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The Mortgage Process

Whether you're buying your first home or your next investment property, knowing what to expect can take the stress out of the process. Here's how I guide you from “just thinking about it” to the day you get the keys—and beyond.

STEP 1

Deciding to Buy

Before we dive into numbers or paperwork, it’s helpful to take a quick inventory of where you stand and what your goals are. When we first connect, I’ll walk you through four key areas that impact mortgage qualification:

  • Income – How much is coming in each month?
  • Debt – What are your monthly payments (car, credit cards, student loans, etc.)?
  • Credit – Where does your credit score currently stand?
  • Assets – How much do you have saved or set aside for the purchase?


💡 Pro Tip: It’s helpful to have a monthly payment comfort zone or a target purchase price in mind—or both.
That way, we can align the pre-approval with a plan that actually fits your life.

STEP 2

Getting Pre-Approved

Once you’re ready to move forward, the next step is getting pre-approved. This is more than just a quick check—it’s a full review of your financial picture so we can determine what you truly qualify for.

Here’s what I typically request:

  • Government-issued ID
  • Recent paystubs
  • W-2s (last 2 years)
  • Bank statements for any funds you plan to use
  • If self-employed: recent tax returns


You’ll also complete a secure mortgage application, where you’ll enter:

  • Personal and employment details
  • Income information
  • A brief financial questionnaire


Once I’ve reviewed all the documents and your application, I’ll issue a pre-approval letter—a document that shows:

  • Your approved purchase price range
  • An estimated monthly payment
  • Funds needed to close


Why it matters:

✅ You’ll shop with confidence knowing what you can afford
✅ Your real estate agent can tailor the search to your qualification range
✅ When you make an offer, the pre-approval shows the seller you’re serious and ready

Think of this as your mortgage green light—real numbers, real clarity, and a real plan.

STEP 3

House Hunting

Now comes the fun part—looking for the right home. During this stage, I stay in touch with both you and your real estate agent to help make sure you’re staying on track with your goals and budget.

  • I’ll periodically check in to see how things are going
  • You’re always welcome to reach out with questions, price scenarios, or to get updated numbers based on a specific property
  • I can also provide revised payment breakdowns if you’re considering homes above or below the original budget range


💬 This part of the process can move quickly—having a responsive loan officer in your corner can make all the difference.

STEP 4

Making an Offer & EMD

When you find “the one” and it’s time to make an offer, I jump back in to help make your offer as strong as possible.

Here’s what I do:

  • Update your pre-approval letter to match the exact offer amount (this can be the difference between getting accepted or not)
  • Communicate with the listing agent to confirm your qualifications and highlight the strengths of your file—whether that’s via phone, text, or email
  • Help you and your agent understand different offer strategies—like seller credits or shortened contingency periods


📌 What’s an EMD?
EMD stands for Earnest Money Deposit—a small amount (typically 1–3% of the purchase price) that’s submitted with your offer to show good faith. It gets credited back toward your down payment or closing costs at the end.

STEP 5

In Contract

Once your offer is accepted—congrats!—we move quickly to keep your transaction on track. This is where the financing process officially kicks into gear.

Here’s what happens next:

  • 🔍 Homeowners Insurance: We’ll request insurance quotes if we haven’t already, but you’re also welcome to obtain your own. Either way, you’ll need to have a policy selected before closing.
  • 📑 Initial Disclosures: You’ll receive a full set of electronic disclosures, including an updated Loan Estimate that reflects the specifics of your transaction—purchase price, loan amount, and estimated closing costs.
  • 🔒 Rate Lock: We’ll talk about locking your interest rate based on the market and your timeline.
  • 📤 Loan Submission: Once you’ve signed disclosures, I’ll package everything—your signed documents, application, and supporting paperwork—and submit it to underwriting.
  • 🏡 Appraisal: If an appraisal is required, we’ll order it right after disclosures are signed.


💡 Pro Tip: I’ll guide you through all of this, step by step—and if anything’s unclear, I’m just a text or call away.

STEP 6

Underwriting & Conditions

Underwriting is when the lender reviews your file to confirm that everything meets the guidelines for your loan program. It’s completely normal for the underwriter to request additional documentation—these are called conditions.

Here’s what you can expect:

  • I often work closely with a loan processor, and we’ll partner as a team to get everything we need. You may receive requests from either of us.
  • We’ll review the list of conditions with you and explain exactly what’s needed.
  • Most of the time, it’s just a few clarifying documents—like updated paystubs, a bank statement, or a simple letter of explanation.
  • You’ll upload those items securely, and we’ll take it from there.


✅ Once all conditions are satisfied, you’ll be issued a Clear to Close—which means you’re almost a homeowner!

STEP 7

Closing Day

You’re almost there! Once we’ve received the Clear to Close, we’ll move into the final stretch.

Here’s what happens:

  • 📄 We’ll generate your final loan documents, which include the Closing Disclosure that breaks down all the final numbers.
  • 📨 You’ll receive a copy to review in advance so you’re never caught off guard.
  • 🖊️ Either the title company or our team will help coordinate the signing—this might happen at the title office or with a mobile notary, depending on your schedule and location.
  • 💵 You’ll need to wire or bring in any outstanding funds to close—this includes your down payment and any remaining closing costs. We’ll give you exact instructions to make this part easy.


💡 On signing day, all you need is your ID and a steady hand—we’re almost ready to hand over the keys!

STEP 8

Post-Close Support

Just because the loan is closed doesn’t mean you’re on your own. I’m still here as a resource long after you move in.

  • Questions about your first payment? I’ve got you.
  • Thinking about refinancing down the road? Let’s chat.
  • Need a referral for a contractor or insurance agent? I’m happy to help.


🏡 Whether it’s 3 weeks or 3 years after closing—feel free to reach out any time.