What is a lender commitment?

Asked by: Grant Wintheiser I  |  Last update: February 3, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (71 votes)

A loan commitment is a letter from a lender indicating your eligibility for a home loan. In essence, it is the lender's promise to fund the loan as stated by the terms in the letter. You receive a loan commitment letter once your application has been reviewed and the underwriting process is complete.

Does loan commitment mean clear to close?

A mortgage commitment letter may be conditional, meaning that you must meet some additional requirements before you can get a firm guarantee to receive funding. Clear to close means you've done everything the lender requires to obtain a mortgage and have been formally approved for financing.

Is a commitment letter a final approval?

The mortgage commitment letter proves you're preapproved, signaling to homesellers you're a serious buyer with backing. Commitment letters may be conditional, meaning you must meet basic requirements, or final, meaning the terms can't be changed.

What is a lender commitment fee?

A commitment fee is a fee that is charged by a lender to a borrower to compensate the lender for keeping a credit line open. The fee also secures a lender's promise to provide the credit line on the agreed terms at specific dates, regardless of the conditions of the financial markets.

What is the difference between a loan commitment and a loan approval?

Understand the key differences between pre-approval and mortgage loan commitment. While a loan officer handles pre-approval, an underwriter issues the mortgage loan commitment, which signifies the lender's promise to fund your loan once specific conditions are met. This step is crucial, especially if a seller reque.

WHAT IS A MORTGAGE COMMITMENT LETTER? | WHAT DOES IT MEAN? | WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? | CENTURY 21 | C21

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How does a loan commitment work?

A loan commitment is a letter from a lender indicating your eligibility for a home loan. In essence, it is the lender's promise to fund the loan as stated by the terms in the letter. You receive a loan commitment letter once your application has been reviewed and the underwriting process is complete.

What happens after loan commitment?

What happens after you receive a mortgage commitment letter? If your commitment letter is conditional, the next step would be to meet the conditions stipulated in the letter. Once those are completed, or if your letter grants your final approval, you can go forward with the closing process.

Is a commitment fee refundable?

No, commitment fees are generally non-refundable. They are charged for the lender's commitment to keep funds available and are typically collected regardless of whether the borrower fully utilises the credit facility.

How do I get a commitment from a lender?

Mortgage commitment letters include information about the loan amount, interest rate, and any conditions for approval. Getting a mortgage commitment letter involves submitting an application, providing documents, and undergoing a financial review.

Can I negotiate lender fees?

Yes. You can always negotiate the terms of the mortgage loan up until you sign on the dotted line. However, your lender or the seller can refuse to agree to any changes. It's usually easier to negotiate the fees charged by your lender than it is to negotiate third-party fees.

Is a mortgage commitment a pre-approval?

A commitment letter is the strongest form of verification. An underwriter typically prepares it after thoroughly reviewing a pre-approval application.

Who closes on the mortgage loan commitment at closing?

The closing on a mortgage loan commitment at closing typically involves the buyer and the lender. During the closing process, the buyer and the lender finalize the terms of the mortgage loan, and the buyer signs the necessary loan documents.

Can a loan be denied after closing?

Can a mortgage be denied after the closing disclosure is issued? Yes. Many lenders use third-party “loan audit” companies to validate your income, debt and assets again before you sign closing papers. If they discover major changes to your credit, income or cash to close, your loan could be denied.

What happens 3 days before closing?

When the Know Before You Owe mortgage disclosure rule becomes effective, lenders must give you new, easier-to-use disclosures about your loan three business days before closing. This gives you time to review the terms of the deal before you get to the closing table.

How long is a loan commitment good for?

The validity period of a loan commitment can vary depending on the lender and the specific terms outlined in the commitment letter. In general, a loan commitment is typically valid for a specific period, such as 30, 60, or 90 days.

Is a loan commitment the same as a loan approval?

A loan commitment takes the pre-approval a step further. After the lender has compiled everything needed from the pre-approval stage, they take the time to verify the documents provided. After being verified, they issue a loan commitment for the amount they're willing to let the buyer borrow.

What is a commitment fee for a lender?

Generally, the standard commitment fee typically ranges between a 0.25% to 1.0% annual fee paid to the lender. While an insignificant source of returns, commitment fees are still charged by lenders to keep the line of credit available to be drawn upon on an “as-needed” basis.

At what point is loan commitment issued?

A loan commitment, on the other hand, is generally issued after a seller has accepted your offer, a purchase agreement has been signed, and an appraisal is performed on the home. Once everything checks out, the lender issues you the loan commitment and you all will move forward with the closing process.

Is a commitment fee an upfront fee?

An upfront fee is distinguished from a commitment fee and the interest rate paid on the loan. In a syndicated loan, a lender generally receives an upfront fee based on the lender's ultimate allocation of loan commitment after the loan is syndicated.

Should you pay an upfront fee for a loan?

An upfront fee covers the costs of processing your application, including things like administrative costs, credit assessment, loan set-up and document preparation. The best plan is to take the upfront fee into account when calculating the full cost of your loan over its lifetime.

What is the difference between commitment fee and unused fee?

Commitment Fee vs Unused Fee

Commitment fees and unused fees sound similar because they are both charged on the unused portion of your asset-based line. However, there is a key difference between the 2 fees – unused line fees are charged monthly, while commitment fees are charged annually.

Can a buyer back out of a loan commitment?

The short answer is yes, a buyer is free to withdraw their offer at any time. However, depending on the contract, there may be penalties for doing so. Many purchase agreements typically include various contingencies meant to protect both parties from a deal that has gone wrong.

What is the commitment period of a lender?

Commitment Periods

Commitments to deliver most loan products can be taken for 1 to 90 days. Lenders should be sure to choose a commitment period that allows sufficient time after loan closing for the fulfillment of the lender's shipping and delivery requirements.

Can you break a mortgage commitment?

If you want to break your mortgage, the process will depend on your original lender's conditions. This usually means paying a penalty, but it may also include fees, cash repayments, and other costs.