To determine the value of the property you are purchasing or refinancing, an appraisal will be required. An appraisal report is a written description and estimate of the value of the property.
The appraiser will create a written report for us and you'll be given a copy prior to closing your loan for you to review.
It is not uncommon for the appraised value of a property to be exactly the same as the amount stated on your sales contract. This is not a coincidence, nor does it question the competence of the appraiser. Your purchase contract is the most valid sales transaction there is. It represents what a buyer is willing to offer for the property and what the seller is willing to accept. Only when the comparable sales differ greatly from your sales contract will the appraised value be very different.
In addition to verifying that your home's value supports your loan request, we'll also verify that your home is as marketable as others in the area. We'll want to be confident that if you decide to sell your home, it will be as easy to market as other homes in the area.
We'll review the features of your home and compare them to the features of other homes in the neighborhood. For example, if your home is on a 20-acre lot, or has a large accessory building, we'll want to make sure that there are other homes in the area on similar size lots or with similar outbuildings. It is hard to place a value on such unique features if we can't see what other buyers are willing to pay for them. In some areas, additional acreage or outbuildings could actually be a detriment to a future sale. Finding comparable properties can be more challenging in rural areas where it is more difficult to find homes that have similar features.
We'll also make sure that the value of your home is in the same range as other homes in the area. If the value of your home is substantially more than other homes in the neighborhood, it could affect the market acceptance of the home if you decide to sell.
We'll also review the market statistics about your neighborhood. We'll look at the time on the market for homes that have sold recently and verify that values are steady or increasing.
As soon as we receive your appraisal, we'll update your loan with the estimated value of the home. As a standard practice we mail a copy of your appraisal to you at that time. You will typically receive a copy of your appraisal no later than 3 business days prior to closing your loan.
Since the value and marketability of condominium properties is dependent on items that don't apply to single-family homes, there are some additional steps that must be taken to determine if condominiums meet our guidelines.
One of the most important factors is determining if the project that the condominium is located in is complete. In many cases, it will be necessary for the project, or at least the phase that your unit is located in, to be complete before we can provide financing. The main reason for this is, until the project is complete, we can't be certain that the remaining units will be of the same quality as the existing units. This could affect the marketability of your home.
In addition, we'll consider the ratio of non-owner occupied units to owner-occupied units. This could also affect future marketability since many people would prefer to live in a project that is occupied by owners rather than renters.
We'll also carefully review the appraisal to insure that it includes comparable sales of properties within the project, as well as some from outside the project. Our experience has found that using comparable sales from both the same project as well as other projects gives us a better idea of the condominium project's marketability.
Depending on the percentage of the property's value you'd like to finance, other items may also need to be reviewed.
Both a home inspection and an appraisal are designed to protect you against potential issues with your new home. Although they have totally different purposes, it makes the most sense to rely on each to help confirm that you've found the perfect home.
The appraiser will make note of obvious construction problems such as termite damage, dry rot or leaking roofs or basements. Other obvious interior or exterior damage that could affect the salability of the property will also be reported.
However, appraisers are not construction experts and won't find or report items that are not obvious. They won't turn on every light switch, run every faucet or inspect the attic or mechanicals. That's where the home inspector comes in. They generally perform a detailed inspection and can educate you about possible concerns or defects with the home.
Accompany the inspector during the home inspection. This is your opportunity to gain knowledge of major systems, appliances and fixtures, learn maintenance schedules and tips, and to ask questions about the condition of the home.
Federal Law requires all lenders to investigate whether or not each home they finance is in a special flood hazard area as defined by FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The law can't stop floods. Floods happen anytime, anywhere. But the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 and the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 help to ensure that you will be protected from financial losses caused by flooding.
We use a third party company who specializes in the reviewing of flood maps prepared by FEMA to determine if your home is located in a flood area. If it is, then flood insurance coverage will be required, since standard homeowner's insurance doesn't protect you against damages from flooding.
State Bank of Southern Utah orders the appraisal from a licensed appraiser as soon as the application deposit has been paid. The amount of time it takes for it to be completed can vary depending on the type of property, location of property, availability of qualified appraisers, and time of year. We work closing with appraisers to ensure that we are kept up to date and that your appraisal is being completed in a timely manner. Speak with your Mortgage Loan Officer to get an accurate timeframe on your specific appraisal.
We define manufactured housing as housing units that are factory built with a steel undercarriage that remains as a structural component and limits the structure to a single story. These types of manufactured homes are sometimes known as mobile homes. We do not consider other factory-built housing (not built on a permanent chassis), such as modular, prefabricated, panelized, or sectional housing, to be manufactured housing. If your home is one of these types, please complete the application indicating that your home is a single family home.
In order to qualify for our loan programs a manufactured home must meet the following requirements:
Interest rates fluctuate based on a variety of factors, including inflation, the pace of economic growth, and Federal Reserve policy. Over time, inflation has the largest influence on the level of interest rates. A modest rate of inflation will almost always lead to low interest rates, while concerns about rising inflation normally cause interest rates to increase. Our nation's central bank, the Federal Reserve, implements policies designed to keep inflation and interest rates relatively low and stable.
An adjustable rate mortgage, or an "ARM" as they are commonly called, is a loan type that offers a lower initial interest rate than most fixed rate loans. The trade off is that the interest rate can change periodically, usually in relation to an index, and the monthly payment will go up or down accordingly
For many people in a variety of situations, an ARM may be the right mortgage choice, particularly if your income is likely to increase in the future or if you only plan on being in the home for up to five years.
We strongly urge you to consider the increased risk associated with ARMs when deciding what loan to select. Interest rates on ARMS could double and even triple during a loan term, causing your payment to increase significantly. If you are interested in an ARM we recommend you discuss the option with one of our Mortgage Loan Originators.
Discount points are considered a form of interest. Each point is equal to one percent of the loan amount. You pay them, up front, at your loan closing in exchange for a lower interest rate over the life of your loan. This means more money will be required at closing, however, you will have lower monthly payments over the term of your loan.
To determine whether it makes sense for you to pay discount points, you should compare the cost of the discount points to the monthly payments savings created by the lower interest rate. Divide the total cost of the discount points by the savings in each monthly payment. This calculation provides the number of payments you'll make before you actually begin to save money by paying discount points. If the number of months it will take to recoup the discount points is longer than you plan on having this mortgage, you should consider the loan program option that doesn't require discount points to be paid.
If you'd prefer not to make this calculation the "old-fashioned way," we have a discount points calculator!
The Annual Percentage Rate(APR) is designed to present the actual cost of obtaining financing, by requiring that finance charges are included in the APR calculation. These fees in addition to the interest rate determine the estimated cost of financing over the full term of the loan.
You can use the APR as a guideline to shop for loans but you should not depend solely on the APR in choosing the loan program that's best for you. Since most people do not keep the mortgage for the entire loan term, it may be misleading to spread the effect of some of these up front costs over the entire loan term. Look at total fees, possible rate adjustments in the future, and consider the length of time that you plan on having the mortgage, and discuss you intentions with your Mortgage Loan Officer to make sure you understand how your APR relates to your loan.
Don't forget that the APR is an effective interest rate--not the actual interest rate. Your monthly payments will be based on the actual interest rate, the amount you borrow, and the term of your loan.
Mortgage interest rate movements are as hard to predict as the stock market and no one can really know for certain whether they'll go up or down.
If you have a hunch that rates are on an upward trend then you'll want to consider locking the rate as soon as you are able. Before you decide to lock, make sure that your loan can close within the lock-in period. It won't do any good to lock your rate if you can't close during the rate lock period. If you're purchasing a home, review your contract for the estimated closing date to help you choose the right rate lock period. If you are refinancing, in most cases, your loan could close within 30 days. However, if you have any secondary financing on the home that won't be paid off, allow some extra time since we'll need to contact that lender to get their permission.
If you think rates might drop while your loan is being processed, take a risk and let your rate "float" instead of locking. After you apply, you can lock in by contacting your Mortgage Loan Officer by telephone.
With a 15-year mortgage you'll pay less than half the total interest of the traditional 30-year mortgage and you will have your mortgage paid off in half the amount of time. This is possible because the rates for a 15-year mortgage are typically lower than a 30-year mortgage, and your payments are about 15% higher.
Use the "How much can I save with a 15 year mortgage?" calculator in our Resource Center to help decide if a 15-year mortgage is right for you.
There's no cost at all for completing our application on line.
You can lock in your interest rate and discount points as soon as your loan is approved and you pay the application deposit to cover the cost of your appraisal and final credit report. The application deposit is not another fee, it's actually just the appraisal cost estimate and will be credited to the actual appraisal cost at your closing. If you complete your application today, and your request is approved online, you'll have the opportunity to pay the application deposit via credit card and can lock in your great rate immediately.
If we need to review your information before providing your loan approval, a Mortgage Loan Officer will contact you and you'll have the opportunity to lock your rate and fees then.
None of the loan programs we offer have penalties for prepayment. You can pay off your mortgage any time with no additional charges.
General Statement
The interest rate market is subject to movements without advance notice. Locking in a rate protects you from the time that your lock is confirmed to the day that your lock period expires.
Lock-In AgreementA lock is an agreement by the borrower and the lender and specifies the number of days for which a loan's interest rate and discount points are guaranteed. Should interest rates rise during that period, we are obligated to honor the committed rate. Should interest rates fall during that period, the borrower must honor the lock.
When Can I Lock?
In some cases, your online application will provide all the information needed and you will have the option to lock immediately after loan approval. Otherwise, you will be invited back to lock after we have reviewed your documentation and credit package. We will notify you via email when you are able to request the lock.
Fees
We do not charge a fee for locking in your interest rate.
Lock Period
We currently offer 30 day lock-in period on our site. This means your loan must close and disburse within this number of days from the day your lock is confirmed by us.
Lock Confirmation
Immediately after you accept a lock online, a printable confirmation page is displayed for your records. In addition, a confirmation is sent to the email address you provided during your online application.
Lock Changes
Once we accept your lock, your loan is committed into a secondary market transaction. Therefore, we are not able to renegotiate lock commitments.
A home loan often involves many fees, such as the appraisal fee, title charges, closing fees, and state or local taxes. These fees vary from state to state and also from lender to lender. Any lender or broker should be able to give you an estimate of their fees, but it is more difficult to tell which companies are providing a complete and accurate estimate. State Bank of Southern Utah takes our quotes very seriously. We've completed the research necessary to make sure that our fee quotes are as accurate as possible
To assist you in evaluating our fees, we've grouped them as follows:
Lender Fees
Fees such as discount points, origination fees, underwriting, and loan processing fees are charged by the lender and can vary between lenders. This is the category of fees that you should compare very closely from lender to lender before making a decision.
Third Party Fees
Third party fees are for services completed as part of the loan process, but not completed by your lender. Fees that we consider third party fees include the appraisal fee, the credit report fee, the settlement or closing fee, tax service fees, title insurance fees, flood certification fees, etc. The cost of these fees are passed on to the borrower(s). The costs for these are fairly standard and don't vary much between lenders.
Taxes and other unavoidables
Fees that we consider to be taxes and other unavoidables are costs that you would typically pay even if you were paying cash for the home. These fees include: State/Local Taxes, recording fees, and homeowners insurance. These fees will most likely have to be paid regardless of the lender you choose and the cost is not effected at all by the lender or your loan.
Escrow accounts
If your loan has an escrow/impound account, there may be some initial deposits into this account so that your lender has the funds needed to pay your taxes and insurances when they are due.
If you've ever purchased a home before, you may already be familiar with the benefits and terms of title insurance. But if this is your first home loan or you are refinancing, you may be wondering why you need another insurance policy.
The answer is simple: The purchase of a home is most likely one of the most expensive and important purchases you will ever make. You, and especially your mortgage lender, want to make sure the property is indeed yours: That no individual or government entity has any right, lien, claim, or encumbrance on your property.
The function of a title insurance company is to make sure your rights and interests to the property are clear, that transfer of title takes place efficiently and correctly, and that your interests as a homebuyer are fully protected.
Title insurance companies provide services to buyers, sellers, real estate developers, builders, mortgage lenders, and others who have an interest in real estate transfer. Title companies typically issue two types of title policies:
1) Owner's Policy. This policy covers you, the homebuyer.
2) Lender's Policy. This policy covers the lending institution over the life of the loan.
Both types of policies are issued at the time of closing for a one-time premium, if the loan is a purchase. If you are refinancing your home, you probably already have an owner's policy that was issued when you purchased the property, so we'll only require that a lender's policy be issued.
Before issuing a policy, the title company performs an in-depth search of the public records to determine if anyone other than you has an interest in the property. The search may be performed by title company personnel using either public records or, more likely, the information contained in the company's own title plant.
After a thorough examination of the records, any title problems are usually found and can be cleared up prior to your purchase of the property. Once a title policy is issued, if any claim covered under your policy is ever filed against your property, the title company will pay the legal fees involved in the defense of your rights. They are also responsible to cover losses arising from a valid claim. This protection remains in effect as long as you or your heirs own the property.
The fact that title companies try to eliminate risks before they develop makes title insurance significantly different from other types of insurance. Most forms of insurance assume risks by providing financial protection through a pooling of risks for losses arising from an unforeseen future event, say a fire, accident or theft. On the other hand, the purpose of title insurance is to eliminate risks and prevent losses caused by defects in title that may have happened in the past.
This risk elimination has benefits to both the homebuyer and the title company. It minimizes the chances that adverse claims might be raised, thereby reducing the number of claims that have to be defended or satisfied. This keeps costs down for the title company and the premiums low for the homebuyer.
Buying a home is a big step emotionally and financially. With title insurance you are assured that any valid claim against your property will be borne by the title company, and that the odds of a claim being filed are slim indeed.
Mortgage insurance makes it possible for you to buy a home with less than a 20% down payment by protecting the lender against the additional risk associated with low down payment lending. Low down payment mortgages are becoming more and more popular, and by purchasing mortgage insurance, lenders are able to finance home with little down payment.
The mortgage insurance premium is based on loan-to-value ratio, type of loan, borrower(s) credit profile, and amount of coverage required. Usually, the premium is included in your monthly payment.
In some cases, mortgage insurance, is only required for a certain period of time. This will depend on the type of loan you are requesting. Make sure you discuss your options for mortgage insurance with your Mortgage Loan Officer.
The maximum percentage of your home's value depends on the purpose of your loan, how you use the property, and the loan type you choose, so the best way to determine what loan amount we can offer is to complete our online application!
A credit score is one of the pieces of information that we'll use to evaluate your application.
Credit scores are based on information collected by credit bureaus and information reported each month by your creditors about the balances you owe and the timing of your payments. A credit score is a compilation of all this information converted into a number that helps a lender to determine the likelihood that you will repay the loan on schedule. The credit score is calculated by the credit bureau, not by the lender.
Some of the things that affect your credit score include your payment history, your outstanding obligations, the length of time you have had outstanding credit, the types of credit you use, and the number of inquiries that have been made about your credit history in the recent past.
Using credit scores to evaluate your credit history allows us to quickly and objectively evaluate your credit history when reviewing your loan application. However, there are many other factors when making a loan decision and we never evaluate an application without looking at the total financial picture of a customer.
An abundance of credit inquiries can sometimes affect your credit scores since it may indicate that your use of credit is increasing.
However, The data used to calculate your credit score doesn't include any mortgage or auto loan credit inquiries that are made within the 30 days prior to the score being calculated. In addition, all mortgage inquiries made in any 14-day period are always considered one inquiry. Don't limit your mortgage shopping for fear of the effect on your credit score.
There is no charge to you for the credit information we'll access with your permission to evaluate your application online. You will only be charged for a credit report if you decide to complete the application process after your loan is approved.
Yes, you can borrow funds to use as your down payment! However, any loans that you take out must be secured by an asset that you own. If you own something of value that you could borrow funds against such as a car or another home, it's a perfectly acceptable source of funds. If you are planning on obtaining a loan, make sure to include the details of this loan in the Expenses section of the application.
The documentation or information we request from you is strictly for qualification purposes. It is typically used to verify information in your loan application. We use an automated underwriting system that helps determines what information we may need. We try to keep the amount of information we request to a minimum to simplify the process. If we do request information, it is important to provide it fully and in a timely manner to ensure we are able to process your loan quickly.
Generally, the income of self-employed borrowers is verified by obtaining copies of personal (and business, if applicable) federal tax returns for the most recent two-year period. However, based on your entire financial situation, we may not need full copies of your tax returns.
We'll review and average the net income from self-employment that's reported on your tax returns to determine the income that can be used to qualify. We won't be able to consider any income that hasn't been reported as such on your tax returns. Typically, we'll need at least one, and sometimes a full two-year history of self-employment to verify that your self-employment income is stable.
In order for bonus, overtime, or commission income to be considered, you must have a history of receiving it and it must be likely to continue. We'll usually need to obtain copies of W-2 statements for the previous two years and a recent pay stub to verify this type of income. If a major part of your income is commission earnings, we may need to obtain copies of recent tax returns to verify the amount of business-related expenses, if any. We'll average the amounts you have received over the past two years to calculate the amount that can be considered as a regular part of your income.
If you haven't been receiving bonus, overtime, or commission income for at least one year, it probably can't be given full value when your loan is reviewed for approval.
We will ask for copies of your recent pension check stubs, or bank statement if your pension or retirement income is deposited directly in your bank account. Sometimes it will also be necessary to verify that this income will continue for at least three years since some pension or retirement plans do not provide income for life. This can usually be verified with a copy of your award letter. If you don't have an award letter, we can contact the source of this income directly for verification.
If you're receiving tax-free income, such as social security earnings in some cases, we'll consider the fact that taxes will not be deducted from this income when reviewing your request.
Yes, applying for a mortgage loan before you find a home may be the best thing you could do. If you apply for your mortgage now, we can work through any complications ahead of time and then we'll issue a pre-qualification subject to you finding your home. You can use the pre-qualification letter to assure real estate brokers and sellers that you are a qualified buyer.
When you find your home, you'll simply call your Mortgage Loan Officer to complete your application.
Generally, only income that is reported on your tax return can be considered when applying for a mortgage. The only exceptions to this are if the source of income is new and not yet reported on your most recent tax filing, or the income is legally tax-free and isn't required to be reported. In these cases the lender will review the income source and determine if it is eligible for consideration.
If you own rental properties, we'll generally ask for the most recent year's federal tax return to verify your rental income. We'll review the Schedule E of the tax return to verify your rental income, after all expenses except depreciation. Since depreciation is only a paper loss, it won't be counted against your rental income.
If you haven't owned the rental property for a complete tax year, we'll ask for a copy of any leases you've executed and we'll estimate the expenses of ownership.
Generally, two years personal tax returns are required to verify the amount of your dividend and/or interest income so that an average of the amounts you receive can be calculated. In addition, we will need to verify your ownership of the assets that generate the income using copies of statements from your financial institution, brokerage statements, stock certificates or Promissory Notes.
Typically, income from dividends and/or interest must be expected to continue for at least three years to be considered for repayment.
Information about child support, alimony, or separate maintenance income does not need to be provided unless you wish to have it considered for repaying this mortgage loan.
Typically, income from a second job will be considered if a one-year history of secondary employment can be verified.
The application will ask you questions about the home and your finances, as well as what type of loan you are applying for. It takes less than 20 minutes to complete, but if you need more time, your application will be saved and you can return at a later time to complete.
After completing your application, a Mortgage Loan Officer will contact you to introduce himself or herself and to answer any questions you may have. Your Mortgage Loan Officer is a mortgage expert and will provide help and guidance along the way. They can pre-qualify you for a purchase or, if you're ready, they can continue on with the loan application.
Having changed employers frequently is typically not a hindrance to obtaining a new mortgage loan. This is particularly true if you made employment changes without having periods of time in between without employment. We'll also look at your income advancements as you have changed employment.
If you're paid on a commission basis, a recent job change may be an issue since we'll have a difficult time of predicting your earnings without a history with your new employer.
If you were in school before your current job, enter the name of the school you attended and the length of time you were in school in the "length of employment" fields. You can enter a position of "student" and income of "0."
Unfortunately, if you are purchasing a home, we'll have to use the lower of the appraised value or the sales price to determine your down payment requirement.
It's still a great benefit for your financial situation if you are able to purchase a home for less than the appraised value, but our investors don't allow us to use this "instant equity" when making our loan decision.
Gifts are an acceptable source of down payment, if the gift giver is related to you or your co-borrower. We'll ask you for the name, address, and phone number of the gift giver, as well as the donor's relationship to you.
If your loan request is for more than 80% of the purchase price, we'll need to verify that you have at least 5% of the property's value in your own assets.
Prior to closing, we'll verify that the gift funds have been transferred to you by obtaining a copy of your bank receipt or deposit slip to verify that you have deposited the gift funds into your account.
If you're selling your current home to purchase your new home, we'll ask you to provide a copy of the settlement or closing statement you'll receive at the closing to verify that your current mortgage has been paid in full and that you'll have sufficient funds for our closing. Often the closing of your current home is scheduled for the same day as the closing of your new home. If that's the case, we'll just ask you to bring your settlement statement with you to your new mortgage closing.
Congratulations on your new job! If you will be working for the same employer, complete the application as such but enter the income you anticipate you'll be receiving at your new location.
If your employment is with a new employer, complete the application as if this were your current employer and indicate that you have been there for one month. The information about the employment you'll be leaving should be entered as a previous employer. We'll sort out the details after you submit your loan for approval.
Generally, a co-signed debt is considered when determining your qualifications for a mortgage. If the co-signed debt doesn't affect your ability to obtain a new mortgage we'll leave it at that. However, if it does make a difference, we can ignore the monthly payment of the co-signed debt if you can provide verification that the other person responsible for the debt has made the required payments, by obtaining copies of their cancelled checks for the last six months.
Any student loan that will go into repayment within the next six months should be included in the application. If you are not sure exactly what the monthly payment will be at this time, enter an estimated amount.
If other student loans are reflected on your final credit report, which will not go into repayment in the next six months, we may need to ask you for verification that repayment will not be required during this time period.
If you've had a bankruptcy or foreclosure in the past, it may affect your ability to get a new mortgage. Unless the bankruptcy or foreclosure was caused by situations beyond your control, we will generally require that two to four years have passed since the bankruptcy or foreclosure. It is also important that you've re-established an acceptable credit history with new loans or credit cards.
An installment debt is a loan that you make payments on, such as an auto loan, a student loan or a debt consolidation loan. Do not include payments on other living expenses, such as insurance costs or medical bill payments. We'll include any installment debts that have more than 10 months remaining when determining your qualifications for this mortgage.
The closing will take place at the office of a title company or attorney in your area who will act as our agent. During the closing you will be reviewing and signing several loan papers. The closing agent conducting the closing should be able to answer any questions you have or you can feel free to contact your Mortgage Loan Officer if you prefer.
Just to make sure there are no surprises at closing, your Mortgage Loan Officer will contact you a few days before closing to review your final fees, loan amount, first payment date, etc.
The most important documents you will be signing at the closing include:
Closing Disclosure
This document provides an itemized listing of the final fees charged in connection with your loan. If your loan is a purchase, the closing disclosure will also include a listing of any fees related to the transaction between you and the seller. If this loan will be a refinance, the closing disclosure will show the pay-off amounts of any loans that will be paid in full with your new loan. Most items on the statement are categorized and will correspond to the numbers listed on the Loan Estimate that will be provided in your application package.
Note
This is the document you sign to agree to repay your mortgage. The note will provide you with all of the details of your loan including the interest rate and length of time to repay the loan. It also explains the penalties that you may incur if you fall behind in making your payments.
Mortgage / Deed of Trust
This document pledges a property to the lender as security for repayment of a debt. Essentially this means that you will give your property up to the lender in the event that you cannot make the mortgage payments. The Mortgage restates the basic information contained in the note, as well as details the responsibilities of the borrower. In some states, the document is called a Deed of Trust instead of a Mortgage.
If your loan is a refinance of your primary home, Federal Law requires that you have three days to decide positively that you want a new mortgage after you sign the documents. This means that the loan funds won't be disbursed until three business days have passed. The closing agent will provide more details at the closing.
In some areas of the country it is very customary, and sometimes required by law, to have an attorney represent you at the closing. In other areas, attorneys are not as common at a real estate closing. Please contact the closing agent if you have questions about attorney representation. By all means, we recommend that you have an attorney at the closing if it would make you more comfortable. If your attorney has any questions about your new mortgage, please refer them to your Mortgage Loan Officer. We'd be happy to provide any information necessary.
The most important documents you will sign at closing are the note and mortgage, sometimes called the deed of trust. Unless there are special circumstances, these documents are usually prepared one to two days before your closing. Other documents are prepared by the closing agent the day before or the day of your closing. If you would like copies of the completed documents to be sent to you after they are prepared, please contact your Mortgage Loan Officer.
The closing agent acts as our agent and will represent us at the closing. However, your personal Mortgage Loan Officer will contact you prior to closing to talk about your final documents and to provide a final breakdown of your closing fees. If you have any questions that the closing agent can't answer during the closing, ask them to contact your Mortgage Loan Officer by phone and we'll get you the answers you need - before the closing is over!
If you won't be able to attend the loan closing, contact your Mortgage Loan Officer to discuss other options. If someone you trust is able to attend on your behalf, you can execute a Power of Attorney so that this person can sign documents on your behalf. In other cases, we're able to mail you the documents in advance so that you can sign them and forward them to the closing agent. We're sure to have a solution that will work in your circumstances.
The closing of your loan is typically facilitated by the escrow/settlement company that has been selected for your loan. If you are purchasing a home, your escrow company may have been selected by the seller or your real estate agent. If you are refinancing your home, you will have most likely selected the company of your choice. The closing will be handled by a representative of their office, and typically is done in their office. If you need something more convenient you can request a notary come to your home or office to complete your loan closing, but there is an added cost for this service.
Automated monthly payments are available. At the loan closing an automated payment application will be provided. Simply return it at your earliest convenience to enroll in the automated payment program.