MORTGAGE STEP 4: THE PROCESS

Okay you found the house - CHECK
You were pre-approved for the loan - CHECK
You chose the perfect mortgage to fit your lifestyle - CHECK
Now we move into processing.

The toughest part of getting you into your new home is the processing. This is when all the documents are being verified and it definitely takes the most time. Even though you may not talk to your mortgage rep every day, rest assured the processors are very busy at work. Everyone in the process wants to see you in your new home as soon as possible!

So what can you do during this time? The number one thing you can do is keep the lines of communication open. Often your mortgage rep will need additional documents to verify information from you. Remember that the process is paused until you get what is needed back to the mortgage rep so the quicker you can return needed items, the quicker that closing date can be marked on the calendar.

So what NOT to do during this time? Do NOT open any new lines of credit during this processing period of time. Remember that credit is pulled one last time just before closing and if you've opened a new line of credit (for new furniture or a new car) that can affect your debt-to-income ratio and could prevent the closing from taking place. Feel free to plan out what you want to buy for that new house, but wait until after you close and you have keys in hand before heading to the furniture store to make those big purchases that may require more credit.

Also keep in mind that if you're buying a home that was a foreclosure or part of a short-sale, these transactions take even more time. Trust me, when I moved down to Florida I bought a house that had been foreclosed on and was technically owned by the government so every step had to be verified by a Fannie Mae rep in Washington...yeah they don't always move real swiftly up there.  I thought I had planned it perfectly, but the process took 2 more weeks than expected and I ended up in a hotel for a few weeks until I could get the closing completed. Needless to say I had to pack some extra patience during that time, but I made sure the mortgage processing folks here at Tropical Financial had exactly what they needed as soon as they needed it.

Remember that the end result is you and your family in your new home, and THAT is worth the wait!

^Amy