Organize Your
Documents
-
Complete and
sign the residential loan application, Form 1003, and the
attached loan info sheet, credit authorization and fair
lending notice. Page 5 of the application is a
continuation page in case you need additional space for
your assets or liabilities. If you make a mistake while
filling out the application cross it out, and make a
change. Do NOT use whiteout.
-
If you are
salaried: provide W-2's for the previous two years and
one month of pay stubs. If you are self-employed,
provide tax returns for the previous two years, including
all schedules, and a YTD profit and loss statement. (Note:
provide copies of all requested documents. Do not provide
original documents.)
-
If you own
rental property, provide recent rental agreements and tax
returns for the previous two years, including all
schedules.
-
To speed up
the approval process, provide bank statements for the most
recent three months, and recent statements for stock,
mutual funds and IRA/401K accounts.
-
If you are
requesting a cash out refinance, provide a letter
explaining how you will use the refinance proceeds.
-
If
applicable, provide a copy of your divorce decree and
settlement agreement.
-
If you are
NOT a US citizen, provide a copy of your green card (front
& back). If you are NOT a permanent resident provide a
copy of your H-1 or L-1 visa.
-
If any
borrower has filed bankruptcy, provide the Discharge
Notice, Filing and Schedule of Creditors.
-
If you are
applying for a home equity line of credit or loan (second
loan), also include your first mortgage note. (This should
be with your closing loan documents.)
Get Qualified
Getting
qualified before you apply for a loan can help you
understand how much you can borrow.
Apply now to get started!
When buying a
home, you may be pre-qualified or pre-approved. You can be
pre-qualified online in just a few
minutes. Pre-qualification is not as useful as pre-approval.
Pre-approval requires a more rigorous process, including
verification of your credit, income, assets and liabilities.
It is highly recommended that you be pre-approved before you
start looking for a home.
Being
pre-approved will:
-
Inform you of
your maximum affordable home value, and save you from
previewing properties outside your price range.
-
Put you in a
stronger negotiating position with the seller, because the
seller will know your loan is pre-approved.
-
Help you
close quickly, since your loan is pre-approved.
Shop Loan
Programs and Rates
What loan
program is best for your situation? Lenders offer many
different loan options:
-
Think
about how long you plan to keep the loan. If you plan
to sell your home in a few years, you may want to consider
an adjustable rate or balloon loan. If you plan to keep
your home for a longer time, you may want to consider a
fixed rate loan.
-
Understand
the relationship between rates and points. Points are
considered prepaid interest and may be tax deductible.
Each point is equal to 1 percent of the loan. For example
1 point on a $150,000 loan is $1,500. The more points you
pay, the lower your rate.
-
Compare
different loan programs. With so many programs to
choose from, it's hard to figure out which program is best
for you. Consult an experienced loan officer who can help
you find a loan program that best fits your short- and
long-term plans.
Obtain Loan
Approval
Once your loan
application has been received, we will start the loan
approval process immediately. This involves verifying your:
-
Credit
history
-
Employment
history
-
Assets
including your bank accounts, stocks, mutual fund and
retirement accounts
-
Property
value
-
Based on your
specific situation, additional documents or verifications
may be required.
To improve your
chances of getting a loan approval:
-
Fill out the
loan application completely.
-
Respond
promptly to any requests for additional documents. This is
especially critical if your rate is locked or if you plan
to close by a certain date.
-
Do not make
any major purchases. Do not buy a car, furniture or
another house till your loan is closed.
-
Anything that
causes your debts to increase might have an adverse affect
on your current application.
-
Do not move
money into your bank accounts unless it can be traced. If
you are receiving money from friends, family or other
relatives, please contact us.
-
Do not go out
of town around the closing date. If you do plan to be out
of town when your loan is expected to close, you may sign
a power of attorney, to authorize another individual to
sign on your behalf.
-
Notify your
loan officer before applying for any other credit,
including credit cards, personal loans or even with
another mortgage company. Some loan programs have strict
guidelines regarding your credit score. Credit inquiries
may lower your credit score and may have an adverse affect
on your loan approval.
Close the Loan
After your loan
is approved, you will be required to sign the final loan
documents. This will normally take place in the presence of
a notary public. Be prepared to:
-
Bring a
cashiers check for your down payment and closing costs if
required. Personal checks are normally NOT accepted.
-
Review the
final loan documents. Make sure that the interest rate and
loan terms are what you were promised. Also, verify the
accuracy of the name and address on the loan documents.
-
Sign the loan
documents. The notary will require that you have your
picture ID with you. Some lenders also require to see your
Social Security card.
Your loan will
normally close shortly after you have signed the loan
documents. On refinance and home equity loan transactions,
federal law requires that you have three days to review the
documents before your loan transaction can close. Purchase
transactions do not have a three day rescission period.