Once you have made the decision to buy or refinance, the first step is to complete a loan application. The best way to apply is right here on my website. Once you fill in as many of the blanks as possible, I will be notified that an application has arrived. I will contact you, review the information provided, and complete any blanks that you were not sure about. Folks, it really is that easy. After the application is complete, I will request that you fax or email me the basic information necessary to issue your pre-approval.

This is where the rubber meets the road and you save the most time. I do not issue pre-qualification letters. They have no teeth and are basically worthless. Instead, we go straight to pre-approval. You supply information about your employment, your assets, your residence history, and so on. I get your permission to run your credit score. When I review all this information I submit your file to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and give you a Mortgage Loan Commitment Letter (MLCL). Handle it with care -- to a home seller, it's like showing them that you can write the check! Your real estate agent will use your MLCL to make the best offer on the home you choose, and the seller knows you're pre-approved. It gives you buying clout! And while you're picking out the home that's right for you, I am busy verifying the information you have provided at the time of application.

Closing and funding your loan is where we really shine! Remember, I do not issue a MLCL unless your loan has been underwritten through Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. This means that everyone knows right from the beginning what items will be needed to get to the closing table. I, as the lender, will collect those items and submit them to my in-house underwriter were they will be reviewed for completeness. Once everything is signed off on by our underwriter, the file will be delivered to our in-house closing department and closing documents will be delivered to the title company for closing.