Process · 4 min read
How long does mortgage underwriting take?
July 21, 2026 · Written by Bill Egan, NMLS 7342
Short answer
A complete, simple file can be conditionally approved in a few business days. A condo with a slow association, a self-employed tax return, or a gift that is still in transit can take two or three weeks. The law also requires a Loan Estimate within three business days of application and a Closing Disclosure at least three business days before you sign. That calendar is not optional.
01
Why this comes up
The contract says two weeks and the HOA has not sent the questionnaire. You think the bank is stalling, or that waiting periods are a trick.
02
Where this goes wrong
The contract is 14 days, the HOA is slow, and the Closing Disclosure still needs three business days. Incomplete documents sit in processing. A short lock expires. The delay looks like “the lender.” The file was never complete.
03
What we do about it
A complete, simple file can be conditionally approved in a few business days. We tell you what is missing the same day. We size the lock to a slow association. The Loan Estimate in three business days and the Closing Disclosure three business days before you sign are the law, not a mood. When the file is clear, we send the money.
04
How to get ready
Turn in a complete package on day one: income, assets, ID, contract, HOA contacts. Incomplete files sit. If the manager is on vacation, say so before you lock 15 days. Speed is a complete file, not a slogan.