Tag Archive for: approval

Tip Income: How to use it for Qualifying Income

For those in the service industry, getting tips certainly helps the overall pay. Most people who do earn tips work in a restaurant, hotel or similar industries. But can tip income be counted when helping to qualify for a new mortgage? We recently spoke about various types of income but getting tips is a bit […]

The Importance of Non-QM Mortgages

Yes, they’re not only important but necessary in the mortgage world. What are non-QM mortgages you ask? Non-QM is short for Non-Qualified Mortgage. To understand what that means and the importance of a non-QM loan, we first need to understand what a Qualified Mortgage (QM) loan is. Qualified Mortgage (QM) Loan Explained The Consumer Financial […]

Answers to the Most Common Lender Questions About Your Application

Often when a mortgage lender reaches out to an applicant after the loan has been submitted, the applicant’s first response is often, ‘Oh no, what do they need?’ After all, along with the initial application there was an additional amount of documentation the lender needed in order to process the loan. But in most instances […]

What Counts in Your Debt Ratios

Debt ratios are utilized by lenders during the loan approval process. It’s an important piece, just one of several. Other factors such as credit, employment and assets are also pieces of the approval puzzle. Debt ratios on the other hand are the primary tool to determine affordability. Today, most loan programs set the guidelines for […]

What is an AKA Letter and Why Is It Important?

In the mortgage industry, it’s referred to as an AKA letter, or Also Known As. An AKA letter is one written by the applicant at the direction of the lender. And it can be required for a number of reasons when the name on the loan application doesn’t match exactly the name or names appearing […]

Marriage, Legal Separation and Your Mortgage

The phrase, “’til death do us part” is one we’ve all heard. Unfortunately, many marriages don’t last that long. When a couple decides to separate, either legally or informally, there are different options to consider. Do they simply need some time apart to figure things out independently? Maybe have a little “breather” in order to […]

Lender Questions? Keep Calm and Answer On

When consumers first complete and then submit a loan application, the initial thought might be that the work has been done and now we’re just waiting on loan papers.  Further along in the approval process, common lender questions will often come up. The fact however is that loan submission is one of the early steps […]

Insider Tips for a Fast Close on Your Home

Want to close fast? There are certainly lots of things people can do to accelerate the closing process. A fast close can help with the negotiation process. Sellers who see that someone has already applied for a mortgage means the buyers are not only serious about an offer but have taken the extra step and […]

For Sale By Owner: Do You Really Save Money?

Listing your property as For Sale By Owner can sound easier than working with traditional realtors. So can you really save money and stress deciding to list your property as For Sale By Owner? Closing Costs and Fees There are closing costs associated when selling a home. There’s no secret in that. All you have […]

Thinking of Refinancing? Start Your Application In Now

Mortgage rates are still very low and refinancing options are better than ever. For many, the decision whether or not to refinance your mortgage is fairly easy. This is something I can do with you over the phone. Simply compare the difference in monthly payments and divide that into the amount of closing costs needed […]