Get Your Lender to Say YES!
Most people realize that having good credit scores is vital for getting a mortgage loan approved, but this is not everything that the lender takes into consideration. There are several key factors that a mortgage lender looks at when determining whether or not to approve a loan and only part of this information is contained in a credit report. This is why most people applying for a mortgage are required to present much more documentation than the lender can obtain independently.
One of these important elements is the debt to income ratio. The ratio is a look at the applicants monthly debt and expenses as a function of net income. Comparing current debt load with income gives a lender a good idea how much more debt can be handled. For this purpose applicants will need to bring in tax returns and check stubs and any other financial documentation to substantiate statements of income. Ideally, an applicants debt ratio would be about 1.3, in other words there is 30% more income than the applicant needs to pay his monthly debts and expenses.
Payment history is another important aspect of an applicants financial picture; lenders look for late payments on credit reports. On-time payments are very important to mortgage lenders. Payment history information is part of a credit report but lenders look closely because as part of the FICO score it is weighted differently than mortgage lenders weigh it. An applicants credit file is scrutinized closely to find out all there is to know about his or her payment habits. This goes far beyond looking at the credit score. Attaching a letter of explanation to a mortgage application would be helpful to a lender who is going to see several late payments.
Mortgage lenders also look at the applicants other assets besides his regular income to determine if the applicant has the means of making an equity investment, or down payment. If the client has large additional assets and they are fairly liquid ” like a large stock portfolio ” this may help offset other factors, such as a less than optimal debt ratio. If the applicant has enough additional assets to make mortgage payments outside of his regular income, this is viewed favorably by most lenders. This information is usually not included in a credit report and is why a mortgage lender will ask for statements from the applicants brokerage accounts and retirement accounts (IRAs, 401(k), etc.).
Another factor that lenders take into account has nothing to do with the applicants financial position, but deals with the property in question. All mortgage lenders will require a comprehensive appraisal of the property that the applicant is seeking to purchase. This prevents the lender from lending out more money than the property is worth. Should the loan turn bad and result in foreclosure, it is crucial to the lender that the resell value of the property be enough to cover the amount originally lent out.
This guideline can help a potential home buyer in examining his own credit and make adjustments before applying for a loan. Having everything in order can streamline the process and be advantageous when the application is reviewed.
Wendy Polisi is the founder of Credit Repair College and Finance the Dream. Credit Repair College empowers people to take control of their financial future by learning everything they need to know to repair credit on their own. For more information on credit repair please visit them on the web. Finance the Dream offers lease options throughout the United States.
