Exact Answer: From 3 days to a few weeks
Underwriting is a critical step in the process of mortgage application and approval. The procedure involves the person applying for the loan handing over important documents that testify to his or her financial solvency.
The loan officer then examines the documents so submitted. The loan application can be closed only after these documents have been thoroughly scrutinized by the officer. The objective of this review process is to interrogate the possible risks associated with the potential burrower of the loaned sum of money. When the documents presented to the loan officer are complete, the possibility of arriving early at the closing event is very much likely.
How Long After Underwriting Approval To Close?
The underwriting process can be a long and tedious one for certain individuals. The loan officer reviews all the documents submitted by the potential borrower to ascertain if he or she is eligible for the loan. The officer can return with one of the 3 possible decisions.
If the loan application and the conjoined documents are approved by the loan officer, then the applicant is allowed to close the deal immediately. This implies that closing will take place within 3 days of the underwriting approval.
However, the loan officer may deny the application filed by the individual. In such cases, the reasons for denial have to be specified for the individual. This helps identify the problem areas that need to be corrected before a new application can be submitted.
Alternatively, the officer can approve the application with certain conditions. In such scenarios, the potential borrower must be able to meet these requirements for the final underwriting approval of the mortgage proposal. This means that the loan will be approved, however, only after certain other financial papers are provided to the loan officer. The pending status of the underwriting process will only change once these criteria are met. This can take up to a few weeks.
Similarly, the underwriting process can extend up to a couple of weeks itself because the loan officers scrutinize the paperwork provided thoroughly. This is a time-consuming process. If the documents submitted are all in order and up-to-date, then the closing can be expected very soon after the final underwriting approval is secured.
In Summary:
| Decision Status | Time Before Closing |
| Complete Underwriting Approval | 3 days |
| Pending Decision | A few weeks |
| Suspension | A few weeks to months |
Why Does It Take This Long to Close After Underwriting Approval?
The process of securing a mortgage loan successfully can be quite daunting for a novice applicant. It is important to familiarize oneself with the rules, protocols, and time frames of the various steps in the process.
When an underwriting approval is secured without any conditions, it means that the individual can enter into closing the deal with the loaning party. The three days in between the two events are essential for the loaning party to prepare the loan contracts, iron out the details, and double-check all the included clauses. Within 3 days the contract is then mailed to the borrower.
However, if the officer in charge of underwriting your proposal feels that there are documents missing from your application that would help establish your financial credibility, then he or she may ask you to refile the proposal or else fill in the missing gaps as soon as possible. Rectifying misinformation and filing the missing papers can take a few days. The loan officer will then need to assess these new additions thoroughly. So that too will take time. Getting final approval from the underwriting officer will thus, take weeks. After this, however, the closing can be made quickly.
Moreover, the faster you can iron out the details with the loaning party- which may be a bank or a financial agency- the faster you can close after the underwriting process is completed. Remember, streamlining the entire process is possible if you are diligent about the submission of your documents and information on time.
Conclusion
The process of acquiring a mortgage is an arduous and complicated one. Navigating through the maze of the loan market demands patience and astute diligence. The only way to fast-track loan approvals is to ensure that all your documents and information are up-to-date during the very first attempt.
Generally, securing unconditional underwriting approval is difficult. But once secured, it takes about 3 days to complete the closing. Alternatively, if the loan officer classes your application as pending or suspended then the entire process will take longer, thereby delaying the final closing. Moreover, if you are granted conditional closing approval, then the time frame for closing the deal will depend on your ability to swiftly provide the missing documents.