If you’re a first-time homebuyer, the process can feel overwhelming and stressful. You’re asking to borrow a significant amount of money in a high-rate environment, which means lenders will thoroughly scrutinize your financial life. While lender websites may promise instant preapprovals to help with your house hunting, conditional approval is a common step in the process that can lead to some hiccups as you move towards closing.
Conditional approval means that the lender’s mortgage underwriting team has reviewed your financial documentation and feels confident about loaning you the money as long as specific conditions are met. These conditions vary, but there are some common ones to be aware of. The home’s appraisal must exceed or equal the agreed-upon purchase price. Lenders need to ensure that the property you’re buying is worth the price you’re offering. You may need to come up with a bigger down payment if the home’s value falls short or negotiate a lower price with the seller.
Another condition is verifying your employment. Lenders need assurance that you have a steady income stream to cover your monthly mortgage payments. While the pay stubs you initially submitted provide some proof, the lender may require a confirmation letter from your employer stating that you work there.
Explaining a sizable financial transaction is also common. Lenders review all the money going in and out of your bank accounts. If you recently made a substantial withdrawal or received a large deposit that raises questions, the underwriter may ask for an explanation.
Having homeowners insurance is another condition to meet. Even before you own the property, you need to ensure it’s protected. Your lender may request proof that you’ve purchased a homeowners insurance policy.
If someone is giving you money as a gift to cover your down payment, the lender needs to know about it. The generous friend or family member may need to sign a document indicating they don’t expect repayment.
The time it takes for conditional approval to go through depends on the conditions to be met. If the condition is easy to meet, the process can move quickly. However, if there are multiple conditions or if you’re waiting on another party, it can take longer. Responding promptly to lender requests is crucial. Submitting requests to the lender, your agent, and your attorney (if you have one) right away shows that you’re a responsible borrower.
It’s also essential to avoid making any significant changes to your finances during this process, such as buying a new car, taking out a new loan, or applying for a new credit card. Lenders prefer predictability, and any new credit accounts, debt, or significant withdrawals can raise red flags.
If you don’t meet the lender’s conditions, they may deny your home loan. In this case, you can either start the full underwriting process again with the same lender or find another lender. However, you’ll need the seller to agree to a delay, which can be challenging in a seller’s market.
While conditional approval is part of most home-buying purchases, there are ways to speed up the process. Getting preapproved can help, as it requires submitting a wide range of paperwork about your finances. This way, an underwriter may already have most of the information they need to move towards full approval.
Another way to avoid conditional approval, although unrealistic for most homebuyers, is to buy the home in cash. This eliminates the need for communication with a lender.
In conclusion, conditional approval is a positive step towards obtaining a mortgage. Focus on meeting the lender’s conditions by the deadline to speed up the process and move closer to becoming a homeowner.