Pre-Approval Questions to ask a lender (rates, fees, lock policy & timelines) Use this simple script to compare quotes apples-to-apples: confirm the rate, points/credits, fees, lock terms, turn times, appraisal timelines, and how fast they re-issue pre-approval letters for offers. Updated September 2, 2025•7–10 min read On this page The script (copy & paste) Pricing: […]
Pre-Approval Things to avoid before closing (credit, cash & job changes) Once you’re under contract, underwriters re-check your credit, income, and assets. Keep your file clean by avoiding these common approval killers—and use the safer alternatives below. Updated September 2, 2025•6–8 min read On this page Top 5 don’ts Cash, transfers & deposits Employment & […]
Pre-Approval What lenders look for (income, assets, credit & property) Every approval rests on four pillars: income (stable & documentable), assets (cash to close & reserves), credit (history & score), and the property (collateral). Here’s what underwriters verify—and how to look strong on each. Updated September 2, 2025•7–10 min read On this page Income (stable […]
Pre-Approval How much house can I afford? (DTI, down payment & comfort range) Two guardrails set your price range: your budget comfort and your lender’s DTI cap. We’ll translate a monthly budget into a target price and show how taxes, insurance, HOA, PMI, and down payment change the number. Updated September 2, 2025•7–10 min read […]
Beginner reads Credit pulls while mortgage shopping (rate-shopping windows explained) You should compare quotes. The good news: most credit scoring models group multiple mortgage inquiries within a short window, treating them like a single inquiry. Here’s how it works—and how to keep your score impact small. Updated September 2, 2025•6–8 min read On this page […]
Pre-Approval Pre-approval steps & timeline (from application to letter) A clear, realistic path: what happens first, which documents to upload, how long each stage usually takes, and how to keep your file moving to a strong pre-approval letter. Updated September 2, 2025•6–9 min read On this page Overview (the fast path) Timeline (day-by-day) Documents checklist […]
Pre-Approval Quick ways to boost approval odds (credit, DTI & paperwork) Fast, practical tweaks that move the needle: trim utilization, tidy your DTI, clean up deposits, and submit the right docs the first time—so your pre-approval sticks. Updated September 2, 2025•6–8 min read On this page Tune your credit utilization Lower your DTI (smart moves) […]
Pre-Approval Debt-to-income explained (front-end vs back-end, what counts, target ranges) DTI is your monthly debts divided by your gross monthly income. Lenders look at two numbers—front-end (housing only) and back-end (housing + all debts). Here’s how each is calculated, what counts, and common caps by program. Updated September 2, 2025•6–9 min read On this page […]
Pre-Approval Minimum scores by loan type (Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA & Jumbo) Typical score minimums by program—and what lenders actually weigh beyond score, like down payment, DTI, reserves, and recent credit history. Updated September 1, 2025•6–8 min read On this page Quick table: typical minimums Conventional FHA VA USDA Jumbo & Non-QM Beyond the score […]
Pre-Approval Assets & reserves: what counts and how much you need Which funds can be used for down payment and closing costs, what “reserves” mean in months of PITI, and how to document everything so underwriting sails through. Updated September 1, 2025•6–8 min read On this page What counts as assets What usually doesn’t count […]