One in six (16%) mortgage holders have overcome being rejected for a mortgage in the past, highlighting that getting a home loan is not something to be complacent about. Research found that over half (54%) of homeowners who were rejected took longer than three months to be accepted for another mortgage.
The average rejection rate for mortgage refinance applications increased to a decade-plus high of 25.6% this year, a jump from 15.5% last year. Meanwhile, rejections for overall mortgage applications rose to 22.6% in Oct., up from 13% in Oct. 2023 and 17.4% in Oct. 2022.
Scope: Mortgage applications from home buyers for first-lien, owner-occupied, residential mortgages for 1-4 unit homes between 2018-2022. In 2022, mortgage lenders approved 72% of purchase mortgages – the lowest in 5 years.
You may be wondering how often underwriters denies loans? According to the mortgage data firm HSH.com, about 8% of mortgage applications are denied, though denial rates vary by location and loan type. For example, FHA loans have different requirements that may make getting the loan easier than other loan types.
There's no reason for a borrower to worry or stress during the underwriting process if they get prequalified. They should keep in contact with their lender and try not to make any major changes that could have a negative impact on this critical process.
You could still be eligible for a mortgage even if you were denied. But you'll need to explore other loan programs that may be a better fit for you financially. Inquire with the loan officer to learn more about alternative mortgages, such as FHA loans or USDA loans, that may be available to you.
The 28% rule
The 28% mortgage rule states that you should spend 28% or less of your monthly gross income on your mortgage payment (including principal, interest, taxes and insurance). To gauge how much you can afford using this rule, multiply your monthly gross income by 28%.
How often does an underwriter deny a loan? A mortgage underwriter typically denies about 1 in 10 mortgage loan applications. A mortgage loan application can be denied for many reasons, including a borrower's low credit score, recent employment change or high debt-to-income ratio.
Taking Advantage of a Decrease: If interest rates drop after you've locked in your rate, but before your closing, you can request a Mortgage rate float down. This means you can ask to adjust your locked rate to match the current, lower market rate.
Can My Security Deposit Be Returned If My Mortgage Is Denied At Closing? If you have a contingency in place that includes an offer and purchase contract, you may be able to get your earnest money back. However, if you don't have it, you could lose it.
High debt-to-income ratio. According to Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data, high debt-to-income (DTI) ratios were the number one reason mortgages were denied in 2018, accounting for 37% of all denials. Basically, your DTI consists of how much of your monthly income goes toward paying off any outstanding debt.
If you are currently repaying other debts that limit the amount of cash available for future payments, you can get denied even if you have a good credit score. Multiple credit cards with high balances or large loans with more than half the total balance remaining will not help you in your mortgage-seeking endeavors.
High debt-to-income (DTI)
Before approving you for a mortgage, lenders review your monthly income in relation to your monthly debt, or your debt-to-income (DTI). A good rule of thumb: your mortgage payment should not be more than 28% of your monthly gross income. Similarly, your DTI should not be more than 36%.
How many mortgage preapprovals should I get? While it's a good idea to rate-shop with at least three lenders, you only need one preapproval letter to make an offer on a home.
After a housing market boom and bust, mortgage lenders have become more strict in their lending standards and requirements. It is not impossible to get a loan, but it is much harder for potential buyers to obtain one than before.
In the third quarter of 2023, denial rates were 30 percent for Black applicants, while Hispanic applicants had the second-highest denial rates at 22.1 percent. For all races, the denial rates significantly fluctuated between 2019 and 2023.
The report also shows that the denial rate of Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan applications differed from the overall average, at 12.4% in 2021.
Simply, if you're preapproved for a mortgage there is still a possibility you could be denied after. In fact, approximately 5,741 VA loans were preapproved but not accepted according to 2022 HMDA data. Let's explore more about what it means to be preapproved for a home loan and why you could be denied after.
Federal Housing Administration loans: 14.4% denial rate. Jumbo loans: 17.8% denial rate. Conventional conforming loans: 7.6% denial rate. Refinance loans: 24.7% denial rate.
The stress of applying for a mortgage is so intense that a quarter of young buyers admit to comfort eating to cope with the anxiety, a new survey finds today. Applicants also confess to crying more, including at work, and drinking more alcohol as a result of the pressure of trying to land a home loan.