Ask Money MelVA & Alaska loans

The process

What actually happens, in order

Eight phases, realistic timelines, and zero mystery. The part people fear most is the part Mel over-communicates on purpose.

01

The conversation

Text or call. Mel asks about income, savings, credit, timeline, and whether you served. You leave knowing whether VA, FHA, conventional, or USDA is your door.

Day 1
02

Pre-approval

Documents in, numbers verified, letter out. For VA buyers, Mel pulls the COE here too. You get a real pre-approval, not a "pre-qual" guess.

Day 1–3
03

House hunting

Shop with your agent and a budget you actually like. Mel is a text away for "what would this one cost?" on any listing.

Your pace
04

Offer & contract

Mel calls the listing agent to explain your financing and strengthen the offer. Once accepted, the clock starts.

1–3 days
05

Processing & appraisal

Appraisal ordered (VA appraisals flagged for military timelines), title opened, your file assembled for underwriting.

Week 1–2
06

Underwriting

An underwriter reviews everything. Conditions come back; Mel handles most of them with you in a day or two.

Week 2–3
07

Clear to close

The magic words. Final numbers reviewed with you line by line before you ever see a signing table.

Week 3–4
08

Closing day

Sign (in person, remote, or by POA if deployed), fund, keys. Mel still answers texts after closing — forever, basically.

🔑

How Mel communicates

You'll never wonder "what's happening with my loan?"

Every milestone — appraisal ordered, appraisal back, submitted to underwriting, conditions, clear to close — comes with a text from Mel. Reviews mention it over and over: communication, no surprises, always reachable.

appraisal came back?? what did it say 😬
Just landed — at value, no repairs required. 🎉 Submitting to underwriting now. Next text from me will be about conditions, probably Thursday.

Want to start phase one?

Phase one is a text. Everything after that is Mel's job to make smooth.