How does the mortgage process work

Didier Malagies • April 3, 2023

Pre-approval: Before you start looking for a home, you may want to get pre-approved for a mortgage. This involves submitting an application to a lender and providing information about your income, assets, and debts. The lender will then review your application and credit history to determine how much you can borrow and at what interest rate.


Home search: Once you have a pre-approval, you can start looking for homes within your budget. You may work with a real estate agent to find properties that meet your needs.


Purchase offer: When you find a home you want to buy, you will make an offer to the seller. Your offer will include the purchase price, any contingencies (such as a home inspection or financing), and the proposed closing date.


Mortgage application: If your offer is accepted, you will need to submit a formal mortgage application to the lender. This will involve providing additional documentation, such as bank statements, pay stubs, and tax returns.


Home appraisal: The lender will typically require an appraisal to confirm the value of the property. This will involve an inspection by a licensed appraiser who will assess the condition of the home and compare it to recent sales of similar properties in the area.


Underwriting: Once the appraisal is complete and your application is submitted, the lender will review your application and supporting documentation to determine whether you qualify for the loan. This process is called underwriting.


Closing: If you are approved for the mortgage, you will need to attend a closing meeting. At the closing, you will sign all the necessary paperwork and pay any closing costs, which may include fees for the appraisal, title search, and attorney fees. Once the closing is complete, you will officially become the owner of the home and the mortgage payments will begin.

tune in and learn more at https://www.ddamortgage.com/blog

Didier Malagies nmls#212566

DDA Mortgage nmls#324329

#mortgage

#loanprocess


Ask a Mortgage Question

Use the form below and we will give your our expert answers!

203H Ask A Question


Start Your Loan with DDA today
Your local Mortgage Broker

Mortgage Broker Largo
See our Reviews


Looking for more details? Listen to our extended podcast! 

Check out our other helpful videos to learn more about credit and residential mortgages.

By Didier Malagies September 24, 2025
Speed & Efficiency AI Underwriting: Processes applications in seconds to minutes. 1.Can instantly pull data from multiple sources (credit reports, bank statements, income verification, property valuations, etc.). Ideal for high-volume, standardized cases. Human Underwriter: Takes hours to days, depending on complexity. Manually reviews documents, contacts third parties, and applies professional judgment. Slower, especially for complex or edge cases. 2. Data Handling AI: Uses algorithms and machine learning to analyze massive datasets. Can detect patterns humans might miss (e.g., spending behavior, alternative data like utility payments, even digital footprints in some markets). Human: Relies on traditional documentation (pay stubs, tax returns, appraisals). Limited by human bandwidth—can’t process as much raw data at once. 3. Consistency & Bias AI: Decisions are consistent with its rules and training data. However, if the data it’s trained on is biased, the system can replicate or even amplify those biases. Human: Brings subjective judgment. Can weigh special circumstances that don’t fit a neat rule. Risk of inconsistency—two underwriters might interpret the same file differently. May have unconscious bias, but also flexibility to override rigid criteria. 4. Risk Assessment AI: Excels at quantifiable risks (credit scores, loan-to-value ratios, historical claim data). Weak at unstructured or nuanced factors (e.g., a borrower with an unusual income stream, or a claim with unclear circumstances). Human: Strong at contextual judgment—understanding unique borrower situations, exceptions, or “gray areas.” Can pick up on red flags that an algorithm might miss (e.g., forged documents, conflicting information). 5. Regulation & Accountability AI: Regulators are still catching up. Requires transparency in decision-making (explainable AI). Hard to appeal an AI decision if it can’t explain its reasoning clearly. Human: Provides a clear chain of accountability—borrower can request explanations or escalate. Easier for compliance teams to audit decision-making. 6. Cost & Scalability AI: Scales cheaply—one system can process thousands of applications simultaneously. Lower ongoing labor costs once implemented. Human: Labor-intensive, costs grow with volume. Better suited for complex, high-value, or unusual cases rather than mass processing. ✅ Bottom line: AI underwriting is best for speed, scale, and straightforward cases. Human underwriters are best for nuanced judgment, exceptions, and handling edge cases. Most modern institutions use a hybrid model: AI handles the bulk of simple files, while humans step in for complex or flagged cases. tune in and learn https://www.ddamortgage.com/blog didier malagies nmls#212566 dda mortgage nmls#324329
By Didier Malagies September 17, 2025
A new survey from Clever Real Estate shows that 61% of baby boomer homeowners say they “never” plan to sell their homes, a jump of 7 percentage points from 2024. The main reason? More than half want to age in place. That’s a big shift. Baby boomers now make up the largest share of U.S. homeowners, and if more than 6 in 10 say they’ll “never” sell, that has ripple effects: Inventory squeeze : With fewer boomers putting homes on the market, younger buyers have less supply to choose from, which can keep prices elevated. Aging in place trend : The desire to stay put often means investing in accessibility upgrades—things like stair lifts, walk-in showers, and smart home tech for safety. Generational divide : Millennials and Gen Z face higher borrowing costs and limited starter-home availability, while boomers are holding onto larger family homes longer. Long-term planning : Some experts note that many of these homes will eventually transfer through inheritance rather than sales, changing how housing stock re-enters the market. Didier Malagies nmls212566 DDA Mortgage nmls324329
By Didier Malagies September 10, 2025
Excited to share a major update that will make the homebuying process more secure and less stressful. President Donald Trump recently signed the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act of 2025 into law. This bill is a significant victory for the real estate industry, as it directly addresses the problem of unwanted calls, texts, and emails that often flood clients upon mortgage application. What's Changing? For years, many borrowers have experienced a barrage of unsolicited contact from different lenders immediately after their mortgage application. This happens because of "trigger leads"—a process where credit reporting agencies sell information to other companies once a credit inquiry is made. Effective March 5, 2026, this new law will put a stop to this practice. It will severely limit who can receive client contact information, ensuring client privacy is protected. A credit reporting agency will only be able to share trigger lead information with a third party if: • Clients explicitly consent to the solicitations. • The third party has an existing business relationship. This change means a more efficient, respectful, and responsible homebuying journey. We are committed to a seamless process and will keep you informed of any further developments as the effective date approaches. In the meantime, you can use the information below to inform clients how to proactively protect themselves from unwanted solicitations.  Opting Out: • OptOutPrescreen.com: You can opt out of trigger leads through the official opt-out service, OptOutPrescreen.com. • Do Not Call Registry: You can also register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry to reduce unsolicited calls. • DMA.choice.org: For mail solicitations, you can register with DMA.choice.org to reduce promotional mail. tune in and learn https://www.ddamortgage.com/blog didier malagies nmls#212566 dda mortgage nmls#324329
Show More