The Home Loan Team
South Carolina VA Loans › VA Loans in Columbia, SC › Questions

Questions People Actually Ask

If yours is not here, ask it. We would rather answer it than have you guess.

Can I start a VA loan before I arrive at Fort Jackson?

Yes, and you should. We routinely begin pre-approval while a buyer is still at their last duty station and close shortly after they arrive.

Can my spouse handle the closing if I am not here?

Often yes, with a properly drafted power of attorney. We will tell you early exactly what the closing attorney needs so it is not a scramble.

Is Columbia a good market to buy in on a three-year assignment?

It can be, and it depends on your numbers and your plans. We will be straight with you about it rather than assuming buying is always right.

Do you work with Shaw Air Force Base too?

Yes. Sumter is an easy drive and Shaw families are a regular part of our work.

How much does it cost to talk to you?

Nothing. An initial conversation about your situation and which programs might fit carries no cost and no obligation.

Do you charge a lender fee?

Fees vary by loan and are disclosed to you in writing on your Loan Estimate. We will walk through that document with you line by line rather than leaving you to decode it.

Will talking to you affect my credit?

A conversation does not touch your credit. A formal pre-approval involves a credit pull; mortgage inquiries made within a short shopping window are generally treated as a single event by scoring models.

How long does pre-approval take?

Often the same day once we have your documentation, sometimes faster. The delay is almost always waiting on paperwork, not on us.

Can I get pre-approved before I find a house?

Yes, and you should. It is the correct order and agents in this market will expect it.

What if I am self-employed?

Entirely workable. It means different documentation — business returns, a profit and loss statement, sometimes bank statement programs. Tell us early so we set it up right.

Do you lend outside the Midlands?

Yes. We are licensed across South Carolina and we work files statewide, including the Charleston and Upstate markets.

Who will I actually be dealing with?

Named people. The Home Loan Team includes licensed loan officers, processors and loan partners, and you will know who has your file.

What happens if something goes wrong mid-process?

You hear it from us early. Problems found in week one are usually solvable; the same problem found the week of closing frequently is not.

Can you help if I have been turned down elsewhere?

Often. A decline from one lender is a decline under one set of guidelines. It is worth a second look, and if the answer really is not yet, you will get a plan rather than a no.

Still have a question?

Ask a person instead of a search engine.

Start the Conversation

Or call 843-998-5045