May 4, 2017

Mortgage Commitment Letter: What Is It and Why It Matters

Read more about Mortgage

Wondering whether you need a "mortgage commitment letter"? We explain what it is and why it could give you an edge over other home buyers.

Certain terms in the mortgage industry sound alike but are completely different. For instance, pre-qualification, pre-approval, and mortgage commitment all sound similar. But these three terms - which describe three different types of letters you can get from a lender - mean different things.

We explain why a mortgage commitment letter is the top letter to get and how it's different than the others.

Three Types of Approval

Lenders usually provide one of three types of approval:

  • Pre-qualification letter
  • Pre-approval letter
  • Mortgage commitment letter

They all provide some type of approval, but some hold more merit than others.

Pre-Qualification Letter

This is the loosest OK from a lender, indicating that they may possibly grant you a mortgage. It may come in the form of a letter or a verbal agreement. The lender probably talked to you about your income, assets, and credit, but did not verify anything you told them. They used the numbers you provided to give you an estimate of what you could afford. View this as something to go by as you begin home shopping, but nothing said or written here is set in stone.

Pre-Approval Letter

A pre-approval letter is a step up from a pre-qualification. Realtors and sellers will take a pre-approval letter seriously. It shows them that a lender actually evaluated your financial documents and determined your eligibility for a loan. It has a dollar amount and some assurance that a lender believes in your ability to afford a mortgage. Oftentimes the letter includes conditions you must satisfy to close on the specified loan.

Related: Pre-Approval Mortgage - Learn the importance of the pre-approval step and how to make the most of it.

Mortgage Commitment Letter

You won't get a mortgage commitment letter until you sign a sales contract. The underwriter will do more than approve your credit history and financial documents. There must be a specific property you intend to purchase, and they'll want to see the results of an appraisal and the title search. They also want to confirm that there aren't any liens on the home and that the current owners have the right to sell the home. The letter states the approved loan amount for the specific address shown and may include some conditions before you can actually sign on the dotted line.

Steps to Obtain the Mortgage Commitment Letter

Think of the process of obtaining the mortgage commitment letter like a ladder. You take one step at a time. If you want the satisfaction of a pre-qualification (step 1), contact a few lenders. Tell them your financial story and see what they say. Once you have an estimate of what you could afford, you can start thinking about where you want to live. While the pre-qualification does not mean much, it does give you a good starting point.

Once you are serious about buying a home, you can start the real process:

  • Fill out a mortgage application. On this application, known as the 1003, you disclose your personal information. The lender needs your social security number, address, and birthdate. They also need the amount of your current income, debts, and assets.

  • Give permission to pull your credit report. The lender uses your credit score and payment history to determine your risk level. Certain loan programs have minimum credit scores in order to qualify too.

  • Provide the lender with your financial documents. This usually means 2 paystubs, 2 years' worth of W-2s or tax returns, and 2 months' worth of asset statements. The loan officer evaluates your documents. He may also input your information into an automated underwriting system for your desired program.

These steps are all it takes to obtain the pre-approval letter. With conditional approval, you have qualified for a specific loan amount. Your approval depends on the property's value and condition. If they change before you sign a sales contract, your deal with the lender could fall through.

Shopping for a home with a pre-approval letter is easier than with just a pre-qualification. More doors will open to you with the pre-approval letter in hand (some realtors won't consider your bid if you don't have one). At this point, you don't need the mortgage commitment letter, but you can start the process.

Your loan officer will probably send your file to the underwriter while you shop for a home. As it sits in the queue, you look for appropriate homes within your price range. You can submit a bid and sign a sales contract with just the pre-approval. Your attorney will likely encourage you to include a financing contingency in the contract. This gives you a way out if your financing falls through.

Tip: A financing contingency gives you time to secure financing. The seller usually wants the commitment by a certain date. Sellers often stop marketing their home once you sign a contract, but they'll jump back into promoting their property if you can't meet their deadline. You have until the specified date to provide the mortgage commitment letter. If you can't, you or the seller may be able to back out of the contract without penalty.

After a review of your application, credit report, and documents, the underwriter may need more information. These conditions pertain to your financial life. Some common items include:

  • Proof of paid collections
  • An executed gift letter from donors providing you with down payment money
  • Verification of your employment
  • A letter of explanation for any late payments on your credit report

Underwriters also don't take your documents at face value. Instead, they look for issues. Here are a few examples of what they may spot:

  • Your paystubs don't provide enough information
  • Your tax returns have inconsistencies in them
  • You have large deposits in your bank account without proof of their origination
  • There are late payments or collections on your credit report

Any inefficiencies the underwriter spots usually become a condition.

The lender usually does not provide the mortgage commitment letter until two things happen:

  • You have an executed sales contract signed by all parties
  • The lender has the appraisal for the specific property

The underwriter needs the contract and appraisal to provide the commitment letter. Because the commitment is an agreement to provide a loan, the lender needs to make sure everything is in place. The appraisal shows the condition of the property as well as its value. Both factors play a role in the lender's ability to fund a loan.

Related: How to Get Approved for a Home Loan - Learn the steps you should take to hear the words "You're approved" the first time you apply for a mortgage.

Conditions on the Mortgage Commitment Letter

Typically, lenders provide mortgage commitment letters with a few conditions. At this point the underwriter knows you can financially afford the loan - but they need to confirm that the value of it is solid. They'll want to tie up some loose ends in your file, such as:

  • Provide proof of purchase of a homeowners policy for your new home with at least the next 12 months' premium paid
  • Clear title
  • Obtain a flood certification with proof of necessary flood insurance if the home is in a flood zone, with at least the next 12 months' premium paid

Any conditions that aren't met will prevent you from closing on the loan.

The Contents of the Mortgage Insurance Letter

The mortgage commitment letter contains everything you and your seller need to know about the loan. It usually contains the following information:

  • Names of all parties (borrowers and lender)
  • Type of loan (FHA, VA, USDA, conventional, or non-conforming)
  • Loan number
  • Address of the contracted property
  • Agreed upon loan amount
  • Agreed upon term
  • Interest rate (if locked in)
  • Date of lock expiration for interest rate
  • Amount of origination points lender charges
  • Estimated monthly payment, sometimes broken down into principal, interest, taxes, and insurance
  • List of events that could change the approval, such as change in employment, income, or debts

Related: The Different Types of Mortgages - We help you understand your options when shopping for a mortgage.

The Bottom Line

Shopping for a home occurs in several phases. Waiting until you have a pre-approval from a lender takes the stress out of the situation. Knowing what you can afford helps you stay targeted in your search for a home. Once you find a home, you must act fast, though. Sellers usually give you a few weeks to obtain the mortgage commitment letter. Having the pre-approval helps speed up the process. The lender just needs to wait for the appraisal and title to approve you for the loan on the contracted home.

The mortgage commitment letter does not mean you are "clear to close." It may have conditions you must satisfy. It is a step above the pre-approval, though, as it shows the lenders commitment in lending you the funds. Once there are no more conditions, you can close on the loan and take possession of your new home.

Write to Kim P at feedback@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.

Read Next:


Mortgage

How to Save for a House

How to Save for a House

Saving for a house down payment takes patience and discipline. Read on for smart tips on how to save enough money to buy a house and some mistakes to skip.

About CreditDonkey
CreditDonkey is a mortgage comparison website. We publish data-driven analysis to help you save money & make savvy decisions.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

†Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which CreditDonkey receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CreditDonkey does not include all companies or all offers that may be available in the marketplace.

*See the card issuer's online application for details about terms and conditions. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However, all information is presented without warranty. When you click on the "Apply Now" button you can review the terms and conditions on the card issuer's website.

CreditDonkey does not know your individual circumstances and provides information for general educational purposes only. CreditDonkey is not a substitute for, and should not be used as, professional legal, credit or financial advice. You should consult your own professional advisors for such advice.

About Us | Reviews | Deals | Tips | Privacy | Do Not Sell My Info | Terms | Contact Us
(888) 483-4925 | 680 East Colorado Blvd, 2nd Floor | Pasadena, CA 91101
© 2024 CreditDonkey Inc. All Rights Reserved.