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From application to keys — what actually happens
May 18, 2026 · 6 min read · Tom Stafford
Ten minutes to apply, a pile of disclosures, an underwriter who might ask one more question, and then two IDs at the signing table.
Start here
Complete an application online or call me at (303) 495-9722. Either way, it takes about ten minutes. I’ll ask about your job, income, and assets. With your permission I’ll pull credit and, based on lender guidelines, tell you how much you can pre-qualify for — or how much a refinance might save.
After you apply
Start gathering documentation: W-2s, paystubs, IDs, homeowner’s insurance info. (Not blood samples. Not your firstborn. I just like to set expectations.) I’ll review those items and issue a pre-approval letter so you can shop.
Under contract
Deposit earnest money with the title company. Order your home inspection right away — while my team orders the appraisal. Watch email for real estate disclosures, title disclosures, and time-sensitive lender disclosures that need e-sign.
Underwriting
Your initial package goes to the lender’s underwriter, who might need a clarification. You wish you were done submitting documents. You probably aren’t. We’ll keep you posted.
Final approval
We’ll review the numbers. Title will issue wiring instructions. Bring two forms of ID to closing, stretch your wrist, and leave with writer’s cramp — and the keys.
Average time from submission to final approval: about 11 days when an appraisal is needed, 7.9 days when it isn’t. That is the opposite of “two months and a prayer.” Relocating to Castle Pines or Parker? Use the move-in mortgage checklist.
Written by Tom Stafford, a mortgage loan originator (NMLS #262409) with Edge Home Finance, LLC. He has lived in and served Douglas County as a mortgage broker since 2010. About Tom
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