Ask the Mortgage Underwriting Help Desk

Can Gustan Cho Associates help me qualify and get approved for an FHA loan with a 530-credit score? We have the 10% down payment.

Are there doctor mortgage loans 9ffered by banks, mortgage brokers, or mortgage bankers? I remember many years back fidth-third bank offered doctor home loans for MDs, DDS, DVM, DOs, DC. Thank you in advance.

Hello,

I’m looking to get pre‑approved for an FHA loan, possibly an FHA 203(k), for a manufactured home.

My credit score is around 530. My income is $75,000 a year (W‑2).

The property is a 2000 double‑wide on its own land in New Bern, NC. It’s early stages of foreclosure and needs some repairs.

The estimated purchase price is $30,000.

I would like to get pre‑approved and find out what documents you need from me to begin the process.

Thank you.

Can I Qualify for an FHA Loan with Just Paycheck Stubs and No Income Tax Returns?

Do you know anyone who lends to properties in a land trust?

A great blast from the blast

Midnight Oil. Beds are burning 🔥 😤 😒

https://youtu.be/ejorQVy3m8E?si=4vjely_3TLfOA_96

I was referred by my brother-in-law, Julio Munoz, and his partner, Dimitri Slovek, about getting a home loan. My brothers and I are contractors and have worked together for many years. My wife and I are first-time homebuyers looking to purchase a single-family home in Illinois. Our combined annual income is approximately $135,000. Our credit scores are currently around 540, but we have stable employment, consistent income, and are prepared to move forward with an FHA loan. We are looking for a lender experienced with lower-credit borrowers and manual underwriting, if needed. We are serious buyers and would like to obtain a pre-approval as soon as possible. We are available to provide all required documentation immediately.

New Mortgage Programs for Homebuyers and Investors

gustancho.com

New Mortgage Programs For Homebuyers And Investors

Gustan Cho Associates has launched new mortgage programs include no-doc loans, DSCR, VA RENOVATION, AND FIX AND FLIP LOANS

I just read a post from FaceBook Internal Group and someone posted the text below. There are mortgage broker companies that claim loan officers will make 275 basis points and the company just charges a per file fee. C2C charges a 25 bps off the 275 and another 30 bps for a total of 55 bps so the loan officer nets 220 bps up to $2 million. Companies like Barrett Financial, C2 Financial Group, Loan Factory all compensate the loan officer the full amount of 275 bps and charge a per file fee. I wanted to know if these companies they charge a per file fee are playing games where they are making a hidden compensation on the back end where they get a silent kick back from the wholesale lender. Please read the post below:

Just played a fun little game with a recruit from Loan Factory. Guess we could call the game, “The $595 Flat Fee is BullSh!t Game.” I had heard about companies putting in BP’s into the rate sheet before sharing what an LO thinks is a truly raw rate sheet, that isnt really raw.

We put in the same exact scenario 800 Fico, 750K Price at 75% LTV, Purchase, SFR, impounds included, owner occupied. I used Rate Checker at zero comp and he used zero for his. My cost at Pennymac, which was a place we both had in common. on the rate we selected may have been 6.375% or 6.5%, our rebate was 1.810. His was 1.016 Was a difference of $5715 so add the $595 flat fee and we are $6310 better.

I kind of already sold him on building a downline, but that just kind of pissed him off about his own company. Happy hunting!

Mortgage Qualification Question: Federal Student Loans In Default But Not Reporting On Credit

Good morning,

I have a mortgage qualification question regarding a potential homebuyer who may be looking to purchase a home within the next 12 months.

The borrower currently has good credit, with scores around 720. His credit cards and other accounts are in good standing. However, he has older federal student loans that went into default. These student loans no longer appear on his credit report, but they are still showing in the federal student loan system as being assigned to Debt Management and Collections.

The borrower wants to correct the default status before applying for a mortgage, but he wants to make sure he handles it the right way from both a credit and mortgage underwriting standpoint.

In this type of situation, is it usually better for the borrower to resolve the default through student loan consolidation, rehabilitation, or another available option?

One of his biggest concerns is what happens after the default is resolved. Would the loans simply come back as active federal student loans with little or no negative credit impact, or could the process cause older derogatory history to reappear on the credit report and create a new mortgage approval issue?

From a lending standpoint, what would be the best way to approach this before applying for a mortgage? Also, how long should the borrower wait after the default is resolved before starting the mortgage application process?

I would appreciate any guidance from mortgage professionals, underwriters, or anyone who has handled a similar situation.

Thank you,
Cameron Alan Pearlman, Jr.

Never used a contract mortgage processor and I normally process my own loans or my LOA will assist. Can ypu please advise me on how contract mortgage processors work? I know you pay the contract preocessing company on a case by case basis once the loan closes. How much do contract processors charge per file? I am also considering hiring an inhouse mortgage processor and comparing what type of processor is better for my small mom and pop mortgage broker. What is the going rate on a full time mortgage processor? Can I hire a contract processor where the contract processor works with the mortgage processing company and myself, an independent mortgage broker at the same time? I would be hiring the contract mortgage processor for my files and pay her a base plus commission and the contract processor will also work for her contract processing company in dependent and separate from me. Thank you in advance.

I had a lease on an office building for three years and gave landlord notice that I was not renewing my lease. What happens if office building landlord does not return security deposit return from office building in Oakbrook Terrace Illinois

As a mom and pop mortgage broker owner with a small operation of three licensed loan officers, one full-time processor, and one full-time loan officer assistant and licensed in three states, the cost of a tri-merger credit report is becoming more and more unaffordable. I remember when a tri-merger credit report from Credit-PLUS cost $28.00 and a soft pull from one credit bureau cost $2.00. I have not been doing a lot of production but am starting to. Let me get this straight. A tri-merger hard pull costs $127.00 dollars per borrower? How about if you add a co-borrower or co-borrowers? What if you have one main borrower and two non-occupant co-borrowers? Would that cost $127.00 times three people so $381.00? How much are soft pulls? I heard many companies are sending out payment links for the mortgage applicants to pull their own hard pull tri-merger credit report where the borrower pays and get a copy of the tri-merger credit report and the loan officer gets sent a copy of the tri-merger credit report. By having the borrower pay the tri-merger credit report, the borrower does not get charged credit report fees at closing, correct? Normally, if the loan officer pulls credit and the mortgage broker company pays for it, does the lender charge a premium for credit reporting fees or the $381.00 just gets charged? How would you present to the borrower on directing them to go to the payment link and pay for the tri-merger credit report? Thank you in advance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lJGBit9D44

If I were to surrender my mortgage brokerage and put it in hibernation and do a lateral transfer to a national mortgage brokerage company that is licensed in most of the 50 states, it there a deposit I would have to pay or empty credit card OR am I going to start off with a large negative balance on my P and L due to licensing transferring for my licensed loan officers, and myself. How about my hourly and salaried employee? Let’s take a hypothetical case scenario where I start with a national mortgage brokerage company ABC Mortgage Broker. I am on a P and L. Things go by smoothly where we are lucky to not run in the red and are able to pay our bills. What happens if all of a sudden a lot of loan fall through and we are having a slow month and are running short to make good on all of our bills. I will assume the basics such as electricity and other utilities will get paid or I can use my business credit card but how about the big ticket expenses like payroll for salaried and hourly employees. Will the parent company, ABC Mortgage Broker suspend payroll or will they need to wait until my P and L goes in the positive. The employees I am talking about are two mortgage processors and three loan officer assistants and are paid hourly and salary via W2. Their paychecks are issued on the first and fifteenth of the month with taxes being taken out. I know the mortgage industry has been rough the past two years and many mom and pop mortgage broker owners are struggling with not meeting expenses with incoming revenues. I am in Lake County, Illinois and I know both the Federal and State Department of Labor have strict laws, rules, and guidelines concerning making timely payroll payments. Can anyone advise? Thank you in adviance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyrG4jolIjk

Have a case scenario for a client of a loan officer. Borrower inherited a $3 million dollar home in Fort Lauderdale. Waterfront property. The land is worth $2 million. Free and clear. Wants to borrower $300,000 via private or hard money but does not want to get homeowners insurance because the insurance carrier will want the house fixed before insuring it. Even if the house got destroyed, the lien holder/lender will not get hurt because the land itself is $2 million. The house was built in 1950 and could be a tear down. Advise would be appreciated.

Hello,
I have a question I was hoping you can answer.
If I have a home currently under a natural disaster forbearance that I end with a disaster loan modification will there be a waiting period to qualify for a new mortgage ?
I’m looking to rent this one out and buy a home somewhere else.

Thank you,

I need to buy a house and I got denied with a lender who was extremely incompetent where I got pre-approved and at the last minute I got denied due to my debt to income ratio. I am trying to buy a house for $200,000. My situation is I have full time employment. However, in 2024, I worked 40 hours consistently and made 80,000. However, in 2025, I only made 50,000 because my hours was reduced to a minimum of 32 hours due to going to a certificate training program for work. I am still classified full time since I work between 32 and 36 hours. I will be done with the certified training program in June 2026. I also have two newer vehicles under my name which is 780 per month for mine and 600 per month for my fiancee. This pushes my debt to income ratio to 70% back end with my father included as non-occupant co-signer. What solution do you have on me qualifying and getting approved for an FHA loan? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Is there any way my fiancee can take the hit on the vehicle he is driving and paying for even though it is under my name? He cannot refinance under his name because he went through a divorce and has tons of recent derogatory tradelines.

Can I buy a house with bad credit?

There are many homeowners with historic low rates on their first mortgage. Many have rates in the 2% to 3% range and do not want to refinance at that low rate. What type of second mortgage loans are out there today? Can you please go over traditional second mortgages or HELOCs, and non-QM second mortgages and HELOCs? If you can cover HELOCs for self-employed borrowers using bank statements versus traditional income tax returns or W-2s. I really appreciate any help you can provide.

Hi Everyone.

What are the options when a borrower has no recent rental history? For example, let’s say someone has been living in hotels for the past year, or maybe they were staying with family or friends and didn’t have rent in their name.

If the borrower has decent income, good DTI, and a low credit score around 590, how do you approach this for VA or FHA loans? Especially in cases where manual underwriting might be needed.

Can hotel stays be documented as housing history? And if they were staying with a relative, is a letter from the homeowner or utility bills in the homeowner’s name usually accepted?

Just looking to hear how others are handling these situations. Appreciate any input.

If someone has been on a payment arrangement with the IRS . I know you have to show payment history. Has a history of payments spanning multiple years each month 297.00. In September 2024, payment amount was adjusted, with the new payments set to begin in November. Per letter from IRS. However, the payments didn’t actually start until Feb 2025.

Will he still be required to show three payments of the new amount before proceeding?

Thanks in advance for any insights!

Can anyone tell me more about contract processing? I do not know how contract processing works and want to know how this concept will benefit my home buyer. I have been a real estate agent and managing broker for 25 years and have worked with dozens of loan officers over the years and never hear of such thing. Is it better for real estate agents to refer clients to mortgage brokers without contract processing? Do real estate agents connect with contract mortgage processors? Who pays for contract processing? Are contract mortgage processors competent and experienced? I think processing is the most important step throughout the mortgage process. Thank you in advance.

Time flies, and everyone wants to limit the wasteful. The time they spend going to the wrong source for research on buying a home and getting approved for a mortgage. Over 80% of our clients at Gustan Cho Associates are borrowers who could not qualify at other mortgage companies due to the lender’s overlays or because the lender did not have the best mortgage loan option

Is Home Inspection Recommended?

IS 12 MONTHS CANCELED CHECKS REQUIRED TO QUALIFY FOR A MORTGAGE? Is there a faster way of getting rid of the record of debt settlement on your credit report? Is achieving a 700 PLUS FICO credit score possible one year after a bankruptcy discharge?

Impact Of Credit Card Balance On Credit Scores

Are you in a spot where you have to make some important financial decisions concerning your home? Is it better to do a big remodeling of your home before you put it on the market and increase the asking price or just leave it as is and ask for a lower price?

Should I enter into a monthly payment agreement with a creditor $100 a month on a 8k debt so my DTI stays low?

If I have older outstanding collection accounts and charge-off accounts, should I contact the collection agency in the hope that they did not place a lien on me or I have a judgment? And if I do have a lien, can I ask the collection agency or creditor that the lien has not been renewed?

What is a credit supplement and how does it work? Why do we need a credit supplement?

What are reserves and how does reserves work? When do mortgage lenders ask for reserves?