Stronger Together: Agent + Lender
How I Work With Your Lender to Make Buying a Home Smoother
From pre-approval to closing, I work with your lender to keep the process smooth and stress-free.
The Early Steps: From Pre-Approval to Offer
The beginning of your homebuying journey sets the tone for everything that follows. Here’s how I work with your lender in those first steps—and how they connect to what comes later:
Pre-Approval: This defines your budget and strengthens your offer. If you already have a lender you trust, I’ll work with them directly. If not, I can connect you with one of my trusted lenders, who I know will provide excellent service. This step also sets the foundation for underwriting later, since the lender is reviewing your finances up front.
Touring Homes: With pre-approval in place, we focus on homes that fit your goals and financial comfort zone. If a property stretches your budget, I can check with your lender to see if it’s realistic. And I keep in mind that the home will need to appraise at or above the purchase price to satisfy the lender.
Making an Offer: When it’s time to write, I pair your pre-approval letter with the contract. If the seller has financing questions, I coordinate with your lender to keep your offer strong. Once accepted, we move toward appraisal and underwriting—the two big checkpoints that secure final approval.
Under Contract: Loan Status Updates, Appraisal, and Underwriting
Once your offer is accepted, the real teamwork begins. I track inspections, disclosures, and repair negotiations, while your lender manages financing—ordering the appraisal, processing documents, and moving the loan through underwriting.
Loan Status Updates (LSU)
In Arizona, the Loan Status Update (LSU) is an official document required by the Arizona Association of REALTORS®. Your lender completes and signs it, and it must be delivered throughout the transaction. It shows exactly where your loan stands—whether the application is complete, the appraisal is reviewed, underwriting conditions are cleared, and when the loan is “clear to close.”
I make sure LSUs are submitted on time, review them carefully, and explain them in plain language so you always know where things stand.
Appraisal: Confirming Value
The lender orders the appraisal through a third party. The appraiser visits the property, reviews recent comparable sales, and issues a report confirming the home’s market value. My role is to make sure the appraiser has timely access, provide contract details, and share comparable sales when appropriate. If the appraisal comes in low, I help you evaluate options: negotiating with the seller, bridging the difference, or exercising your appraisal contingency.
Underwriting: The Final Review
Underwriting is the lender’s full review of your loan file against program guidelines. They verify your income, assets, employment, credit, the appraisal, title, and insurance. Even though you’re pre-approved, this step ensures everything still checks out—including property-specific details. The underwriter issues conditional approval, clears conditions, and then gives the final “clear to close.” My role is to coordinate quickly if new documents are required and make sure we stay on timeline.
Why Final Approval Is Needed After Pre-Approval
Pre-approval is powerful, but it’s based on preliminary information. Once you’re under contract, the lender must verify the property itself (via appraisal, title, and insurance), refresh your financials, and complete final checks required by law. This is why final underwriting exists—it’s the last safeguard before loan funds are released.
Closing Day
At the finish line, I schedule your final walkthrough to ensure you’re ready for the closing appointment. Your lender ensures the funds are wired on time. Together, we handle the behind-the-scenes details so you can focus on signing the paperwork and getting the keys to your new home.
The Bottom Line
Whether you choose a lender you already know or one I recommend, what matters most is the partnership. When your lender and I work closely together—and keep you informed with official Loan Status Updates, appraisals, and underwriting milestones—you’ll feel supported at every step. That collaboration is what turns a complex process into a smooth, stress-free path to becoming a homeowner.