What happens next after your offer is accepted?
Mortgage Loan Application
Once your offer is accepted, you’ll complete a purchase agreement for the seller and fill out the loan application for the lender. Because you’ve already been pre-approved, the application can be rather straightforward. You’ll be asked about the property you want to purchase and the type of loan you’re choosing. You will also be asked for more details about your financial life.
Mortgage Processing
Your purchase agreement and loan application will now go the loan processor. That person will collect all the documents about you, your credit, and the property to ensure everything is in order. This includes verifying your income, employment, and ordering a home appraisal to ensure the value of the home reflects the amount you intend to pay for the property.
Quite often, the underwriter will ask for more information from you. The faster you deliver that information or documents, the sooner your mortgage will be ready to go to underwriting.
Mortgage Underwriting
This can often be the most critical point in the mortgage process. The underwriter will examine everything about your loan, and then ensure it meets the requirements and guidelines before it’s approved or rejected.
They will review your credit history, debt-to-income ratio, and your entire financial outlook, including your capacity to pay the loan back and the value of the property being purchased.
Sometimes a conditional approval is given. These are usually based on discrepancies between the application and what was compiled by processing.
Approval and Closing
Once everything is approved, the loan moves to closing. This is the final step in the process. Just prior to closing, all of your documentation is sent to an escrow or title company. A closing disclosure is then sent to you. This five-page document gives you a final chance to review your mortgage loan, including your monthly payments, fees, closing costs, and loan terms.
The title company will then schedule a time for you to come in and sign all of the loan documents. In some states, you could be signing the documents with the sellers. Other people who might be at your signing including the escrow officer, closing agent, the seller’s real estate agent, as well as your realtor.
First Tech tip: the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has a list of qualified housing counseling agencies that can help you understand and navigate the home buying process. Learn more at hud.gov or call 800.569.4287.
We’re Your Mortgage Experts
The First Tech team of home loan officers is ready to help you with personal, local experience and fast processing, along with unique options so you can find and finance the home of your dreams. Learn more or call us at 855.855.8805 today.