Prequalification

Prequalification occurs before the loan process actually begins. When you are ready to begin shopping for a new home, call Southern Funding Alliance. By assessing information you provide about your income and debts, we can help you decide the price range of homes you can afford. Having this knowledge in mind before you begin looking will save you time. You can shop for homes in your price range that have the amenities you desire and save the disappointment of finding the "perfect" house - only to discover that you can't qualify for the loan.
 
Prequalification is also important if you are considering refinancing the loan on your existing home. Southern Funding Alliance can help you decide whether refinancing is a good option for you.

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Application

The application is the beginning of the loan process and either occurs after you have found a property you want to buy or have determined that you wish to refinance the loan on your existing home. You complete a mortgage application for a particular loan program and, supply all of the required documentation for processing. Various fees and down payment options are discussed at this time. The loan officer will deliver a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and a Truth-In-Lending Disclosure (TIL) within three days that itemize the rates and estimated costs for obtaining the loan.


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Processing of your Estimated Loan

The lender will typically submit the application package to an automated underwriting system that will provide the lender with the necessary documentation needed for loan approval. In some cases, the lender may also manually underwrite an application package.
The lender's processor reviews the credit reports and documentation to verify your employment, debts, and payment histories. If there are unacceptable late payments, collections, judgments, etc., the processor requests a written explanation from you. The processor also reviews the appraisal and survey and checks for property issues that may affect final loan approval. The processor's job is to put together an entire application package for the lender's underwriter.

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Underwriting

The lender's underwriter is responsible for determining whether the application package prepared by the processor meets all the lender's criteria. If more information is needed, the loan is put into "suspense" and you will be contacted to supply more documentation.
If the underwriter approves the loan, the lender issues a conditional commitment to lend, orders title insurance, works with you to clear all conditions to its commitment to lend, and then schedules a closing time. Conditions to the lender's commitment may include issues with credit, income, or the property that may arise during the processing and underwriting process.

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Closing

The closing will occur after all conditions are cleared and the lender issues a full loan approval. At the closing, the lender "funds" the loan with a cashier's check, draft or wire to the closing agent, who disburses funds, in exchange for the title transfer to the property. This is the point at which you finish the loan process and actually refinance or buy the house, subject to the lender's loan. Closings occur at different places in different states. For instance, some states require that the closing take place at a closing attorney's office, while others use a title or escrow company. You may also be able to close at your home. In most cases, the closing will take place at a local title company.