What do I have to do to apply for a mortgage loan? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2024)

The first step of applying for a mortgage is to request a Loan Estimate from three or more lenders.

To receive a Loan Estimate, you need to submit only six key pieces of information:

  • Your name
  • Your income
  • Your Social Security number (so the lender can check your credit)
  • The address of the home you plan to purchase or refinance
  • An estimate of the home's value
  • The loan amount you want to borrow

Although you're not required to provide documents in order to get a Loan Estimate, it's a good idea to share what you have with the lender(s). The more information the lender has, the more accurate your Loan Estimate will be.

Tip: It's a good idea to request Loan Estimates from several lenders. That way, you can compare your options and choose the best loan for you. Each lender is required to send you a Loan Estimate within three business days of receiving your six key pieces of information.

Once you're ready to choose a loan offer, you need to notify the lender that you are ready to proceed with the loan application. If you don't notify a lender that you'd like to proceed within 10 business days, the lender may revise the Loan Estimate or close your application as incomplete and you may need to start over. The 10 business days are calculated from when the lender delivers the Loan Estimate to you or places it in the mail, whichever is earlier.

Once you've notified the lender that you would like to proceed with an application, the lender may ask you to provide additional information and documents to verify the information you have already submitted. The lender processes this information and may follow up with you to request additional information or clarification. Once the lender has received all the necessary information, the lender approves or denies your loan application.

What do I have to do to apply for a mortgage loan? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2024)

FAQs

What is the consumer Protection Act for mortgage loans? ›

(the Act) became effective on June 20, 1975. The Act requires lenders, mortgage brokers, or servicers of home loans to provide borrowers with pertinent and timely disclosures regarding the nature and costs of the real estate settlement process.

What does CFPB do in mortgages? ›

Creating new mortgage disclosures

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a government agency built to protect consumers. We help keep banks and other financial service providers consumers depend on every day operating fairly.

What information do you need for a mortgage loan application? ›

What do I have to do to apply for a mortgage loan?
  • Your name.
  • Your income.
  • Your Social Security number (so the lender can check your credit)
  • The address of the home you plan to purchase or refinance.
  • An estimate of the home's value.
  • The loan amount you want to borrow.
Sep 8, 2020

What information must be provided on a consumer loan application? ›

your income, your Social Security number (so the lender can pull a credit report), the property address, an estimate of the value of the property, and.

What does a lender need for pre-approval? ›

Pre-approval requires proof of employment, assets, income tax returns, and a qualifying credit score. Mortgage pre-approval letters are typically valid for 60 to 90 days. Upon pre-approval, the lender will provide the maximum loan amount, which helps set a price range for the home shopper.

What is the difference between a mortgage loan and a consumer loan? ›

Key Takeaways. A personal loan is usually unsecured (i.e., without the need to provide collateral). Mortgages are usually used to purchase real estate and are secured by the property bought with the loan. Personal loans can usually be funded faster than mortgages, but they might have higher interest rates.

What protection do you need for a mortgage? ›

In terms of the protection you need for a mortgage, we always recommend considering life insurance, income protection insurance, mortgage payment protection insurance, and critical illness cover. These protect you financially should the worst come to pass.

What information do they need for a mortgage application? ›

Proof of Expenses

As well as knowledge of your income, your lender will also need an idea of your outgoing expenses before approving your application. This is because regular payments such as school fees, travel etc. may have an impact on what you can afford to can repay monthly.

What do I need to know before talking to a mortgage lender? ›

How do I prepare before meeting with a mortgage lender?
  • Strengthen your credit.
  • Determine your budget.
  • Understand your mortgage options.
  • Compare rates.
  • Get preapproved.
  • Read the fine print.

What credit score is needed to buy a house? ›

A good credit score to buy a house is one that helps you secure the best mortgage rate and loan terms for the mortgage you're applying for. You'll typically need a credit score of 620 to finance a home purchase. However, some lenders may offer mortgage loans to borrowers with scores as low as 500.

What documents are required for consumer loan? ›

ID Proof - Aadhar Card / Driving License / Voter ID/Passport/PAN Card. Address Proof - Aadhar Card/Driving License/Voter ID/Passport/Rent Agreement/Latest Utility bills/Bank Passbook. Income Proof.

What are the requirements for a consumer loan? ›

What Steps Should I Follow When Applying For My Consumer Loan?
  • Valid government-issued IDs.
  • Proof of your billing address.
  • Proof of your employment or ownership of a business.
  • Proof of your citizenship.
  • Proof of your income.
  • Your banking statements.

How do you qualify for a mortgage loan? ›

How do I qualify for a mortgage? You'll need to meet the eligibility criteria for the specific type of mortgage you're getting. This includes parameters around credit score, debt and down payment. For an FHA loan, for example, you'll need a credit score of at least 580 and a down payment of at least 3.5 percent.

What are the chances of getting denied after pre-approval? ›

What are my chances of getting denied after preapproval?
Loan program and purposeClosing rate
Conventional purchase80%
FHA refinance65%
FHA purchase78%
VA refinance72%
2 more rows

Do you need down payment for pre-approval? ›

Down Payments

You don't need to estimate your down payment during pre-qualification, but you do need it for pre-approval.

How long does mortgage approval take after pre-approval? ›

If you are pre-approved or credit pre-approved for a loan before you start the home shopping process, your mortgage could close in as little as two to three weeks after your offer is accepted on a home.

What are the rights of a borrower in a mortgage? ›

When you enter into a real property loan agreement, you have certain rights protecting you, including the right to: Shop for the best mortgage loan and lowest monthly payments. Ask for a good faith estimate of loan charges, prepayment penalties, and origination fees. Know how much the mortgage broker is getting in fees.

What does the Consumer Credit Protection Act require that lenders? ›

This act requires loan providers to explain financial terms to consumers, restricts the garnishing of wages, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex or marital status, and established the National Commission on Consumer Finance to investigate the consumer finance industry.

What is the Home loan Protection Act? ›

The Homeowners Protection Act of 1998 is a law designed to reduce the unnecessary payment of private mortgage insurance (PMI) by homeowners who may no longer be required to pay it. The Homeowners Protection Act covers all private, residential mortgages purchased after July 29, 1999.

What is covered under the Consumer Credit Protection Act? ›

CCPA rules apply to banks, lenders and other financial institutions. Multiple laws fall under the CCPA, including the Federal Wage Garnishment Law, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

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