Step by Step Guide of the Mortgage Basics

The whole process of getting a mortgage can be long and confusing at times, we at Champions Mortgage want to make the entire process easier for you. That’s why we created a step by step guide that will lead you through all the mortgage basics from application checklist to foreclosure. If you have additional questions after reading the instructions, feel free to call Champions Mortgage, because we are here to answer all of the questions our clients have about a mortgage process.

Application Checklist

When taking out a loan, you’ll need to gather a variety of documents beforehand. These documents are needed to ensure the lender that the buyer can repay the mortgage. This helpful list will give you an idea of what you may be asked to provide:

Income and Taxes

This is an unavoidable part of getting a mortgage because lenders need to make sure the borrower can afford the payments by checking a borrower’s income and other financial documentation. When it comes to tax information, mortgage lenders are likely to ask for W-2 forms from the past two years for each applicant. If no copies are available, you should check with your employer or ask the IRS for a copy of the documents submitted with your tax returns. A written explanation may be required if there are unemployment gaps within the last two years. 

When you receive your paychecks, the pay stub is what outlines the details of your pay for each pay period. They may be available in paper form or as electronic versions via online payment systems. You are typically required to submit pay stubs from the last 30 days, and they usually need to be signed by your employer. If other types of payments are received, such as overtime compensation, you’ll need to collect documentation for that income as well. Your income tax returns from the last two to three years are needed to verify how much income you reported and the deductions you claimed. You might need to provide copies of the returns along with signed Form 4506-T, for the lender to have permission to obtain your tax transcript directly from the IRS. Independent contractors, self-employed, and freelancers need to provide a few additional documents. 

That includes profit-and-loss statements, federal tax returns for the last two to three years (both personal and business), a list of business debts, and the Form 1099s used to report income and file taxes. Also, child support, divorce, and alimony information are required. You’ll need to provide a copy of the court order or maintenance agreement along with bank statements or canceled checks to show that you made payments regularly.

Debts & Assets

Did you know that checking your debt obligations will enable lenders to calculate your debt-to-income ratio? They’ll want to make sure you have enough assets to be financially stable after paying the down payment and closing costs associated with the mortgage. That’s why on the mortgage application, you’ll list all monthly debt payments (such as student loans, credit cards, auto loans, and any existing mortgages) and assets (such as bank and investment accounts). Keep in mind that you may be asked to support these debts and assets with documents. 

To verify your income, your mortgage lender will typically ask to see bank statements for the last two to three months, savings balances, and source of your down payment. You might get these statements in the mail, or you can download copies of them online, depending on how your account is set up. If there are any large deposits, the borrower is required to provide documents of their origin. You should know that any investment accounts listed on the loan application require statements for two to three months. 

This includes individual retirement accounts (IRAs), 401(k)s, stock investments and certificates of deposit (CDs), stocks, and bonds. If you have any individual investments, you’ll need a current brokerage statement with the name of the stocks, the number of shares owned, and the amount per share.

Credit Verifications

Credit verification is a big part of applying for a mortgage. You won’t actually be required to submit a copy of your credit report, the lender will ask for permission to check your credit history.You may be asked for an explanation letter by the lender if there are any late payments, judgments, collections, or other derogatory items on your credit reports.Your credit score will also be checked, which will influence your interest rate. There’s a minimum credit score that you’ll need to qualify for every loan program. The interest rate is scaled to your credit score. A higher credit score generally means you should be getting a lower interest rate.

Other valuable information

Depending on your overall situation, the lender may ask for additional mortgage documents. Those additional requirements will depend on your citizenship, financial stability, and various other factors. If you are not sure if you should provide additional paperwork or not, call Champions Mortgage and ask, we are always happy to help our clients. 

If you were renting until now, you’d need to provide proof that you’ve made payments for the past 12 months. Also, you’ll need to provide contact information for landlords for the past two years. If you have foreclosure and bankruptcy in your credit history, your lender could tell you how long you’ll need to wait before re-entering the mortgage market. When it comes to bankruptcy, you’ll need proof that your debts have been discharged and paid in full. You may have to wait seven years before you’re eligible for a new mortgage when it comes to foreclosure. You’ll need to provide documents that prove that the transfer of the property deed has been finalized. Are you a citizen of the US? If you are not, you can be eligible for a mortgage, but you may be asked about your immigration status and permanent residency. 

You may also be requested copies of a green card, an approved visa, or an employment authorization document. If you are new in using credits and loans, the credit scoring companies will encounter difficulties in defining a score for you. In place of traditional credit history, other information may be used by the lenders as proof of honoring agreements in the past. Regular payments for your phone, public utilities, car insurance, cable TV, and the internet could be included.

Mortgage Application Information

When you’re ready to apply for a mortgage, you likely already submitted all the necessary documentation for a preapproval. After you selected a home, agreed with the seller on a particular price, and reached out for help in financing the purchase, the lender may ask for further information. You’ll fill out a Uniform Residential Loan Application form, which contains all the necessary information about you that we previously disclosed, assuring the lender that you can support the mortgage application.

Appraisals

First thing first, every buyer should know that appraisal is a key component of transactions, no matter if you are buying a property using a mortgage, or you are refinancing an existing one. Understanding the various types of home appraisal and how the whole process works will help you with the whole process of becoming a homeowner.

What Exactly is a Home Appraisal?

An unbiased professional opinion about a property’s value is an appraisal. This type of evaluation is used in purchase and sales as well as refinance transactions. When it comes to homes, it is used to determine whether the property price is appropriate, given its condition, features, and location. 

When you are looking for a loan or a mortgage, lenders will want to make sure that you don’t over-borrow money for a property. If the person that borrowed money goes into foreclosure, the lenders shall sell the property and recoup the financial means they lent.

How Does the Appraisal Process Work?

The first thing you should know is that appraisal happens after the offer has been made, and the property has been inspected. You, as a buyer, will more likely than not pay and organize the whole process. The whole process takes up to ten business days, and when you are looking for an appraiser, make sure that it is a licensed or certified professional that has no interest in the transaction. When the whole thing is done, the report is sent to the lender, but you can request a copy for yourself as well.

What Can You Do if You Are Not Content With the Appraisal Report?

You requested that the report is sent to you as well, but you are not content with it. Go over it and review all the supporting documents. The report can be challenged if you think there are some inaccurate statements, or that the appraiser didn’t take into consideration new important data about the property.

Closing Cost

You are a future homeowner who should know what the closing costs are, and what fees to expect at the closing. You are almost at the end of the road, closing costs are all of those fees associated with a home purchase that are paid at the end of the real estate transaction. These costs are handled by either the buyer or the seller.

Fees That You Can Expect at Closing

There are a variety of factors that can affect the closing costs. The final price is based on your location, the property, the type of loan you picked. It’s not likely that your loan will include all but here are the fees that may be included in the closing:

  • Application fee
  • Appraisal
  • Credit report
  • Escrow Free
  • Mortgage insurance and escrow deposit for property taxes
  • Home inspections
  • Homeowner’s insurance
  • FHA Up-Front Mortgage Insurance Premium (UPMIP)
  • Property Tax
  • Transfer taxes

There will be plenty of other fees that can go into closing costs. The average costs for the buyer are between 2% and 5% of the loan amount. If you want to get more information, call Champions Mortgage, and we will be happy to answer all of your questions and guide you through the whole process of becoming a homeowner.

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