Frequently Asked Questions

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Prequalification is an early step in your home buying journey. When you prequalify for a home loan, you’re getting an estimate of what you might be able to borrow, based on information you provide about your finances, as well as a credit check.

Prequalification is also an opportunity to learn about different mortgage options and work with your lender to identify the right fit for your needs and goals.

Preapproval is as close as you can get to confirming your creditworthiness without having a purchase contract in place. You will complete a mortgage application and the lender will verify the information you provide. They’ll also perform a credit check. If you’re preapproved, you’ll receive a preapproval letter, which is an offer (but not a commitment) to lend you a specific amount, good for 90 days.

Getting preapproved is a smart step to take when you are ready to put in an offer on a home. It shows sellers that you’re a serious homebuyer and that you can secure a mortgage – which makes it more likely that you’ll complete your purchase of the home.

Expect surprises! Lenders look at every detail of your finances when granting preapproval. You might be asked about a car loan payment you made with a credit card, for example. Be prepared to answer lender questions as soon as they come up.

• A month's worth of your most recent pay stubs
• Copies of your last two years' federal tax returns and W-2s
• The names and addresses of your employers over the last two years, compiled into one list
• Last three months of bank statements
• A copy of your real estate agreement
• The names and addresses of your landlords over the past two years
• Divorce/separation decree
• Child support papers
• Bankruptcy, discharge of bankruptcy papers

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME

Collective income from everyone in your  household before taxes or other deductions  are taken, investment income or dividends,  Social Security benefits, alimony, and  retirement fund withdrawals.

APR

APR refers to the annual percentage rate,  which is the interest rate you'll pay expressed  as a yearly rate averaged over the full term

of the loan. APR includes lender fees in the  rate, so it's usually higher than your mortgage

interest rate.

APPRAISAL

A written justification of the price paid for a  property, primarily based on an analysis of  comparable sales of similar homes nearby.

APPRAISED VALUE

An opinion of a property's fair market value,  based on an appraiser's knowledge,  experience, and analysis of the property.

Since an appraisal is based primarily on  comparable sales, and the most recent sale  is the one on the property in question, the  appraisal usually comes out at the  purchase price.

CLOSING COSTS

Generally 2 to 5 percent of the purchase  price include lender fees, recording fees,  transfer taxes, third-party fees such as title  insurance, and prepaids and escrows such as  homeowner's insurance, property taxes, and  HOA fees.

CLOSING DISCLOSURE

A document that provides an itemized  listing of the funds that were paid or  disbursed at closing.

DEED

The legal document conveying title to a  property.

DOWN PAYMENT

A cash payment of a percentage of the  sales price of the home that buyers pay  at closing. Different lenders and loan  programs require various down payment  amounts such as 3 percent, 5 percent,  or 20 percent of the purchase price.

EARNEST MONEY DEPOSIT

Also known as an escrow deposit,  earnest money is a dollar amount buyers  put into an escrow account after a seller  accepts their offer. Buyers do this to  show the seller that they're entering a  real estate transaction in good faith.

ENCUMBRANCE

Anything that affects or limits the fee  simple title to a property, such as  mortgages, leases, easements, or  restrictions.

EQUITY

A homeowner's financial interest in  a property. Equity is the difference  between the fair market value of the

property and the amount still owed on its  mortgage and other liens.

ESCROW

Putting something of value, like a deed  or money, in the custody of a neutral  third party until certain conditions

are met.

HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION FEE (HOA)

A fee required when you buy a home located within a community with an HOA that typically pays for maintenance and improvements of common areas and may include the use of amenities.

HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE

Insurance that provides you with property and liability protection for your property and family from damages from a natural disaster or accident. Lenders usually require borrowers to buy homeowner's insurance.

HOME WARRANTY

A contract between a homeowner and a home warranty company that provides for discounted repair and replacement service on a home's major components, such as the furnace, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical systems.

LENDER FEES

Part of the closing costs of a home purchase and may include an application fee, attorney fees, and recording fees. The lender's underwriting or origination fee is usually 1 percent of the loan amount.

LOAN TYPES

Mortgages have different terms ranging from 10 to 30 years and are available with fixed or adjustable interest rates. Your lender can discuss down payment, insurance, credit requirements, and other specifics of various loan types.

MONTHLY DEBT

The minimum payment on credit card debt; auto, student, and personal loan payments; and alimony or child support. Rent or mortgage for a property that you will pay after your home purchase must also be included.

MORTGAGE

A loan from a bank, credit union, or other financial institution that relies on real estate for collateral. The bank provides money to buy the property, and the borrower agrees to monthly payments until the loan is fully repaid

MORTGAGE INSURANCE

Insurance that protects the lender and repays part of the loan if the borrower defaults and the loan can't be fully repaid by a foreclosure sale. Usually required on loans with less than a 20 percent down payment.

PROPERTY TAXES

Typically imposed by local governments on real property including residential real estate. The tax rate can change annually, and the assessed value of your property is usually recalculated annually.

PREPAIDS

Prepaids are expenses paid at the closing for bills that are not technically due yet, such as property taxes, homeowner's insurance, mortgage insurance, and HOA fees.

THIRD-PARTY FEES

Any closing costs charged by someone other than your lender, typically including fees for an appraisal, a property survey, a title search, owner's and lender's title insurance, and sometimes an attorney.