A last-minute problem with financing can quickly delay a closing on a home sale. Here are two of the most common financing problems that can surface:
- Failure to disclose key financial information. One of the biggest reasons for a financial issue is the failure of the buyer to disclose key financial information, The New York Times reports. Buyers who are not forthright about their financial circumstances can face a delay. Lenders will quickly find borrowers who are behind on child support obligations or real estate taxes, for example.
- Running up credit as a mortgage application is pending. Buyers may go out and purchase new furniture or a car prior to closing on a home, but doing so, could cause them a delay to the closing of their home sale. Lenders will recheck borrowers' credit right before the closing date. If new debt obligations suddenly appear, that can be a red flag to a lender. Prior to making any large purchases prior to closing, borrowers should check with their lender, says Douglas Rotella, an executive vice president and loan originator with HomeBridge Financial Services.
In some metro markets, a delay to securing financing could mean missing out on a home. For example, in hot markets like California's Silicon Valley, sellers may even balk at deals that are contingent on a mortgage approval, says Mia Simon, a real estate professional with Redfin’s Silicon Valley office. Nearly every home is getting multiple offers there so buyers must go beyond pre-approval and receive a loan commitment before they submit an offer, she says. The loan commitment indicates that the borrower's paperwork has passed underwriting and the only thing necessary for final approval is the appraisal and verifying the borrower's employment.
Source: "How Mortgage Problems Unravel Home Deals," The New York Times (Aug. 14, 2015)
