A first mortgage conversation is a scoping call: occupancy, how you are paid, what you owe, what cash you can document, and whether you are ready for a credit pull. It is not an approval, a lock, an APR, or a promise that a program will fit. The live version of this list sits on the qualify page. Snapshot as of 2026-08.
| Question | Usually asked | Not promised |
|---|---|---|
| Your file | Expect questions about occupancy (primary, second home, or investment), income type (W-2, 1099, K-1, bank-statement), monthly debts, assets and large deposits, gift funds, property type if known, and authorization to pull credit when you are ready. Identity and contact information are required to continue. | A conversation does not approve you, lock a rate, quote APR, or promise that a program will fit. Pre-approval, if issued later, is still not a commitment to lend. Calculators on this site are illustrations. |
| Documents | Income type so we know whether paystubs, returns, K-1s, or statements even apply. Occupancy and property type if you have an address. | A complete underwrite from a phone call. Findings come after an application, credit, and the stack the investor requires. |
Fair Housing: we ask about the file (income, debts, occupancy, property), not about protected class. Anyone who applies is underwritten on documentation.
Checklist before you talk
- How you are paid (W-2, 1099, K-1, mixed) — see the variable-income hub if it is not the same every month.
- Monthly debts you know about, including a car you might finance next week.
- Whether gift funds or DPA are in the plan.
- Occupancy: you will live there, second home, or rental.
You do not need a complete tax-return stack on the first call. You will need a documented stack before an underwriter can issue findings. Do not move large cash or open new credit while you wait without asking how it must be sourced.
After the conversation
If a letter is issued, that is still only a snapshot. The three stages — letter, AUS findings, clear to close — are pre-approval vs AUS vs CTC. Typical late fails: declined after pre-approval.
What happens next
- Read the qualify page so the questions are not a surprise.
- Send a message or book time via contact. Asking is not a loan application.
- Use calculators as illustrations only — affordability does not underwrite you.
Common questions
Keep going
What to do next
Education first. A conversation with a loan officer is how you find out what may actually fit your file.
Loan information is provided by Ondo Real Estate (NMLS ID on file). This is not a commitment to lend, a loan approval, or an offer of credit. Rates, terms, and payments shown are estimates for illustration only, are not a quote, and are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and market conditions. You are not required to use Ondo for financing to buy or sell with Ondo. Equal Housing Lender. Program rules, fees, and county loan limits change. Confirm the current published schedule and lender overlays. Nothing here is a quote, a lock, or a credit decision. Licensing and disclosures