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Sanity Saving Loan Process Tips for the San Mateo Coastal Area!

With the right real estate professional, you can save your sanity through the loan process.

You may have experienced some level of stress in buying your San Mateo Coastal home due to the very rigorous rules and regulations. Or you may be looking into the San Mateo Coastal real estate market and are uneasy about applying for a loan because you don’t quite know where to start! New regulations on loans are sometimes confusing and the process can easily become frustrating, but there’s hope!  Andy Block a Loan and Personal Finance Advisor has come up with 7 Tips to Save Your Sanity during the loan approval process. We’ve listed them for you below!

1. Be expedient and thorough- When initiating a loan, and throughout the loan process, it is imperative to provide complete documentation to your Mortgage Advisor as quickly as possible. For instance, if all pages of the bank statement are requested, it really means all pages. While you and I might not think it’s necessary to include the reconciliation page of the statement, the lenders do. And, when they receive only five of the six pages of said bank statement, the loan process can become inefficient and stalled.

2. Keep detailed financial records- If it is necessary to transfer funds from one account to another or to sell stock for a down payment, keep a detailed paper trail of all transactions, deposits and liquidations. Lenders will request it.

3. Spill the details- Be sure to notify your Mortgage Advisor of any changes to the purchase transaction. Unidentified last minute changes, such as escrow holdbacks, seller credits or termite work can wreak havoc with closing dates.

4. Keep your day job- Lenders always contact your employer just before the loan funds. If you have left that company (quit, moved to a new company or retired), the lender will stop the loan from funding and recording.

5. Know the facts- If you are in the process of divorcing, most lenders will not approve or fund a mortgage loan until the final decree (settlement terms) is recorded.

6. Safeguard your social security number- Talk to your Mortgage Advisor before making any significant credit or purchase decisions. Lenders rely on using credit scores to assist in mortgage credit decisions. Incurring new debt during the loan process increases your debt-to-income ratio and could reduce the amount you can borrow. Each credit inquiry – whether you ultimately make a purchase or not lowers your credit score. The same holds true for pre-approved credit card offers that you receive in the mail; responding to them will result in a credit check.

7. Be available- Be sure to leave a contact phone number with your Mortgage Advisor if you are traveling for business or on vacation. Until all the loan approval conditions are met, you may be required to provide additional documentation or information.

We understand that buying a home is a huge investment! The paper work, hoops to jump through and getting everything you need in order can be a lot to handle. Using these seven tips will help cut down on the stress and will help streamline the process. If you are looking to buy a home on the San Mateo Coast, we can help! We’ve had years of experience and would love to help you find the home of your dreams! There are many great homes in the San Mateo Coastal Area from which to choose. Contact us and we’ll be happy to answer your questions and give you a tour of the homes in the area!

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Ladies’ Night Out at The Melting Pot

Ladies, leave the guys at home and have a fun girls’ night out next Wednesday, October 5, at The Melting Pot! This exquisite fondue restaurant in San Mateo, California is now offering a ladies’ night special every first Wednesday of each month! You can enjoy a four-course dinner, cocktail specials, live music, and monthly events that you are sure to love for just $35 per lady.

Local vendors will also be present with their merchandise/services available, and free prizes from these local vendors and The Melting Pot will be given out. If this sounds like a good time to you, then come on out to 2 North B Street in San Mateo for great food and lots of fun with your girlfriends!

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Be Financially Prepared On Closing Day

The process of purchasing a home along the San Mateo Coast can be overwhelming if you are not familiar with the steps and costs involved in this life changing transaction. Many buyers and sellers are especially unfamiliar with what it is involved when it comes to closing costs.

If you are aware of these specific costs and budget for them, they won’t surprise you on closing day and cause you financial stress.

Below is a guide to some of the more standard costs that you may be faced with on closing day.

  • Loan Origination Fee or Points: These are the fees charged by the lender for generating your loan.
  • Broker Fee: These fees are occasionally combined into the Loan Origination Fee.
  • Credit Report: Lenders may require this fee up front to obtain and review your credit history. (Approx. $21 – $60)
  • Appraisal Fee: This fee is normally non-refundable and will vary depending on the value of the home.
  • Inspection Fee: Fees paid to have a Certified Home Inspector evaluate the structural and mechanical condition of the home.
  • Title Search: This search will provide verification that the seller owns the house you are buying.
  • Title Insurance: This fee insures against losses as a result of any title defects.
  • Prepaid Interest: To pay up the mortgage interest to the first of the following month.
  • Mortgage Insurance: Insurance to protect the lender in the event that the borrower (mortgager) is unable to repay the loan.

These are some of the most common costs involved with closing. Once you have applied for your loan, the lender will provide you with a Good Faith Estimate of what they anticipate the closing costs to be.

Be sure to do your homework and ask extensive questions about these items and your closing on your new California coastal home will go much smoother on closing day.

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