A Simpler Way to Navigate Home Financing

Buying or refinancing a home can feel overwhelming — especially if you’re not sure where to start. Most people don’t have everything perfectly lined up at the beginning, and that’s completely normal.

We make it simple: clear answers, practical guidance, and a plan that actually works for your situation. You’ll always know what’s happening, what comes next, and what your options are. No perfect credit required. No need to have it all figured out today. Just a starting point and someone in your corner.

Here’s a quick look at the steps that make it happen:

Application & Credit Review

Start with a simple application so we can review your credit, income, and overall financial picture.

Plan & Strategize

We go over your goals, budget, and loan options to create a clear plan moving forward.

Confident Pre-Approval

Your information is verified and a pre-approval is issued so you can shop for a home with confidence.

Contract to Closing

Once you're under contract, the loan moves through processing, underwriting, and final approval leading up to closing.

Step 1

The Application & Credit Review

This is the step that really sets everything in motion and is where you get the most value.

Filling out a mortgage application isn’t a commitment to a loan. It’s just how we gather the information we need to give you a clear, realistic plan. By the end of this step, you’ll have a clear understanding of what you qualify for and a solid plan for moving forward — whether that’s buying now or preparing for later.

What we’ll review

Your income, credit, assets and existing debts
Desired monthly payment and price range
Loan types that fit your situation and eligibility
Target closing timeline and any contingencies
Any potential hurdles we need to tackle now so they don't turn into problems later on

Your action items

Estimate your current monthly budget and comfort zone.
List out debts (student loans, auto, credit cards).
Gather rough numbers for income (salary, bonuses, side income).
Think about how long you plan to stay in this home.
Complete the application with this information
Order your full credit report

Order & Review Your Credit Report

Before any lender pulls your credit, it’s smartest to pull it yourself. This gives you visibility, avoids surprise issues, lets you correct errors without multiple hard inquiries and gives us the basis for your plan!

Important: When you order your own credit reports, it’s treated as a soft inquiry and does not impact your credit score.

Full Credit Report Options:

Visit www.experian.com and order a full credit report.
Visit www.myfico.com and order a full credit report.
Purchase and order your credit report through our credit bureau. The cost is $34 and is the most convenient option.
A credit will also be given upon closing.

Order My Credit Report

Annual Free Credit Report:

Visit the official site www.AnnualCreditReport.com
Request reports from all three bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Download and save PDFs in a secure folder for easy reference and print for your records.
Avoid paying for unnecessary add-ons.

Note: This service site is authorized by federal law and you can only access this service for free once a year.

What to expect when ordering your credit report:

You’ll see a full snapshot of your credit history, including accounts, balances, and payment history
Any recent inquiries or new accounts will be listed, giving you a clear picture of your current credit activity
Potential errors or outdated information may show up — this happens and can often be corrected.
Your credit score will give a general idea of where you stand, but lenders may look at slightly different versions
Mortgage lenders use Experian FICO 2, TransUnion FICO 4, and Equifax FICO 5 scores. These are commonly called your mortgage scores and they will use the middle score for lending decisions.

If you spot issues, you can dispute them directly with the credit bureaus. When you bring your reports to us and we’ll help you prioritize what matters most for your approval.

Step 2

Planning and Strategy

Now that we’ve reviewed your application and credit, we’ll set up a one-on-one conversation to map out a plan that fits your goals. This is where things start to come into focus.

What We'll Cover

Your estimated budget and comfortable price range
Monthly payment options based on different scenarios
How the home buying process works from start to finish

What You'll Get

A clear, organized breakdown of your options and numbers
Confidence in what you can afford and how to move forward
A go-to resource you can rely on throughout the process

What Comes Next

Start looking at homes that fit your budget and goals
Work with your agent to identify the right properties
Prepare to make strong, informed offers when the right home comes along

Step 3

Pre-Approval & Home Shopping

Once your plan is set, we move into pre-approval — a strong, reliable letter that clearly shows where you stand. This gives you the confidence to shop for homes without guesswork and lets sellers and your agent take your offers seriously.

Shop with confidence, knowing exactly what you can afford
Tour homes that match your goals and timeline
Make strong, informed offers when you find the right property

Timeline Checkpoint

This is the stage where your search is active and offers are being prepared. After submitting an offer, you can typically expect a response from the seller within 24–72 hours. Responses may include acceptance, counteroffers, or declines and your agent will guide you through each step.

Pre-approval issued and shared with your agent
Homes are toured and evaluated
Offers submitted and negotiations handled with guidance

We’ll keep you and your agent updated at every milestone so there are no surprises.

Step 4

Loan Processing and Approval

Once you’re under contract, this is where your loan moves through it's critical steps. We guide you every step of the way, keeping communication clear so you always know what’s happening.

What We Handle

Coordinate the appraisal and ensure it meets lender requirements
Submit your loan for underwriting and review conditions
Track milestone updates and keep the process moving toward closing
Work with all parties to secure final loan approval

Your Role During Underwriting

Provide requested documents quickly and accurately
Respond to questions from your loan officer or underwriter
Review updates and stay informed on timelines
Stay in touch with your agent as inspections, appraisals, and contingencies are completed

Step 5

Clear to Close, Signing & Move-In

Once your loan is “Clear to Close,” you’re officially ready to finalize everything and get the keys to your new home. This is the final step where all the paperwork is complete, and you move from planning to living in your home.

Sign your final loan documents and complete the closing process
Confirm funds and final details with the title company
Celebrate moving in and enjoying your new home

What is a Pre-Approval?

A pre-approval is a full check of your income, credit, and finances. It tells you how much home you can afford, what your monthly payments might look like, and which loan options make the most sense for you.

The best part? Clarity. You’ll know your real numbers before you start house hunting, so you’re not guessing or falling in love with homes outside your budget. It makes your offers stronger and shows sellers you mean business.

Why do you require documents?

The documents you provide, like pay stubs, bank statements, and proof of assets, are crucial because they verify the information on your application and make your pre-approval accurate and reliable. Even if some lenders don’t ask for them upfront, you’ll always need them when buying a home, so handling them early ensures your pre-approval is strong and built to hold up through closing, helping prevent surprises, delays, or setbacks later.

Why do I have to pay for my credit report?

Your credit profile is a key factor in determining how much you qualify for and which loan options are available. Accessing your credit report is an essential step in the home-buying process and remember, you’re entitled to one free full credit report once a year from www.annualcreditreport.com. When you purchase a report for pre-approval, it lets you review your credit for accuracy and securely submit it to our team. This ensures your pre-approval is accurate and reliable, helping prevent surprises later. The credit report fee goes directly to the credit bureaus, not to our office, and you should see exactly what we see.

How long does the application and review take?

The initial application and review usually only take a few days, depending on how quickly you can provide documents and information. Once we have everything, we review it thoroughly to make sure your pre-approval is accurate and reliable, giving you a clear picture of what you can afford before we create a personalized plan and you start house hunting.

Figure: 7 TAC §56.200(c) TEXAS RESIDENTS: CONSUMERS WISHING TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST A MORTGAGE COMPANY OR RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATOR LICENSED IN TEXAS SHOULD SEND A COMPLETED COMPLAINT FORM TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SAVINGS AND MORTGAGE LENDING (SML): 2601 N. LAMAR BLVD., SUITE 201, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78705; TEL: 1-877-276-5550. INFORMATION AND FORMS ARE AVAILABLE ON SML'S WEBSITE: SML.TEXAS.GOV. THE DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS A RECOVERY FUND TO MAKE PAYMENTS OF CERTAIN ACTUAL OUT OF POCKET DAMAGES SUSTAINED BY BORROWERS CAUSED BY ACTS OF LICENSED MORTGAGE BANKER RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATORS. A WRITTEN APPLICATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE RECOVERY FUND MUST BE FILED WITH AND INVESTIGATED BY THE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO THE PAYMENT OF A CLAIM. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECOVERY FUND, PLEASE CONSULT THE DEPARTMENT’S WEBSITE AT WWW.SML.TEXAS.GOV.