The 4 C's of Mortgage Underwriting (2024)

The 4 C's of Mortgage Underwriting (1)

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Matt Powell, M.A., PHR The 4 C's of Mortgage Underwriting (2)

Matt Powell, M.A., PHR

Manager, Mortgage Underwriting at Navy Federal Credit Union

Published May 16, 2023

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Are you ready to uncover the superheroes of mortgage underwriting? Meet the Fantastic Four - the 4 C's: Capacity, Credit, Collateral, and Capital. These titans hold the power to make or break your dream of homeownership. They're the guardians of mortgage approval, keeping a watchful eye on every aspect of your financial life. Let's pull back the curtain and see these superheroes in action!

First up in our dynamic quartet is 'Capacity'. This superhero doesn't shy away from asking the tough questions. "Can you repay this loan?" it asks, scrutinizing your income, job stability, and other sources of money. Capacity loves numbers, so the more you have in terms of income and the less you have in terms of existing debt, the happier it is.

Next in line is 'Credit'. If Capacity is the muscle, Credit is the mind. With its trusty sidekick, the Credit Score, it dives deep into your past financial habits. It's like the time-traveler of the group, revisiting how you've managed your debts and credit cards. A strong credit history signals to Credit that you're a responsible borrower.

Then we have 'Collateral', the visionary of the team. It's all about the here and now, focusing on the property you're buying. Collateral assesses whether your dream home is worth the amount you're borrowing. It brings in its buddy, the Appraisal, to ensure the home's market value aligns with the loan amount. It's Collateral's job to make sure the lender won't be left in a lurch if you can't make your payments.

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Last but certainly not least, we have 'Capital'. Capital is like the sage, looking at your savings and assets. It's the safety net, checking whether you have enough reserves to make your mortgage payments, even if something unexpected happens. It loves seeing a healthy savings account, a retirement fund, or other assets.

So there you have it, the Fantastic Four of Mortgage Underwriting! While they might seem intimidating, remember, they're here to protect not just the lender, but you as well. They ensure you're stepping into a mortgage you can handle and a home that's a good investment. So, as we continue our journey through the maze of mortgage underwriting, keep these superheroes in mind. They're your guides to a successful home-buying adventure!

#mortgageunderwriting #homebuyingjourney

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Soniya Raval

Banking/Insurance Professional

2mo

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Excellent explanation of 4 Cs. Bravo👍🏻

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The 4 C's of Mortgage Underwriting (2024)

FAQs

The 4 C's of Mortgage Underwriting? ›

Are you ready to uncover the superheroes of mortgage underwriting? Meet the Fantastic Four - the 4 C's: Capacity, Credit, Collateral, and Capital.

What are the 4 C's required for mortgage underwriting? ›

“The 4 C's of Underwriting”- Credit, Capacity, Collateral and Capital. Guidelines and risk tolerances change, but the core criteria do not.

What are the four C's of approval for a loan? ›

Credit, Capacity, Capitol, and Collaterals are the four important Cs in the mortgage world and the most looked-at factors by banks when it comes to loan approval. So, what do each of the 4Cs mean, and why are they so important?

What are the 4 C's that lenders consider when someone is attempting to get a loan? ›

Lenders consider four criteria, also known as the 4 C's: Capacity, Capital, Credit, and Collateral.

What are the 4 C for US mortgage process? ›

Standards may differ from lender to lender, but there are four core components — the four C's — that lenders will evaluate in determining whether they will make a loan: capacity, capital, collateral and credit.

What are the 5 C's of underwriting? ›

The Underwriting Process of a Loan Application

One of the first things all lenders learn and use to make loan decisions are the “Five C's of Credit": Character, Conditions, Capital, Capacity, and Collateral. These are the criteria your prospective lender uses to determine whether to make you a loan (and on what terms).

Which of the 4 C's refers to your ability to earn enough verifiable income to make the mortgage payments and cover all other living expenses? ›

Capacity – Capacity refers to your ability to comfortably afford mortgage payments, plus other existing financial obligations.

What are the four Cs? ›

The 4 C's to 21st century skills are just what the title indicates. Students need these specific skills to fully participate in today's global community: Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Creativity.

What is collateral in the 4 Cs of credit? ›

Collateral. Most loans require collateral. For a mortgage, the collateral would be the home; for a vehicle, it's the car, and so on. When a lender evaluates a loan, they consider the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, which is the collateral's value relative to the loan amount.

What are the 3 Cs of credit that lenders look for in a loan applicant? ›

Character, capital (or collateral), and capacity make up the three C's of credit. Credit history, sufficient finances for repayment, and collateral are all factors in establishing credit.

What habit lowers your credit score? ›

Making a Late Payment

Every late payment shows up on your credit score and having a history of late payments combined with closed accounts will negatively impact your credit for quite some time. All you have to do to break this habit is make your payments on time.

What are the five Cs lenders consider when approving a loan? ›

The five Cs of credit are important because lenders use these factors to determine whether to approve you for a financial product. Lenders also use these five Cs—character, capacity, capital, collateral, and conditions—to set your loan rates and loan terms.

What are the 4 Cs of commercial lending? ›

If you are a business owner or potential borrower, understanding the “4 C's of Commercial Lending” is your key to success. These are Capacity, Collateral, Capital, and Character.

What are the three Cs of underwriting? ›

They evaluate credit and payment history, income and assets available for a down payment and categorize their findings as the Three C's: Capacity, Credit and Collateral.

What are the 4 elements of a mortgage? ›

There are four components to a mortgage payment. Principal, interest, taxes and insurance.

What is the 4x rule for mortgages? ›

If you purchase a home that is 4 times your annual income, then 1 times your income is 25% of the value of the home. In that case, you would be able to make a 20% down payment and still have money left over to cover closing and moving costs. Consider saving this amount first before you begin home shopping in earnest.

What are the 5 Cs of borrowers? ›

The five C's, or characteristics, of credit — character, capacity, capital, conditions and collateral — are a framework used by many lenders to evaluate potential small-business borrowers.

What are the four 4 Cs of the credit analysis process? ›

The “4 Cs” of credit—capacity, collateral, covenants, and character—provide a useful framework for evaluating credit risk.

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