Loan Declined Before Settlement
Help! My Home Loan Has Fallen Through Before Settlement, What Should I Do?
If your home loan arrangements fall through before you have settled on a property it can be very stressful. Does this mean that you are going to lose the property that you have just bought? Here’s what to do if you find yourself in this situation.
Buying a house can be a long process. But come settlement day, there isn’t often much left to do besides sign the sale contracts and obtain your keys. By settlement, all your ducks should already be in a row. But what happens if your home loan falls through before settlement? Let’s explore some of the reasons why finance falls through and what you can do to avoid the problem. You need to contact property conveyancing Melbourne and get expert advice.
Note the difference between preapproval and approval
When you’re in the process of buying a house, it’s vital to know the difference between getting preapproved for a loan and actually being approved.
A preapproved loan is what you obtain when you have completed a mortgage application with your chosen lender. They will conduct a credit check to ensure that they are satisfied you will be able to financially support a mortgage. After this step, you will know how much you can borrow and start house hunting within your budget.
Aside from knowing your spending limit, this is also an important step to take because buyers may request a preapproval letter from you before proceeding with negotiations. If they aren’t sure you are a serious buyer with the means to buy their house, they may choose not to conduct business with you.
Once you’ve found the home you want to buy and place an offer, you will then apply for your home loan. Having the preapproval does not guarantee you an approved loan – though it does increase your chances of getting one.
Common reasons why home loans fall through before settlement
Home loans can fall through before settlement for many reasons such as:
- Inability to get the proper financing;
- Inspection or appraisal issues; or
- Sale document issues.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these reasons and what you can do to avoid them.
Issues related to getting financing
Financing is one of the most significant factors in getting your final home loan approval.
You used credit to make a big purchase
Between your preapproval and approval, it’s vital to avoid making big purchases on credit. Lenders will often see these acquisitions as a red flag to your spending habits and may decide that you are too much of a risk to borrow such a significant amount. Wait until after your home loan has been approved before spending large sums of money.
You applied for more credit
In between your preapproval and approval, any applications made for more credit will send up a red flag to lenders, for example, financing a new car or applying for a new credit card. Either of these credit applications will cause your credit score to dip, which could mean a higher interest rate or denial of your home loan request.
Your sale documents will likely have a ‘subject to finance clause, meaning you are not liable to relinquish your deposit to the vendor if finance falls through. However, you should be aware that not all contracts will have this clause, so be sure to have a conveyancer assess the documents before you sign. Conveyancers are experts in ‘subject to finance’ wording, helping you settle while protecting your legal rights.
Issues related to the appraisal
Lenders reserve the right to inspect and appraise any home they are loaning money to fund, and they are unlikely to approve a loan for a home valued far under the sale price.
If the house has been appraised for more than the lender deems it valued, you could try offering the vendor more cash as a down payment to cover what the lender won’t, though this is not an option for those without the funds to do so. In that case, you could try going to another lender, though you may find this causes more delays. Your best chance to avoid these issues is to not over-bid on properties.
Issues related to your final inspection
As a buyer, you are entitled to a final inspection before settlement to ensure the home is in the same condition as when you made the offer. If your sale documents specified that specific issues were to be fixed by the vendor before settlement, this is your opportunity to check that they have been resolved.
A home loan can potentially fall through if the buyer and the vendor cannot agree on who should pay for and organize these repairs in time to settle by the agreed-upon date.
Issues related to the sale documents
Before your lender approves your loan application, they will perform a title search to make sure any liens or claims on the property have been resolved. Such claims could be child support liens, contractor liens or other parties claiming to have a financial interest in the property. Property title searches in Australia cause about 13% of settlement delays or loan rejections, so if the vendor has failed to resolve title issues before settlement, a lender may reject your loan.
What to do if your home loan falls through before settlement
Here are a few tips on your next steps.
- Find a new home. This is, of course, the hardest step to take when you have been so invested in the home. But if you come up against unsolvable issues, it wasn’t the right house for you.
- Offer more cash for your down payment. If you have access to more cash, you could use it to improve your down payment.
- Look for less expensive homes. Just because you have been preapproved for a certain amount doesn’t mean you should aim to spend it all. If you look for homes at a lower price point, you improve your chances of getting that long-sought-after approval by having more money to use as a down payment. You can always look to size up once you have paid off a chunk of your mortgage in a few years.
Issues with home loan approvals before settlement can happen, but they don’t have to mean the end of the line for you. Take a little time to figure out what went wrong and make sure you fix any preventable issues before trying again. If there wasn’t anything you could do, then it’s not worth worrying about. Buying a home is likely the most expensive purchase of your life, so be as prepared as possible for it.
If you are seeking the services of a conveyancer, Jim’s Property Conveyancing has offices in Melbourne and Conveyancing Brisbane and can provide you with comprehensive advice and assistance moving through your property transaction. Call Jim’s Property Conveyancing today on 13 15 46.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why might a loan be declined before settlement in Australia?
Loan applications can be declined before settlement for various reasons. Common factors include a borrower’s credit history, income stability, debt levels, and the property’s valuation.
Can I reapply for a loan if it is declined before settlement?
Yes, you can reapply for a loan even if it has been declined before settlement. However, before doing so, it’s advisable to understand the reasons for the initial decline
Is there a specific timeframe within which I can reapply for a loan after it’s been declined before settlement?
The timeframe for reapplying can vary among lenders. It’s recommended to wait until you have addressed the reasons for the initial decline and made improvements to your financial situation.
What steps can I take to prevent a loan from being declined before settlement?
To reduce the likelihood of a loan being declined before settlement, ensure that your financial affairs are in order. Maintain a good credit history, manage your debts responsibly, and accurately provide all required information during the application process.