• Case Scenario Prior To Issuing Pre-Approval

    Posted by Gustan Cho on May 20, 2026 at 12:33 am

    Every mortgage loan application can be different. There are so many case scenarios depending on the borrower. No two mortgage loan applicants are the same. There are countless types of case scenarios where some falls in a gray area. Depending on the type of mortgage lender you work for, a particular borrower may fall within agency guidelines of HUD, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac but may not qualify with a particular mortgage lender due to lender overlays. If you are an MLO for a mortgage broker, you have the wholesale lenders the mortgage broker has wholesale lending agreements with. There are many reputable wholesale lenders with no lender overlays, as well as alternative and non-QM wholesale lenders who can make exceptions on a case by case scenario. If there are cases of a unique situation and is a manual underwriting file, the MLO can turn the file as a TBD underwriting pre-approval file. What this means is the mortgage loan originator does not issue a pre-approval letter until the file is underwritten by a mortgage underwriter with a TBD property. Once the mortgage underwriter qualifies it and pre-approves the file, the pre-approval letter is issued by the mortgage underwriter and not the MLO. With other tough one off cases, the MLO can go over the case scenario with the wholesale mortgage lender’s account executive and if needed, get a second opinion involved with the underwriting desk and/or the underwriting manager.

    https://gustancho.com/fully-underwritten-tbd-mortgage-approval/

    Bailey replied 4 days, 19 hours ago 2 Members · 1 Reply
  • 1 Reply
  • Bailey

    Member
    October 27, 2026 at 11:24 pm

    Every Mortgage Loan Application Is Different: Understanding Lender Overlays, Manual Underwriting, and TBD Pre-Approvals

    Every mortgage applicant has a unique financial situation. Applications can differ a lot when it comes to credit history, income, employment, debt ratios, assets, and the specific financial challenges involved. Some applications are simple, while others need closer review because they don’t fit the usual profile.

    Many people believe that if one lender denies you, all other lenders will too, but that’s not true. Even if you meet all the requirements for FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac, a lender might still deny your application because of their own extra rules, called overlays.

    Understanding Agency Guidelines Versus Lender Overlays

    Agency guidelines provide the basic rules for who can qualify for a mortgage program. Lenders can also add their own extra requirements, known as lender overlays.

    For example, a lender might ask for a minimum credit score of 620 for an FHA loan, even though FHA allows borrowers with a score of 580 or higher to qualify with a 3.5% down payment, or a score of 500-579 with at least 10% down, as long as other requirements are met.

    Manual Underwriting vs Automated Underwriting System Mortgage Loan Approval

    A lender might also decide not to allow manual underwriting for someone in Chapter 13 bankruptcy, even though FHA guidelines would permit a loan if the borrower is in an active repayment plan and meets all other requirements. In these situations, an experienced mortgage broker can really help. This is why mortgage brokers often have more options for tough cases. Mortgage brokers will generally work with a number of wholesale lender.

    Mortgage brokers usually work with several wholesale lenders instead of following just one lender’s rules for certain of their programmes, others are very much in the manual underwriting business to help borrowers with poor credit, recent financial hardship or non-standard income.

    Mortgage brokers can also connect you with non-QM wholesale lenders who offer bank statement loans, DSCR loans, asset depletion programs, and other types of alternative lending. However, non-QM exceptions are not always available. They depend on the investor’s requirements, the documents you can provide, any compensating factors, and the lender’s judgment. Exceptions can’t override any required agency or legal rules.

    TBD Mortgage Pre-Approval

    A TBD (To Be Determined) property underwriting pre-approval can be very helpful for complex loans. The loan originator will review your information and then send all your documents—credit, income, employment, assets, and debt—to a wholesale lender for full underwriting before you choose a property.

    The mortgage underwriter will review your credentials and may give you a conditional credit approval, as long as you meet the lender’s program requirements.

    Once the underwriting review is complete, you can get a pre-approval letter through the lender’s usual process. It may come from the underwriting department, an authorized representative, or your mortgage broker with proper approval. This gives you more confidence before you make an offer. A TBD underwriting approval is not a final loan commitment. The property still needs to meet all eligibility, appraisal, title, insurance, updated financial, and other requirements.

    Working With Wholesale Account Executives and Underwriting Managers

    For more complex cases, an experienced mortgage loan originator should speak with the wholesale lender’s account executive before submitting the application. If there are questions about eligibility, the case might go to the underwriting help desk, a senior underwriter, or an underwriting manager for more review.

    These discussions help clarify the rules, figure out what documents are needed, look at any compensating factors, and find possible exceptions.

    A borrower in Chapter 13 bankruptcy with recent late mortgage payments and a high debt-to-income ratio might need a full manual underwriting review. The underwriter will check if the borrower meets the program’s requirements, not just the credit score. This helps spot potential problems before the borrower gets to the stage of signing a purchase contract.

    Final Thoughts

    Mortgage lending can be complicated. You’ll face situations where the outcome isn’t clear, and it often depends on experience, good documentation, choosing the right lender, and clear communication.

    Don’t get discouraged if one lender says no. Always ask why they said no and whether it’s because of agency rules or the lender’s own policies.

    There are often other options. Sometimes, getting a second opinion from an underwriting manager or a full TBD pre-approval can show you a path you hadn’t thought of before.n from one mortgage lender doesn’t in any way preclude you from getting a mortgage from another.

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