Six questions to ask about any offer
| Ask this | What you want to understand |
|---|---|
| Who is actually offering the loan? | The legal company name, loan officer, license information and role. |
| Can I have the written Loan Estimate? | Rate, APR, points, lender credits, payment and cash to close for your scenario. |
| What happens to my loan balance? | Which costs are financed, paid upfront or offset by a higher rate. |
| How many payments will I have? | The new term versus the time remaining on your current loan. |
| What could change before closing? | Rate-lock status, assumptions, conditions and estimates. |
| Why does this fit my plans? | The benefit and tradeoffs over the time you expect to keep the loan. |
Recognize pressure and impersonation
Official-looking mail, a military symbol or the word “VA” does not make an offer a government communication. Verify the sender and licensing. Be cautious if someone pressures you to sign unread documents or discourages you from comparing options.
Verify payment instructions independently
If someone tells you to stop paying your servicer, redirect payments, transfer title, or pay by an unusual method, pause. Contact the servicer using a number from an existing statement. For closing wires, call the known escrow contact to verify instructions.
Ask for a second look
Bring Sasha the questions an offer raises. For document review, first ask how to provide the information securely. A second look can help you understand the tradeoffs before you decide.