Pre-Approval Letters & Written Statements

What Are They Really Worth?

Put it this way: the picture of toilet paper should give you a hint.

First, some background.

In Minnesota, the first things that typically lead off any offer to purchase residential real estate are the Buyer's earnest money check, and a pre-approval letter from a lender (unless the Buyer is paying cash).

The standard pre-approval letter recites that the lender has initially screened the Buyer's finances and credit scores, and, based on that quick review, says that the Buyer can afford the home.

In practice, a pre-approval letter almost always means . . . nothing.

Most lenders will issue them in less than 10 minutes on the phone with a prospective borrower, after collecting the most basic information.

Meanwhile, their express language explicitly states that nothing in the pre-approval letter obligates the lender issuing it to actually fund the loan.

The Written Statement

Which is where the Written Statement supposedly comes in (think of it as "the Final Approval" Letter).

Once the Buyer and Seller reach agreement on terms, the Purchase Agreement typically includes a Financing Addendum that calls for the Buyer to deliver a Written Statement within 2-3 weeks.

The standard Written Statement recites that an appraisal satisfactory to the lender has been completed; presumes that the lender has finished vetting the Buyer's W-2's, recent tax returns, and any other Buyer financial "bona fides"; and lists any outstanding conditions remaining -- usually pro forma ones, like the Buyer not blowing up their credit or losing their job.

Once the Buyer delivers the Written Statement to the Seller, the Buyer's loan is supposed to be finally underwritten -- and the Buyer's earnest money becomes non-refundable.

O-for-2

Except that in practice, that's not how it works today.

Now, skittish lenders can and do reserve the right to revisit the loan at any time up until closing.

They may request additional Comp's to substantiate the value of the collateral (the home being purchased); ask the Buyer for (still) more financial documentation; or tweak (tighten) their underwriting standards.

Or all of the above.

The result?

What was supposed to be a finally underwritten loan suddenly . . . isn't.

All of the foregoing means two things:

One. Buyers and Sellers today, especially when upper bracket properties are involved, should consider drafting custom language to address the Buyer's financial qualifications, and defining when their earnest money becomes non-refundable; and

Two. Sellers shouldn't load up the moving van until they know, for sure, that the Buyer's financing is good.