Your Home Loan Journey.

Follow our roadmap to your new home.

There’s an old saying that the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Your home loan journey won’t be a thousand miles, but you’ll need to take that first step to start one of the most exciting, rewarding experiences of your life. The good news is you won’t need to travel alone. Our team will be with you the whole way. Ready? Let’s go!

Think of this as your travel planning stage. There are things you can do to get ready that will make your trip much easier.

• Create a budget.
• Work on your credit if your score needs to be improved.
• Make a list of what you want and need in your new home. It will help your search.

If you start looking at homes without knowing what you can afford, you’ll have a hard time focusing your search. Make sure you know what you can spend by getting a pre-approval. It’s better than a pre-qualification because it relies on documented information rather than estimates.

• Submit a loan application.
• We’ll help you figure out what you can afford.
• We’ll get you an accelerated pre-approval if time is tight.

Working with the right real estate agent can make the difference between finding your perfect home and missed opportunities. You may find several people with similar credentials, but be choosy and go with the agent who’s a good fit for you. If you need referrals, we can connect you with someone in our network of top real estate agents. Now, you can start shopping for your dream home!

This is exciting! You’ve found the home you want and it’s time to make an offer. It’s a big milestone on your new home journey.

• Your real estate agent will advise you on your offer.
• Make sure it’s based on the pre-approval we gave you.

Nooooo! No one wants to be rejected, but you probably have a lot of competition. The sellers may have accepted another offer, or they may make you a counteroffer.

• Don’t be discouraged.
• Work with your agent to negotiate a new offer or look for another property.

Yesssss! This is even better than finding a home and making an offer. You’re getting closer to your new home.

• Enjoy the moment.
• Work with your agent to schedule the home inspection.

The home inspector will look for important issues with the house, such as:

• Structural flaws.
• Appliances that aren’t working.
• Leaks.
• Systems problems (HVAC/fireplace/electrical).

Review the inspection report carefully with your real estate agent.

Also known as the P&S, this is the contract to buy your home.

• Review it carefully and ask questions if there’s anything you don’t understand.

• Issues found in the home inspection may require negotiation.
• Make sure to have an attorney review the P&S.

If we pre-approved you, a lot of the upfront work may be complete, but we’ll need your updated information and the P&S. Here’s the flow for the loan process:

• Application/disclosures. These are the initial documents we need for your loan.
• Appraisal. This determines the value of the home.
• Title work. An important step to make sure there are no questions about who owns the home and no issues affecting ownership, such as liens or encroachments.
• Processing. This is when we make sure all the information for your loan is ready for underwriting.
• Underwriting. The all-important process of making sure we have everything needed to meet the requirements of your loan program.
• Commitment letter. Your loan is approved, and the terms of the loan are in the letter. There may be conditions to meet, such as providing an updated bank statement or a missing paystub.
• Mortgage approval. Your loan has final approval.

We’ll communicate regularly to keep you up to speed on your mortgage as it progresses and we’re always available to answer your questions.

This is the final step on your home loan journey.

• It takes place at a mutually agreed upon location or it may be managed online.
• You’ll sign final documents and pay your out-of-pocket costs.
• Your loan will be funded.
• The deed will be recorded at the county.
• Congratulations homeowner! Get the keys to your new home and move in.

We’re here to help.

You won’t be alone on your home loan journey. We’ll be with you from application to closing and beyond. Ready to take that first step? Let’s get started today.