Patty Manzi’s Tri-Valley Real Estate Blog

I recently heard a story about a buyer who was in contract to buy a home, had received his loan approval, then went out and bought a car using a cash down payment!  Long story short, the loan was rejected in final underwriting review because the purchase of the new car had changed the debt to income ratio and also changed the amount of the cash reserves the buyer had on hand. 

This reminded me of a list someone had given me years ago, so I dug it out of my files, and I am posting it here to share with you~

The Ten Commandments for Buyers……. Until Your House Closes

1. Thou shalt not buy a new car
2. Thou shalt not buy furniture for the new house or any other big expenditures that affect your bank accounts
3. Thou shalt not make any unexpected or unexplained large deposits that affect your bank balance (unless it is a work related bonus, or a tax return, and then keep a copy of the check/deposit)
4. Thou shalt not apply for any credit anywhere, and thou shalt tear up all of the offers for “Pre-Approved Credit Cards” that come in the mail
5. Thou shalt not run up the credit cards that you already have
6. Thou shalt not retire or voluntarily leave your present employment or change employment status
7. Thou shalt advise your agent and your lender of any unexpected changes in your life, especially if it changes your marital status.
8. Thou shalt not leave to go on vacation during the escrow process without notifying your agent or lender
9. Thou shalt not spend money you will need for your down-payment and closing costs
10. Thou shalt not be late paying any accounts during the escrow period

I was asked the other day about why someone would need to get ‘pre-approved’ for a loan before looking for a home.  Here’s why:

If you are serious about buying a home, your next step is to get a ‘pre-approval’ from a reputable Lender.  By doing this before looking at homes, you’ll save yourself time, energy, and frustration. 

The pre-approval will:

• Determine how much home you can afford:  Helps you avoid buying less home than you can afford, or being disappointed if you don’t qualify for as much as you had hoped.
• Shows what your total investment will be: You’ll know approximately how much money you’ll need for your down payment and closing costs.
• Lets you know what your monthly payment will be: You’ll have a very close estimate of what your monthly principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI) will be.
• Identifies the loan programs you can qualify for:  With a wide variety of loan programs available, it is important to know which types you qualify for and which will best suit your needs.
• Strengthens your offer: Sellers may be more inclined to accept realistic offers when they know that you are serious and have taken the time to be interviewed by a lender and are pre-approved for a loan.

When you are pre-approved by a Lender, you’ll receive a Pre-Approval letter to give to your Realtor®.  This letter should state that the Lender has checked your credit, your credit score, verified your income and employment history, and your monthly debts and obligations.

Choosing Your Lender

When you buy a home, one of your primary concerns will be finding a lender who can provide the financing YOU need.  So how should you shop for a Lender?  Most real estate agents have a network of reputable professionals they can refer you to.  Calling around and asking for interest rate quotes is NOT always the best way to select a Lender.

Competitive rates are important, but when you consider the fact that most Lenders get their money from the same sources (and therefore have essentially the same rates to offer), you must look at some other factors before choosing a Lender.  You need a Lender who works with you and your real estate agent as a team and has the same goal – to get your loan approved and closed in a timely and professional manner. 

Meeting With the Lender

When you meet with the Lender you choose, be prepared to provide the following information:

1. Your residence history
2. Your employment history & income
3. All outstanding debts, loans, credit cards
4. All bank accounts – savings, checking, and investment accounts
5. Real estate you currently own
6. Personal property you own

Remember finding a Lender you can trust is just as important as finding an experienced Realtor®.  You want to make sure that your needs are going to be met professionally and represented throughout the entire process of buying your home.  Ask for, and check references.

The DRE recently issued a fraud warning alerting consumers about loan modification scams and informing consumers of what they can do to protect themselves. The alert is available in both English and Spanish.  Last July, the DRE had fewer than 10 complaints involving loan modification companies; today the department has 750 pending investigations. In addition, since last October, the DRE has filed more than 200 Desist and Refrain Orders. A list of the companies and persons the DRE has filed an action against can be viewed at http://www.dre.ca.gov/cons_drs.asp.

It is worth noting that not all firms who collect advance fees for loan modification services do so illegally, the DRE said.  In general, only licensed real estate brokers and attorneys operating within the scope of their license may collect advance fees. Real estate brokers must have their advance fee agreement reviewed by the DRE prior to its use to ensure it is compliant with real estate law.

C.A.R. also has learned of what appears to be a loan modification assistance program and lead generator, from a company using the legislative bill number 3648, that looks as if it’s a government entity, complete with a misleading seal closely resembling a governmental seal but that is not affiliated with the government. C.A.R. cautions all members to be on the alert for schemes seeking funds from REALTORS® or consumers with no value, or that may be misleading or unlawful.

From: CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) Newsline, 6/24/09.