How To Avoid Closing Delays

This blog will review 5 ways how to avoid closing delays and get into your new home quickly!

No one wants a call from their Mortgage Broker or lawyer saying, “There is a problem”.

After finding your dream home, negotiating a final price, and sending in the LONG list of documentation requested by your broker, you probably assume everything is concrete.  The reality is that your financing approval is based on the information the lender provided at the time of the application. If there have been any changes to your financial situation, the lender can cancel your mortgage approval.  To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, here’s what to avoid for a smooth closing of your new mortgage:

EMPLOYMENT

No matter what you’re financing, one of the most important pieces of the puzzle that all lenders will look at is your employment and income.  Lenders’ policies surrounding proving how much of your income they can use for qualifying your mortgage are very varied (another benefit of using a Mortage Broker is we know where to maximize your income to help you qualify).  This means any change to your existing employment could hurt your financing approval.  When it comes to financing, always be sure to check with your Mortgage Broker before making any changes to your current employment.

DOWN PAYMENT SOURCE

If you’re buying a new home, we’ll most likely need to prove where your down payment is coming from. If it is different from what the lender has approved, it could spell trouble for your financing approval. For example, if you said that your down payment was coming from savings and, at the last minute, mom and dad offer you the funds as a gift, this could affect your approval. This is an acceptable source of down payment, but only if the lender knows about it in advance and has included this information in their assessment.

DEBT

Your mortgage approval was based on the debts reporting on your credit bureau at the time of approval.  Depending on your mortgage closing date, it’s possible that the lender will pull a new credit report prior to funding your mortgage, and if you have any new debt, this can throw out the ratios we used when we qualified you for your new mortgage.  Please always wait to purchase furniture, new vehicles, etc., until after you’ve moved in!  If this can’t be avoided, give your broker a shout before signing those loan papers.

BAD CREDIT

The littlest of mistakes can mean big swings in your credit score.  If your credit score falls due to late payments, this can cause major issues with your mortgage financing. No matter what type of mortgage you’ve chosen, be extra diligent about making all your payments on time before your new mortgage closes.

MISSING LAWYER DOCUMENTS

Before a file is finalized, the lawyer must verify your identity documents and see that they match the mortgage documents. You may not think it needs to be said, but it is important to use your legal name when you apply for a mortgage. All legal documents should match, even if you use your middle name or nickname. You’ll also need to provide your lawyer with a copy of your Home Insurance Policy. The Mortgagee listed must match your lender and provide adequate fire insurance for the full cost of your home.

Mortgage Brokers Help You Avoid Closing Delays

Thankfully, with a Mortgage Broker, you should be able to avoid all closing delays. I’ll keep in touch right up to your possession day to ensure this ends up being a happy experience rather than a heartbreaking one.