Pre-Approval Submission Checklist
Pre-Approval Submission Checklist by The Housing Assistant
Starter
Pre-Qualification Readiness Checklist
Pre-Qualification Readiness Checklist by The Housing Assistant
Understanding IRS Tax Transcripts
Understanding IRS Tax Transcripts by The Housing Assistant
2026 VA Residual Income Table and Cheat Sheet
2026 VA Residual Income Table and Cheat Sheet by The Housing Assistant
Underwriting Best Practices
This guide provides best practices for mortgage underwriters to ensure consistent, compliant, and efficient underwriting decisions. Use this as a reference to avoid overconditioning, mitigate risk, and maintain investor confidence throughout the loan lifecycle.
What to Expect During the Mortgage Process
This guide walks you through each step of the loan journey, so you know what to expect, what documents you’ll need, and how to stay ahead of the game.
FNMA Desktop Underwriter (DU) vs. Desktop Originator (DO)
This guide breaks down the differences between DU (Desktop Underwriter) and DO (Desktop Originator), the risks, the reasons to use each, and how to pick the right tool based on your mortgage role and workflow.
FICO 10T and VanatgeScore Guide
With the introduction of FICO® Score 10T and VantageScore® 4.0, lenders now have more predictive models that incorporate trended data, alternative data, and advanced analytics. This guide explains each model, how they differ, and what trending data means for both lenders and borrowers.
AUS Interpretation Guide
This guide helps Loan Officers and processors break down Fannie Mae’s
Desktop Underwriter (DU) and Freddie Mac’s Loan Product Advisor (LPA) findings, into plain English.
Credit Rapid Rescore
A credit rapid rescore is a powerful tool used in the mortgage industry to update a
borrower’s credit report quickly, usually within 2 to 5 business days. It can make a
meaningful difference in whether a borrower qualifies for a mortgage or receives better pricing by helping improve their credit score faster than waiting for traditional reporting cycles.