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What Are the Pros and Cons of an Online Mortgage Application?

K. Kinsella
K. Kinsella

Many mortgage lenders enable prospective borrowers to submit mortgage applications online. The ability to submit an online mortgage application means that borrowers do not have to make in-person visits to banks or mortgage offices. Despite the convenience that this brings, there are both pros and cons to online mortgage applications that impact both borrowers and lenders.

Lenders benefit from online applications because borrowers whose work schedules prevent them from meeting with lenders during regular working hours are able to submit their details online. Borrowers can also submit an online mortgage application with a lender that has no presence in their local area. Consequently, lenders that in the past operated locally can now compete on the national market. Increased loan submissions typically lead to increased mortgage production, and revenues from loan sales lead to increased profits for the lender.

Online mortgage applications may mean potential borrowers do not have to visit a financial institution to be considered for a loan.
Online mortgage applications may mean potential borrowers do not have to visit a financial institution to be considered for a loan.

Consumers benefit from online applications because they can submit applications at any time and from any location. Online search tools also enable prospective borrowers to find the best interest rates available before submitting an application. During the actual online mortgage application process, people who are at home can easily locate documents and information necessary to complete the process. Most online applications enable borrowers to save their progress and resume the submission at any time, whereas anyone having to leave an in-person meeting with a lender must try to schedule a follow up meeting at the lender's convenience.

Consumers benefit from online applications because they can submit applications at any time and from any location.
Consumers benefit from online applications because they can submit applications at any time and from any location.

Lenders make a preliminary decision to approve or decline an online mortgage application based upon the information submitted by the prospective borrower. The approval is not confirmed until the borrower provides the lender with supporting documentation, such as recent bank statements and copies of tax returns. Consumers normally have to send these documents via the mail, which can slow down the process, or deliver documents in-person to a local bank. Despite the speed with which preliminary decisions are made, the full underwriting process typically takes just as long as when an application is submitted in-person.

Lenders that accept online mortgage applications may be susceptible to fraud.
Lenders that accept online mortgage applications may be susceptible to fraud.

Lenders that accept online mortgage applications are susceptible to fraud because no one physically verifies the identification of the person submitting the application when the mortgage request is first submitted. A standard mortgage application includes a request for permission to check the borrower's credit report. Lenders submit requests to verify the borrower’s credit without knowing whether the person submitting the application is the person whose name is on the application. This can lead to legal problems if it emerges that the person submitting the loan was committing fraud because in most places lenders can only check credit scores with the borrowers consent.

Discussion Comments

Heavanet

Good post Talentryto. I agree that some things are best left to the professionals in an in-person setting, and filling out a mortgage loan application is one of them in my opinion.

Talentryto

I may be old fashioned, but I think that when you are doing something as major as applying for a mortgage, it is best to do it face to face with a professional in the field. While you may get some important mortgage information online, or even find the mortgage company that you want to use to do your financing, you should do the application process in an office with a mortgage specialist. An actual human being will be there to answer questions and help you with the process, which will be lacking if you apply online.

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    • Online mortgage applications may mean potential borrowers do not have to visit a financial institution to be considered for a loan.
      By: ldprod
      Online mortgage applications may mean potential borrowers do not have to visit a financial institution to be considered for a loan.
    • Consumers benefit from online applications because they can submit applications at any time and from any location.
      By: Adrin Shamsudin
      Consumers benefit from online applications because they can submit applications at any time and from any location.
    • Lenders that accept online mortgage applications may be susceptible to fraud.
      By: darko64
      Lenders that accept online mortgage applications may be susceptible to fraud.