What Is Needed To Get Approved For A Mortgage

Mortgage Approval With Fha

FHAs guidelines are much less restrictive. They allow loan approval with a FICO score as low as 580 and just 3.5 percent down, and a score down to 500 with 10 percent down.

However, there is a difference between allowing a low credit score and actual bad credit. If your score is low because you have little credit history, too many accounts, or bad history thats at least a year old, FHA may give you a shot. But if youre missing payments all the time or have a ton of collections, youre too risky. You have to prove that you can manage debt, and that means paying your bills on time for at least 12 months.

Here is the breakdown of FICO scores for approved FHA borrowers from Ellie Mae:

You can see that the program is much more forgiving, with the majority of approvals going to applicants with FICO scores of 600 or better.

If Youre Applying For A Mortgage Its A Good Idea To Start Prepping Your Financial Documents

Lenders will request paperwork for your mortgage application that proves things like how much money you make and your debts. The exact forms you need for a home loan depend on your situation. For example, someone who is self-employed will likely have to provide different forms than someone who is employed by a company.

Although the exact forms might vary, Todd Huettner, owner of Huettner Capital, a residential and commercial real estate lender, says a lender can get a good sense of your approval odds by checking out your recent pay stubs, bank statements, W-2 forms and tax returns.

Huettner says that with these documents, hes able to make a good assessment of the borrower. These documents allow me to tell what they can and cannot do with a very high level of certainty, he says.

Depending on your unique financial situation, here are seven mortgage documents you might need when applying for a home loan.

• Next steps: Can you afford to buy a house?

Save Up For A Down Payment

What you put down on the house can influence the type of loan you can get, as well as your interest rate and loan-to-value ratio the loan amount divided by the current value of the home.

How large a down payment you will need to make is subject to the type of mortgage you choose and the property youre buying.

Lenders may require a different down payment for an investment property than a primary residence, for example. And mortgages like VA and USDA loans dont always require a down payment but an upfront funding fee instead.

Benefits if a higher down payment

Most homeowners provide a down payment ranging from 3% to 20% of the homes purchase price.

The higher your down payment, the lower your LTV. Some benefits of providing a higher down payment include lowering your interest rate and monthly payments and reducing your debt-to-income ratio.

With conventional loans, you can also avoid mortgage insurance by putting 20% down. However, if you put less than 20% down, youll generally have to pay mortgage insurance until you reach 80% in equity.

Tips to save for a down payment

You can save up for a down payment by reducing your credit card debt, lowering your expenses and setting up a high yield savings account, money market account or similar savings vehicle.

Additionally, most states offer down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers.

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What Does A Preapproval Letter Include

A preapproval letter includes your name, the price of the home you gave when requesting the preapproval, the loan amount youre preapproved for and the expiration date of the preapproval. Some lenders also include conditions related to the preapproval in the letter, such as it only applying to a single-family home instead of multi-family property.

What Happens If Im Changing Jobs After Mortgage Approval

Most experts will advise against switching jobs during a mortgage application, but if youve already been approved for a home loan, some lenders will still honour the agreement as long as your affordability wont be affected by taking on the new role.

Other lenders might pull out of the agreement, although this may depend on whether your career change means youll be earning more money. If your new job means a pay cut, its possible that the lender will rethink their offer.

Some providers also prefer lending to customers who have been in their job for a certain amount of time. If youre looking at getting a mortgage with a new job and have yet to start your mortgage application you should be able to find a specialist lender willing to help..

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Documents Required To Get The Best Mortgage Rate

By Romana King on July 20, 2015

Finalize your financing with this handy mortgage approval cheat sheet

Buying a house or investment property? We often hear how important it is to get pre-approved for your mortgage amount: It helps us understand our maximum house-price, the down-payment required and the monthly payments well need to make once we purchase the property. But the difference between the pre-approval and the approval process is so vastly different that many buyers are often left feeling stressed and anxious during the week or two that financing is being finalized.

To help you avoid this aggravation and anxiety, Ive put together a little mortgage approval cheat sheet. This should help you understand what documents and paperwork you will need to actually get a mortgageand reduce the stress during this period of the home buying process.

Proof Of Assets And Liabilities

Your lender might ask you for some or all of the following when they verify your assets:

• Up to 60 days worth of account statements that confirm the assets in your checking and savings accounts
• The most recent statement from your retirement or investment account
• Documents for the sale of any assets you got rid of before you applied, such as a copy of the title transfer if you sold a car
• Proof and verification of any gift funds deposited into your account within the last 2 months

Your lender may also ask you for supplemental information on any debts you owe, like a student loan or an auto loan. Cooperation with your lender only makes the process easier, so be sure to provide any requested information as soon as possible.

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Why Choose The Richards Mortgage Group

Our goal is to provide you with the support that you need to achieve your goals!

At Richards Mortgage Group we believe that knowledge is power and that an informed client is an empowered one. Thats why we keep communication, education, and accessibility as the pillars of our brand. Our mortgage approval process is best suited to clients with a busy, on the go lifestyle who value accurate and efficient advice and service, the convenience of technology, and the personal touch of a family-run business.

Most Mortgage Applicants Are Not Perfect

If youre reading this article, chances are youre at least a little worried about obtaining mortgage approval. An Urban Institute study classified mortgage applicants into three groups:

• Applicants with a high credit score and large down payment
• Applicants with a low credit score and a small down payment
• Everyone else is in the middle a mix of credit scores and down payments

At the top, youre nearly 100 percent certain of mortgage approval. And at the bottom, youre just as likely to be declined. Its the people in the middle who have the most difficulty predicting their lenders decision will they receive mortgage approval, or be declined?

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What Documents Are Required For A Mortgage

The exact documents requested will vary from deal to deal and from lender to lender, however we can use the I.C.E.+P framework to understand which documents will generally be required.

Income – To verify your income for a mortgage, a letter of employment, most recent paystub and tax documents such as your NOAs, T1 Generals, and T4s are the most commonly requested documents. In some cases, such as for self employed applicants, additional documentation such as business financial statements, corporate tax returns, and bank deposits can be used to verify sufficient earnings.

Before you can be approved for a mortgage, your mortgage professional will need to access your credit report and verify your score and outstanding liabilities. In order to do so, they will need to obtain your permission to do so with a signed and dated privacy consent form. Once your credit score has been pulled you may be asked to provide additional documentation such as monthly statements, loan agreements, or proof that an old debt was paid and closed.

Property – There is a wide variety of property documents that might be asked for depending on the nature of the deal. For purchases, the MLS listing and purchase contract are typically required. Supplemental documents such as the land title and property tax documents may also be required. In some cases an appraisal will be needed as well and there are usually additional documentation requirements for rural properties and condos.

Can You Get Denied After Being Preapproved For A Mortgage

Yes, you can get denied for a mortgage loan even after being preapproved for it. There are a number of reasons this could happen. For example:

• After preapproval, new negative information could appear in your credit history, dropping your score below the lenders qualification guidelines
• If you lost your job prior to closing on the loan, youd likely be denied. Thats because the lender can no longer verify youll be able to make your monthly payments
• Running up too much credit card debt before the loan closes

Basically, anything that significantly impacts your financial picture between your preapproval and loan closing could change your mortgage eligibility.

Also keep in mind that a preapproval typically happens prior to beginning your home search. As such, your new home must also be approved by the lender.

For example, the loan amount cant exceed the homes appraised value. And if youre getting an FHA loan or a VA loan, the new home must meet government safety standards. The presence of lead paint in an older home, for example, could derail the homebuying journey.

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Get Your Approval Letter

Once you find the best mortgage solution for your needs, you can see if youre approved online. If you are, well send you a Prequalified Approval Letter that you can use to begin house hunting. If you want an even stronger approval, you may want to consider contacting a Home Loan Expert and applying for a Verified Approval.

What You Need To Qualify For A Mortgage

When you apply for a mortgage, lenders want to know that you have the capacity to repay the loan through a steady income that isnt already consumed by debt payments. They also want to see that you have the credit to repay it, as demonstrated by a multiyear history of reliably making payments.

• Documentation

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Why Consider A Second Mortgage

Second mortgages are more commonly known as home equity loans. It is a special type of home loan which allows you to use the existing equity as collateral. Second mortgages dont force you to make changes to your primary mortgage. It allows homeowners to borrow from their home equity without refinancing their original mortgage.

Larger banks typically dont offer secondary financing. If they do, they tend to be home equity lines of credit. The benefit of these is that they are low-interest. However, new government regulations for credit lines make them difficult to get approval for.

In contrast, qualifying for second mortgages is significantly easier. Although interest rates tend to be higher it is easier to get approved for the additional funds you need. Additionally, the more equity that is in the home makes approval easier.

Funds can be used for:

• Improving credit score
• Paying bills and mortgage while unemployed

The money you borrow using the equity in your home has little to no restrictions.

Types of Home Equity Loans

There are two types of loans: fixed-term loans, and home equity lines of credit.

A Home Equity Line of Credit is loan approval for a set amount. Funds are accessed when needed like a credit card. Payments are made based on the amount owing. Once paid off credit can be reused for other purposes.

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Mortgage lending discrimination is illegal. If you think you’ve been discriminated against based on race, religion, sex, marital status, use of public assistance, national origin, disability, or age, there are steps you can take. One such step is to file a report to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and/or with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development .

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Loan types offered: Conventional fixed 30-year, 15-year, or any term from 8 to 29 years ARM 7/6, 10/6 FHA fixed 30-year, 25-year, 15-year VA fixed 30-year, 25-year, 15-year Jumbo

Minimum down payment: 3%

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• May not be an option for borrowers with credit scores below 580

Rocket Mortgage is especially popular among borrowers who need to refinance or get an FHA loan. The company can automatically roll closing costs into your FHA loan, which will save money for borrowers who only keep their loan for a few years and be more expensive for borrowers who keep the loan for its full term.

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Next Steps: Can You Afford To Buy A House

Your lenders goal is to assess you as a borrower and ensure you can make your payments on time.

If youre thinking about a home purchase in the near future, these are some good questions to ask yourself to prepare for the home-buying process.

• How much down payment can you afford? A higher down payment is often a good sign for the lender about your finances.
• What is your debt-to-income ratio? Youll likely need to keep this number below 43%.
• What monthly mortgage payment can you comfortably afford in your budget?
• Are you prepared for closing costs, such as an appraisal or prepaid property taxes?

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You Should Have A Decent Income

The new mortgage stress test implemented by the Ministry of Finance at the end of 2016 looks exclusively at income to determine your ability to pay back a mortgage. This test looks at your income and assesses whether or not you could make monthly payments based on their posted rate, which is typically much higher than the interest rate you’d be approved for by your lender. This prevents you from running into trouble if there was ever a significant interest rate hike on your mortgage. There are two ways to get around this. You can increase your income, or save up to make a 20% deposit which allows you to bypass the test. Unfortunately, with housing prices as high as they are in Canada, saving 20% of the purchase price is very difficult.

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Know What You Can Afford

I know from personal experience that lenders do pre-approve applicants for more than they can afford. After receiving a pre-approval letter from our lender, my husband and I wondered whether they had read the right tax returns. We appreciated the lenders generosity, but ultimately decided on a home that fit comfortably within our budget.

Dont let lenders dictate how much you should spend on a mortgage loan. Lenders determine pre-approval amounts based on your income and credit report, and they dont factor in how much you spend on daycare, insurance, groceries, or fuel. Rather than purchase a more expensive house because the lender says you can, be smart and keep your housing expense within your means.

Can I Use A Mortgage Calculator Based On Income +

You can gauge how much of a mortgage loan you qualify based on your income with our Mortgage Required Income Calculator. You will need to work backward by altering the mortgage cost and supplying details of your other financial commitments. The calculator will then reply with an income value with which you compare your current income.

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Preparing To Apply For A Mortgage

Youve found a new home and now youre ready to apply for a mortgage. Or, youve decided to stay where you are and refinance. Its perfectly natural to be a little apprehensive about the mortgage application process, especially if you are a first-time home buyer.

Rest assured, your loan officer at Maple Tree Funding will help make applying for a mortgage or refinancing your home as stress-free as possible. Listed below are the types of documents you will generally need when applying for your loan. It can vary depending on the lender, but this should give you a good sense of the documentation you will need.

What Qualifies As A Good Credit Score

For those who arent as familiar with their credit score, its a three-digit number that encompasses all your credit-related activity into one cumulative average. In Canada, credit scores range anywhere from 300 to 900. The higher your credit score is, the better your chances are of getting approved for various loans and other credit products. Generally speaking, a score of 650 and above is considered good and means that you are a low default risk and a better candidate for lending. A credit score of 750 or higher is deemed excellent.

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