It's common advice: Buyers should obtain a mortgage preapproval letter from a lender before going out with a real estate agent to look at homes. The rationale is that a preapproval shows, in writing, an amount of mortgage money a buyer is qualified to receive, all but guaranteeing the price range the buyer can afford.
For real estate agents, that preapproval letter is an assurance that they're not wasting time on clients who may not be able to afford the homes they're considering, only to face a harsh reality during the transaction.
But that's flawed thinking.
A preapproval letter is not a loan commitment, which most real estate professionals understand.
But equally important: A preapproval doesn't identify potential issues or "red flags" that may prevent a loan from closing. At best, a preapproval letter indicates that the lender is interested in providing financing to your client. At worst, it provides a false sense of security.
It's analogous to a home purchase transaction with a clause noting that the entire deal is dependent on the buyer's ability to sell another property first. How many people would consider that type of scenario advantageous?
Preapproval also doesn't take into account potential changes to a buyer's financial situation, which could affect their loan offer. While a buyer may think their budget can easily support a downpayment and monthly mortgage bills, a lender's guidelines may show otherwise. If certain income or assets are not stable and continuous, then they are not considered verifiable, such as income from being self-employed. And if they're not verifiable, the lender removes the income or assets from the loan application – which frequently results in a loan denial.
Red flags may surface in credit reports, income documents or asset account statements – and when they surface, they can be lethal to a real estate deal.
The most common red flags
Credit Reports
Disputed accounts
Collection or judgment accounts
Deferred student loans
Late payments on installment loans
Income
Recent changes in employment or job responsibilities
Self-employed for less than 2 years
Tax returns show Schedule E losses
Tax returns reflect alimony payments
Inconsistent history of supplemental income
Base pay fluctuates from one pay period to another
Gaps in employment
Assets
Large cash deposits
Insufficient funds to cover closing costs
Insufficient funds to cover post-closing reserves
Agents aren't responsible for knowing if these red flags will surface, and they shouldn't be expected to resolve them for your clients. But they should explain to a customer why they're problematic for the mortgage application and what corrective steps may help. A key ingredient of an action plan is to recommend loan officers who are willing and able to provide a "red flag analysis." This analysis is a detailed, comprehensive disclosure that quantifies a buyer's creditworthiness and his or her maximum purchase power based on the client's credit report and verifiable income and assets.
Like a preapproval, a "red flag analysis" isn't a loan commitment; its value rests in eliminating the shortcomings of a preapproval letter and creating a positive environment for everyone.
Source: Tim Malburg, president of Wilton, Conn.-based Capstone Mortgage Company
© Copyright 2018 INFORMATION INC., Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688
Contact me directly to get connected to qualified lenders to ensure that we get you into your dream home:
Nadjalisse Rodriguez, Realtor Associate
+1 561.573.9824 (call/text/WhatsApp)
nrodriguez@liveinsfl.com | www.LiveinSFL.com
Follow: @LiveinSFL
#Miami #MiamiRealEstate #MiamiCondos #MiamiHomes #MiamiRealtor #Brickell #SouthFlorida #SouthFloridaRealEstate #Florida #FloridaRealEstate #FloridaHomes