This guide details the steps of the home mortgage process, from pre-approval to closing. Taking the proper steps of the home mortgage process is necessary to avoid stress and to close on time. The most important steps of the home mortgage process are the qualification and pre-approval steps.
The number one reason for stress during the mortgage process or a last-minute mortgage denial is because the loan officer did not properly qualify the borrower.
Over 80% of our borrowers at Gustan Cho Associates are either stressed during the mortgage process or getting a last-minute loan denial. There is no reason why borrowers should stress during the mortgage process. There is absolutely no reason why a mortgage loan should get a denial. In the following paragraphs, we will cover the steps of the home mortgage process.
Today’s Mortgage Markets
Following Steps of the Home Mortgage Process in a Hot Real Estate Market
Mortgage rates have been dropping since the beginning of November 2023. Mortgage rates are at their highest levels in three years. Most homeowners who closed on their home loans in 2020 took advantage of the low rates by refinancing. Mortgage rates were at their highest levels since the 2008 Great Recession in 2023.
The massive refinance applications by refinancing borrowers caused a shortage of mortgage processors and underwriters at most mortgage companies.
Processing a file is more important than ever if borrowers want to close on time. The Wall Street Journal confirmed today that the “average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 7.25% last week. This rate is down from 7.94% in November 2023″. So what does all this mean to homebuyers and homeowners needing to refinance their mortgages?
How To Avoid Stress During Home Buying and Mortgage Process
We will be covering how to avoid stress during the steps of the home mortgage process. The first step to avoid stress is to hire an experienced real estate agent with whom homebuyers can get along. The realtor needs to know the area, like their backyard.
Always make sure you get an acknowledgment after submitting documents to make sure it does not end up on a SPAM folder.
Many may have friends and relatives who may be real estate agents who have only sold a few homes in the past few years as part-time agents. You may want to reconsider using a part-time agent who is a friend and/or relative. A home is most people’s largest investment in their lifetime. Take time in interview several real estate agents, check their online reviews, and make sure they know the community.
Documents Required in the Steps of the Home Mortgage Process
The mortgage process is teamwork. To close a mortgage loan on time during these busy times, the full cooperation of the borrower is required. After the loan officer fully qualifies a borrower and issues the pre-approval letter, the borrower can shop for a home. Once the executed real estate purchase contract is submitted to the lender, the mortgage process starts.
A mortgage processor will be assigned to the borrower. Always make sure you get an acknowledgment after submitting documents to make sure it does not end up on a SPAM folder.
The mortgage loan processor will request the mortgage documents required to process your loan. Borrowers need to take the step of the home mortgage process very seriously. All paperwork and income documentation requested needs to be complete with no missing pages. Any items that are not complete or disorganized will delay the mortgage process. The mortgage processor will only do so much.
What Does Turnaround Timeline Mean?
Turnaround time means how long it takes the mortgage underwriter to review the conditions submitted and get an answer back. Once the mortgage processor has collected and reviewed all of the documents required to underwrite the loan, the processor will submit it to the underwriting department of the lender. A mortgage underwriter will be assigned to the file. The underwriting department of the mortgage company will set a turnaround time for an underwriter to review and issue a conditional loan approval.
Turnaround times for a conditional loan approval and issue a conditional loan approval. Turnaround times for a conditional loan approval takes between 24 hours to 72 hours at most mortgage companies.
There are times where turnaround times can be as long as 14 days for the initial conditional loan approval when the lender is super busy. It is very important that the mortgage processor turn in all of the mortgage documents required that are fully complete.
The Importance of the Role of the Mortgage Processor
If the processor makes a mistake and turns in an incomplete file, the file will be kicked back by the underwriter and the turnaround time starts from scratch. This is the reason why an experienced mortgage processor’s role is very important. Mortgage loans can close in 3 weeks or less during busy times. However, the loan officer, processor, borrower need to work as a team. Collecting documents that are complete is the most important part of closing the loan on time.
