Archive for: Loan Documents

• Making Sure Your Cash-To-Close For Your Bay Area Home Comes From The Proper Source

  28 March 2010 / Mortgage Closing Process / 0 Comment

  Providing proper asset documentation and the actual source of the funds is a critical element of the loan closing process in the Bay Area.

  There's nothing worse in a real estate purchase than making it all the way through the hoops and hurdles just to have a loan denied after the final documents have been signed due to the borrower using the wrong checking account for the down payment.

  Seasoning of the down payment money is just as important as the source, which is why underwriters typically require at least two months bank / asset statements in the initial mortgage approval process.

  A Few Acceptable Sources Of Down Payment Include:

  • Bank Accounts - checking / savings
  • Investment Accounts - money market, mutual funds
  • Retirement Funds - keep in mind that borrowing against a 401K plan will require a repayment, which will be calculated in the Debt-to-Income Ratio
  • Life Insurance - Cash value and face amount
  • Gifts - Family members can gift down payment funds with certain restrictions
  • Inheritance / Trust Funds
  • Government Grants - Many state, county and city agencies offer special down payment assistance programs

  It is extremely important to make sure the loan officer for your Bay Area Mortgage is aware of the exact source of your down payment as early in the process as possible so that all necessary questions, documentation and explanations can be reviewed / approved by an underwriter.

  A good rule-of-thumb to remember is that whatever funds you're using as a down payment have to be pre-approved by an underwriter at the beginning of the mortgage approval process.

  Basically, if you accidentally forget to deposit money in your checking account on the way to the closing appointment, it is not acceptable to get a cashier's check from a friend's account until you have a chance to pay them back later.

  ......

  Frequently Asked Questions:

  Q:  What if I don't have a bank account and cannot properly source my funds to close?

  Cash on hand is an acceptable source of funds for some loan programs, but make sure you bring that detail up at the application stage for your Bay Area Mortgage.

  Q:  Can I use a bonus from my employer for my down payment?

  Yes, but generally this needs to be a bonus you regularly receive

  Q:  Can I borrow the money from a friend?

  No, any money that needs to be repaid is typically an unacceptable source of funds for your property in the Bay Area

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• Common Documents required for a Bay Area Mortgage Pre-Approval

  28 March 2010 / Mortgage Approval Process / 0 Comment

  Even though many Bay Area lenders are still quoting quick 10 minute pre-qualifications over the phone or online, a true mortgage approval that holds any weight is one that has been issued by an underwriter who has had an opportunity to review all of the necessary documents.

  With a constant stream of new lending guidelines, volatile mortgage rates and tightening regulation from Washington, very few Bay Area real estate agents will show new homes to a First-Time Home Buyer without at least a pre-qualification letter.

  A Pre-Approval Letter will help you in three ways:

  • It lets you know how much mortgage you can qualify for
  • It gives you an estimate of what your total housing payment would be
  • Submitting a strong "Pre-Approval" letter with a purchase offer will give the seller more confidence about your ability to complete your end of the agreement

  It's obviously a good idea to get your paperwork prepared ahead of time so that the pre-approval process is as thorough as possible.

  In order to get a pre-approval letter, you'll start by filling out a loan application and submitting a few documents for the loan officer and / or underwriter to review.

  Common Loan Pre-Approval Documents:

  Income / Assets for Wage Earner:

  • Last 2 year W2s and Tax Returns
  • 2 most recent Pay Stubs
  • 2 most recent Bank Statements, 401(K), Liquid Assets, Investment Accounts

  Income / Assets for Self-Employed:
  

  • Last 2 year Tax Returns - Business and Personal
  • Last Quarter P&L Statement

  Letter of Explanation For:

  • Employment Gap or New Line of Work
  • Late Payments / Judgments / Bankruptcy on Credit Report

  Other:

  • Bankruptcy Discharge
  • Child Support Documentation
  • Lease Agreements (If own other Rental Properties)
  • Mortgage Payment Coupons (If own other Real Estate)

  .....

  Most Bay Area borrowers also want an opportunity to learn more about the loan officer before digging up all of these personal documents. Spend 15 minutes on the phone asking the loan officer to explain how mortgage rates work, quizzing them on some basic industry vocab or just to see if they know what to prepare your agent for ahead of time. The Q&A session can be more than just a lender qualifying you, as long as you're prepared to ask the right questions.

  Either way, you'll definitely want to have the above list of approval documents ready once you've decided on the right Bay Area loan officer that you trust will meet your expectations.

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