters will take
a closer look in determining potential risk. Supplemental documentation
may be required before final approval. Borrowers with this credit
score may still obtain "A" pricing, but the loan may take
several days longer to close.
Borrowers
with credit scores below 620 are normally locked into the best rate
and terms offered. This loan type usually goes to "sub-prime"
lenders. The loan terms and conditions are less attractive with these
loan types and more time is needed to find the borrower the best rates.
All
things being equal, when you have derogatory credit, all of the other
aspects of the loan need to be in order. Equity, stability, income,
documentation, assets, etc. play a larger role in the approval decision.
Various combinations are allowed when determining your grade, but
the worst-case scenario will push your grade to a lower credit grade.
Late mortgage payments and Bankruptcies/Foreclosures are the most
important. Credit patterns, such as a high number of recent inquiries
or more than a few outstanding loans, may signal a problem. Since
an indication of a "willingness to pay" is important, several
late payments in the same time period is better than random lates.
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Appraisal
Basics
An appraisal of real estate is the valuation of the rights of ownership.
The appraiser must define the rights to be appraised. The appraiser
does not create value, the appraiser interprets the market to arrive
at a value estimate. As the appraiser compiles data pertinent to a
report, consideration must be given to the site and amenities as well
as the physical condition of the property. Considerable research and
collection of data must be completed prior to the appraiser arriving
at a final opinion of value.
Using
three common approaches, which are all derived from the market, the
appraiser derives the opinion, or estimate of value. The first approach
to value is the COST APPROACH. This method derives
what it would cost to replace the existing improvements as of the
date of the appraisal, less any physical deterioration, functional
obsolescence and economic obsolescence. The second method is the COMPARISON
APPROACH, which uses other "bench mark" properties
(comps) of similar size, quality and location that have recently sold
to determine value. The INCOME APPROACH is used in
the appraisal of rental properties and has little use in the valuation
of single family dwellings. This approach provides an objective estimate
of what a prudent investor would pay based on the net income the property
produces.
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Underwriting
Once the processor has put together a complete
package with all verifications and documentation, the file is sent
to the lender. The underwriter is responsible for determining whether
the package is deemed an acceptable loan. If more information is needed
the loan is put into "suspense" and the borrower is contacted
to supply more information and/or documentation. If the loan is acceptable
as submitted, the loan is put into an "approved" status.
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Closing
Once
the loan is approved, the file is transferred to the closing and funding
department. The funding department notifies the broker and closing
attorney of the approval and verifies broker and closing fees. The
closing attorney then schedules a time for the borrower to sign the
loan documentation.
At the closing the borrower should:
Bring a cashiers check for your down payment and closing costs if
required. Personal checks are normally not accepted and if they are
they will delay the closing until the check clears your bank.
Review the final
loan documents. Make sure that the interest rate and loan terms are
what you agreed upon. Also, verify that the names and address on the
loan documents are accurate.
Sign the loan documents.
Bring identification
and proof of insurance.
After the documents are signed, the closing attorney returns the documents
to the lender who examines them and, if everything is in order, arranges
for the funding of the loan. Once the loan has funded, the closing
attorney arranges for the mortgage note and deed of trust to be recorded
at the county recorders office. Once the mortgage has been recorded,
the closing attorney then prints the final settlement costs on the
HUD-1 Settlement Form. Final disbursements are then made.
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Summation
A
typical "A" mortgage transaction takes between 14-21 business
days to complete. With new automated underwriting, this process speeds
up greatly. Contact one of our experienced Loan Officers today to
discuss your particular mortgage needs or Apply Online and a Loan
Officer will promptly get back to you.
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