Here is What to Do If the Mortgage Falls Through on Closing Day

After going through the long, arduous process of finalizing a property sale, negotiating a deal, and preparing the paperwork, having the mortgage fall through on the closing day. If you don’t want to miss out on the perfect client, read till the end to find out how you should handle an unsuccessful mortgage on the closing day.

Also, if you are having trouble finding the perfect mortgage for your dream property, head over to Mortgage Maestro. Their custom mortgage solutions, competitive rates, and the consistent assistance of industry experts have made taking out mortgages easier than ever before.

Understanding the Difference Between Preapproved and Approved Mortgage

The approval window of your mortgage also plays a role in the chances of the loan falling through on the closing day. So before we move ahead to the potential causes of mortgage failure, let’s check out the two types of mortgage.

1. Pre-approved Mortgage

In this type of mortgage system, the buyer usually gets the loan amount approved even before going out on a property hunt. The credit score, loan terms, and loan amount are all decided right initially. This also helps buyers know the exact budget they can afford to spend on a new property.

The benefit of pre-approved mortgages is that fewer chances of these loans falling through. The budget is pre-decided, and the loan is already approved. All that the buyer has to do is finalize the property and request the loan.

2. Approved Mortgage

Approved mortgages are applied for after the property is finalized. This means all the credit score evaluation, mortgage interests, terms, and limits are all discussed after you decide upon a property.

The risk of the deal falling through in this case is much higher. Since the buyers aren’t even aware of their budget and the time of property browsing, they might proceed with the ones they cannot afford.

What Can Jeopardise A Mortgage

Finding the perfect mortgage for a big purchase takes a lot of effort, and one small mistake can ruin it all. Here are a few reasons that can affect the mortgage status overnight.

1. Change in Employment

Many mortgage plans that rely on the employment status and annual salary will fall through overnight if there is a specific change in the buyer’s job.

For example, if a high-flying lawyer suddenly quits his job, the lenders might see it as a potential risk. The same goes for professionals who are fired from their position.

Since the lenders rely on the financial status to assess the borrower’s probability of paying back, a sudden change in your professional life that can threaten your financial stability will be a deal-breaker for them,

2. Dip in Credit Score

The credit score indeed has a significant impact on the interest rate of your mortgage loan. However, many lenders also have a minimum credit score limit that each buyer needs to meet.

So let’s assume that the customer got their loan approved, but after that, they miss a payment that drops their credit score below the limit. In this case, even if the loan was previously approved, the lender might put it on hold.

3. Expensive Purchases

If you have already planned to invest in a property, it’s best to avoid any huge expenses until you’ve made the first deposit on your property. Expensive purchases that can add to your credit card bills will be considered a huge risk element and might force your lender to negate the loan.

4. Issues Revealed During Home Inspection

When the buyer finally conducts a thorough home inspection, the process will highlight even the tiniest of the problems with the property.

Here are two problems that can arise in this situation:

• The buyer doesn’t agree to pay for the repair, and the deal falls through
• The buyer agrees to pay for the repair, but it increases their mortgage amount, and the loan request gets rejected.

In both these cases, the deal will fall through.

5. Appraisal-related Issues

The lenders will also check the appraisal report of the property before sanctioning the loan amount. If the house’s real value is less than the requested loan amount, they might put the mortgage on hold. The only solution here is to reduce your asking price or find a different buyer.

What Should You Do if the Mortgage Falls Through on the Closing Day

No seller appreciates a last-minute mortgage negation can land them in a fix. While you certainly cannot control your buyer’s financing arrangement, you can minimize the hassle on your part using these simple tips.

1. Ask for Pre-approved Loans

Although pre-approved mortgages do not guarantee 100% success of the deal, it minimizes the chances of last-minute mortgage issues. Also, a pre-approved mortgage will show which buyer is serious about the property and who is casually browsing through properties.

2. Select a Cash Buyer

If you have already proceeded with a buyer who left you in a last-minute fix owing to mortgage issues, you can opt for a cash buyer. Since cash buyers do not require any additional funding, you won’t have to worry about loan rejection.

3. Help Your Customers Through the Process

If your customer is tackling the whole process without a financial advisor, you might want to help them out, especially if you are fixated upon selling the house to them. You can guide them to a reliable lender like Mortgage Maestro or give them extra time to develop a new offer.

And even if they might not take your advice, make sure they know the consequences of making an expensive purchase right before applying for a loan.

Final Thoughts

A property sale is an exhausting process, and no seller wants to reach its end only to see the deal fall through and get back to square one. That’s why you need to be very cautious about the buyer you are proceeding with right from the first stage.

Since the mortgage business comes with no guarantee of approval, it’s always best to have a cash buyer as a backup option in case the deal with your original buyer falls through.