The Real Estate Loan Application Process
In determining the size of a mortgage loan you can qualify for, lenders will look at your ability to repay your debt over a period of several years, as well as the amount of collateral that you are putting up as a guarantee.
The main things that affect the amount you can borrow are:
- Your income: Income levels are one of the most important factors that lenders
consider in determining whether a person qualifies for a loan. Typically, lenders
don’t want your monthly housing expenses to exceed stipulated percentages of your gross monthly
income.
- Your FICO score: FICO scores – often called credit scores - are the tools that
most mortgage lenders in the U.S. use to evaluate home loan applicants'
creditworthiness. The higher the credit score,
the lower the perceived risk for a lender. As a result, lenders often offer lower
interest rates for people who have good credit scores – meaning that those
individuals can borrow more money. The FICO score takes into account:
- Quality of credit report
- Payment information on many types of debt accounts (credit cards, auto, mortgage and student loans, etc.)
- Bankruptcies, foreclosures, suits, wage attachments, liens and judgments
- Your assets: Lenders examine your personal assets in the loan application
process. Of particular importance is the amount of cash you can put up as a down
payment and to cover closing costs. Some lenders may let you put down very
little money down – i.e., 3% or even 0%.
- Your liabilities: Another important factor that mortgage lenders consider during a loan application is a borrower’s recurring debts. In deciding whether you can meet your monthly interest and principal payments, lenders factor in any other debt payments you’ll need to make during the life of the loan. So if you can pay off some of your existing debt before beginning the mortgage loan application process, you may want to do so.
Real Estate Buying Articles
- Real Estate Buying Guide
- Home Buying Questions to Consider
- 6 Reasons to Own Your Own Home
- The Real Estate Loan Application Process
- Mortgage Loan Interview Checklist
- Hiring a Home Inspector
- Home Inspection Checklist
- Moving Checklist
- Packing Tips
- New Construction Homes
Charlotte NC Links of Interest
- Charlotte Real Estate Services
- Charlotte NC Schools
- Charlotte Real Estate Background
- Charlotte NC Newspapers
- Charlotte NC - Things to Do
- Charlotte, NC Property Tax Rates
- Charlotte Condos, Townhomes & Townhouses
- Charlotte GIS and Real Estate Data
- Charlotte-Area Chambers of Commerce
If you’re in the market for Lake Norman or Charlotte, NC real estate, then we can help. We serve towns such as Charlotte, Mooresville, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Concord, Denver, Kannapolis and Statesville.



