The Tim Lewis Communities Home Buying Experience
We strive to make your home-buying process an enjoyable experience. It may feel as if there are a lot of hoops to jump through when buying a new home. Our goal is to always stay in communication with you each step of the way and help you through the process. When you finance your home with Tim Lewis Communities you benefit from our combined decades of experience.
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Get Pre-Qualified
The selected lender will take the time to understand your unique needs and match you with the loan program that works best for you. Like us they are committed to providing you a home buying experience that exceeds your expectations and helps you purchase the home of your dreams.
To expedite the process it’s best to submit your basic financial information via email. Upon review of your financial information they will provide you with a written pre-approval called a commitment letter. The down payment and interest rate will be subject to the terms of the commitment letter. A commitment letter is a commitment on the part of the lender to loan you a certain amount of money based on the lender’s requirements and the property being purchased. It’s a powerful tool and you can shop with confidence knowing how much you qualify for.
Once you submit your completed application your lender will contact you within 72 hours to answer any questions you may have. When you are ready the lender will take your complete financial information and proceed with your loan application.
Below are two of our trusted financial partners:
Pre-Approval Letter
A preapproval letter tells you that the mortgage company you’ve selected will lend you a certain amount of money to buy a home. By getting pre-approved before your home is built you will have a good idea of what you can add to your home without straining your budget.
Loan Application
Prior to applying for a loan you will need to determine the amount of down payment you will be making towards your new home. During the application process your mortgage representative will ask for information about your income assets and liabilities. Once this information has been collected your mortgage representative will recommend a loan program that best fits your financial needs.
Credit Report
Every loan application requires a credit report from a company that maintains records on your past credit history and how much you currently owe. The credit report details your payment history including late or missed payments; credit limits; monthly payments; and current balances. Your mortgage lender will disclose this information to you. If there are errors in the report you have the right to dispute or explain any items with the company that supplies the information.
Verification
The mortgage company verifies the information (i.e. income assets and liabilities) disclosed on your initial loan application is correct.
Property Appraisal
Once your Tim Lewis Communities home is near completion your mortgage company will order a property appraisal to determine that the value of the home you are purchasing matches or exceeds your loan amount.
Underwriting
Mortgage companies use four factors to determine whether or not to provide a mortgage loan: income assets credit record and property value. An underwriter will review the information on your loan application your credit record and other information collected on your behalf.
Interest Rate
You have the opportunity to establish an interest rate guarantee or “lock” any time up to ten days before your closing. Keep in mind that interest rates may change somewhat each day. Only you can make the decision when and if you want to lock the interest rate on your loan.
Closing
As your home nears completion Tim Lewis Communities will coordinate a firm closing date and time with you. You will also be contacted by your sales agent to come in and sign the final addendum to your sales contract. The final addendum shows the original purchase price any structural electrical and design center options you have selected along with all of your deposits. Review this document carefully because your loan documents will be drawn from the final addendum.
In the pre-closing orientation, you will go through your home with your warranty representative documenting final touch ups to be done before move in. At this point your title company will set up an appointment for you to come in and sign your documents; this is usually the same day as your first walk. The title company will then send the loan package back to the lender to fund the loan.
There are a few things you’ll need to do before you close on your new home. First, you’ll need to obtain homeowner’s insurance with a carrier of your choice. This information must be provided within 72 hours of closing. Second, a mortgage representative will provide you with the amount you need to bring to your closing appointment. Funds needed for closing must be in the form of a certified or cashier’s check.
During your closing appointment, a title officer will go over the settlement charges with you and have you and anyone else who will appear on the home’s title sign the mortgage note and other applicable closing documents.
Your home is ready for move in! It is your responsibility to sign all loan documents at your title company on or before your pre-closing orientation. Once we receive notification that your loan has funded and recorded at the county recorder's office you will be notified by your community sales manager and will receive the keys to your new home.
Home Ownership
Congratulations! You are now a member of the Tim Lewis Communities family of homeowners!