There is one question which nearly everyone who is applying for a bond has. This is how long will it take to get an approval on a bond request. This is a good question because knowing the time frame can help people be prepared to begin the moving process. It is also important to consider what kind of time frame will be required to sell an existing home and to move into the new home.
There is no specific length of time that exists for bond approval. Typically it will take around 30 days although it can take longer. In rare circumstances it may even take less than 30 days but this is not common. The prequalification process is usually short but the final bond approval process takes a good deal of time because it has to move through a large group of different people who will take steps to ensure that you are able to pay back on the bond.
Lenders look for a number of different things to prove that you are capable of paying back the bond. The most important is proof of income. Lenders want a professional document from your business which shows your income. If you are self employed you will need to show 2 or more years of consistent income. They will also require standard documentation such as a valid photo ID so they can verify your identity.
The most grueling part of the process is getting in the above stated paperwork. It might be frustrating at first because you might be turning in your paperwork the same day and they do not get to it until days later. Be patient, your bond is not the only bond. They have many bonds they process and work on daily. This is why 30 days or more is generally quoted.
Another thing which can lead to a time delay, sometimes even a long one, is when you have a document which you are unable to locate which the lender has requested. This often leads to you needing to acquire the document from a third party source and at this point you are waiting on that third party source as well.
Avoid situations like these by being prepared. You can assemble all of these documents before you even go in and see a lender for a loan application. Often times it is the buyer that is the hold up with paperwork. Having your documents ready before they ask is a great way to speed up the process and get the home closed on time.
After you have submitted all of your paperwork and it has moved through the lenders process it will finally be submitted to an underwriter. It is likely that the underwriter will request additional information to verify information which was found on the submitted documents or to determine other factors which may affect the bond. Being quick to reply to the underwriter is the most important thing you can do to ensure that your bond request moves through this stage as quickly as possible.