This video outlines what to expect after youve applied for a mortgage loan. There are 6 required pieces of information for a mortgage loan application, covered in another video here on Video-Genius. Some lenders may request additional information at the time of application, or later. Once you have supplied the 6 required pieces, lenders have to provide a Loan Estimate in 3 business days. Lenders will verify the information you provide, through actions like credit checks, credit history and employment verification. Most lendersmust follow these steps, to assess your ability to repay. (Dont be offended by verification — it is required.) Once information has been verified, and processes like underwriting completed, the lender will make a decision about loan approval. If the loan IS approved, they will deliver a Closing Disclosure detailing all of the costs and terms. If you have a Closing Disclosure already, there are videos here that cover all of the pages and details to help you make sense of it. The Closing Disclosure itself must be delivered to you, 3 business days prior to consummation of the loan. The lender will usually set a date for that loan consummation process; this may also be your closing meeting. For clarity — closing essentially means "transferring ownership", and consummation basically means "committing to the loan." Once you have completed both of these, take a breath and pat yourself on the back! Successfully buying a home is a big milestone. Hopefully you remembered to get the keys so you can start transforming "the property" into your home.

Heres a video listing the DO and DONT steps to follow in the process of getting a mortgage loan. To ensure you wont fall victim to loan fraud, make sure you follow all of these steps in the process of applying for a loan. DO: Be honest about residency; if youre not going to live in the house, say so. Be clear and honest about any questions related to your credit history. Report your finances — debt, income and everything else — accurately. Do NOT: List fake co-borrowers Change tax return figures Overstate assets or valuations Fudge employment records Provide incorrect files to answer questions Exaggerate income or investments Buy property for someone else. Of course, do not sign ANY blank documents, and be sure you have read and understood anything that you do sign. And DO keep your own records of everything.

This video and article explain which organizations are exempt from ability-to-repay laws when handling mortgages. While most lenders are required to assess a borrowers ability to repay a mortgage, a few types of agencies and organizations are not. These include: State Housing Finance Agencies Community Housing Development Organizations Community Development Financial Institutions Downpayment Assistance Providers In addition, some not-for-profit companies making relatively few home loans are exempt. Federal loans, like this made under, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, might be exempt. Mortgages laws are designed to help customers and lending institutions avoid risk. If you need to check on a lending institutions right to be exempted from Ability-to-Repay, inquire with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau online, or by telephone at (855) 411-2372.

The terms "pre-qualify" and "pre-approve" sound similar, but they fit at opposite ends of the journey to a loan application. Pre-qualification should be done early. Its an informal estimate, without any commitment from a lender, to assess how much you might be able to borrow. Pre-approval is "just about ready to apply", typically when you have everything except a purchase contract. It involves completing a loan application, which lets the lender begin verifying your information. Successful pre-approval gives you a "pre-approval letter" that confirms the lenders offer to lend a specific amount. This letter may be helpful in shopping and negotiating the actual purchase.

Debt-to-Income (DTI) is one of the key ratios lenders use to assess and approve loan applications. Determining your current financial obligations versus your existing earnings is one part of a lending institutions necessary evaluation of your capability to pay back a loan. Like the video states: financial obligations are existing monetary obligations; a vehicle payment is a financial obligation while a grocery expense is not. To compute your debt-to-income ratio, assemble your month-to-month financial obligation payments and divide them by your GROSS regular monthly earnings. (Gross earnings is the money you make BEFORE taxes and other reductions.) The Federally-established debt-to-income target is currently 43% for Qualified Mortgages, although some experts advise aiming for a more conservative figure — less than 36%. If your DTI is greater than the Federal guidelines, other loans might be available. These may also involve more documentation and data to establish your ability to repay. Rates for these are likely to be different from those offered for Qualified Mortgages. High debt-to-income ratio puts a property owner at higher threat of challenges to making regular monthly payments. Review your scenario and risks thoroughly if DTI is an obstacle.

How do you apply for a mortgage? First, assemble this information: Tax returns and bank statements for the past 2 years. W-2 forms for the past 2 years Pay stubs for the past 3 months Documentation of any long-term debts Proof of any non-payroll income When youre far enough in shopping for a home to make an offer, add these things: Address and description of the property A sales contract on the home Identify lenders and submit a loan application. If your credit is frozen, be prepared to unfreeze it for the credit history and credit-rating reports the lender will order. The lender will order an appraisal and (in some cases) possibly an inspection. Expect additional questions and clarifications as they go through the process of evaluating your ability to repay the loan. The process usually takes more than a week, and delays of up to 6 weeks arent uncommon. Be patient, and keep copies of everything.

If financial circumstances arent working, and you are falling behind on mortgage payments, hoping the lender wont notice isnt a solution. Talking with them about loss mitigation options is better. Lenders may be able to arrange a "workout package" to help get things back on track. Mortgage loans are often "sold"; the lender who is servicing the loan — the lender to whom you send checks — has the financial interest in your situation. Talk with that lender, not the original lender. If Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac — both government-sponsored enterprises involved in mortgage lending — have acquired your loan, there are Federal guidelines that they may apply to your situation. They are not there to deal directly with borrowers (you), but they may be able to work with the lender of record to determine the loss-mitigation guidelines that best fit your situation. Be vigilant about companies that "just want to help". Look out for: Financial counseling agencies with high fees; they may be charging for advice you can get for free. Equity Skimming — companies (or individuals) who offer to repay the mortgage or sell the property if you sign over the deed. And do not sign anything related to your home until you understand it thoroughly.