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To apply for a mortgage with Guild Mortgage, contact a Guild loan officer or branch, or start an application through MyMortgage or the Guild mobile app. You will provide identity, employment, income, asset, debt, credit and property information, upload supporting documents, receive a conditional pre-approval if you qualify, and then complete processing, underwriting, appraisal, title and closing requirements. Keep your employment and finances stable and answer every document request promptly because pre-approval is not a final loan approval.
Choose how you will start
Guild offers several entry points for purchase and refinance borrowers. You can call 800.971.3864, find a local branch, or submit an online form to discuss your situation with a loan officer. MyMortgage and the Guild mobile app also support a full online application.
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The best route depends on how much help you want at the beginning. A conversation with a loan officer can help identify programs and explain which documents apply to your circumstances. The online and mobile routes are useful when you already have your basic financial information available and want to begin electronically. You can start online and still communicate with the lending team during the process.
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- Call or branch: Use 800.971.3864 or a local branch when you want to discuss purchase, refinance, property type or income questions before entering an application.
- MyMortgage: Start electronically, save your progress if you pause, upload documents and manage a personalized checklist.
- Mobile app: Apply for a purchase or refinance, contact your loan team, scan and upload documents, and view pre-approval letters and loan scenarios.
What information the application asks for
Prepare the information before you begin so that the application is complete and the lender can verify it. The application covers you and, when applicable, a co-borrower.
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- Current address and contact information
- Social Security number and date of birth
- Citizenship and marital status
- Number of dependents
- Current and former employers and employment history
- Employment income, self-employment income or losses, and other income requested by the lender
- Bank and investment assets
- Debts, liabilities and monthly obligations
- Other real estate that you own or have an interest in
- Declarations about bankruptcy, foreclosure and other credit events
A co-borrower completes a separate application. Enter names, income, debts and ownership information consistently across both applications; differences can create follow-up questions during verification.
Documents to gather before submitting
Guild’s application process relies on documents that support the information you enter. The exact list can change with your income type, loan program, property and underwriting review, so use the lender’s checklist as the controlling list.
Employment and income
- Recent pay stubs
- W-2 forms
- Tax returns when required
- Additional income records requested for commissions, self-employment or other income sources
Guild says self-employed borrowers typically qualify using two years of tax returns. Some Guild programs may instead use bank-deposit data as an alternative. Ask the loan officer which method applies before assuming that deposits alone will document qualifying income.
Assets
- Recent bank statements
- Investment-account statements
- Records for funds you plan to use for the down payment, closing costs or reserves, if requested
Credit history and explanations
Review your credit report before applying. Be ready to explain late payments, collections, bankruptcy or foreclosure. Guild’s process guidance refers to letters of explanation and discharge paperwork when those documents are relevant. A clear explanation does not guarantee approval, but missing or contradictory information can delay the file.
Property and transaction information
As soon as you have a property in mind, expect to provide details needed for appraisal, title and collateral review. The property must satisfy the loan program and underwriting requirements; a pre-approval does not guarantee that a particular property will be accepted.
Step-by-step: applying and reaching closing
1. Discuss your goals and choose a starting route
Tell the loan officer whether you are buying or refinancing, the state where the property is located, the property type and your intended timing. Ask which programs are available for your circumstances and what documentation will be required. If you start through MyMortgage or the app, provide the same information and use the messaging tools when questions arise.
2. Complete the mortgage application
Enter the personal, employment, income, asset, debt, real-estate and credit-event information described above. Include all requested employers and liabilities rather than listing only the accounts you expect to use in qualification. A co-borrower submits a separate application. Review the entries before submitting; an incomplete application usually leads to additional requests.
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3. Upload supporting documents
Use MyMortgage or the mobile app to upload readable documents from your computer or phone. Match each file to the checklist item, include every page requested and make sure names and account numbers are legible. If you pause an online application, MyMortgage can save your progress so you can return later.
4. Obtain pre-qualification or pre-approval
Pre-qualification is a preliminary estimate based on the figures you enter and does not involve the same level of verification. Pre-approval is a more thorough, document-supported review that provides a maximum conditional loan amount for a buyer who is ready to shop and make offers.
Guild’s April 30, 2025 pre-approval guide states that a pre-approval is valid for 60 days. The guide also says final verification occurs before closing. Confirm the current validity period and any renewal process with your loan officer because terms can change.
5. Cooperate with processing and underwriting
After submission, the lending team gathers and verifies documents. A processor assembles the file, and an underwriter evaluates your credit, assets, employment, income, debts and the property’s value and condition. Respond quickly when the team requests an updated statement, explanation or verification. Send exactly what was requested and tell the team if a document has changed since you first submitted it.
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6. Satisfy appraisal, title and other conditions
Approval remains subject to underwriting, appraisal, title, acceptable collateral and other loan conditions. The property must support the transaction and meet the selected program’s rules. Resolve conditions before closing, keep requested funds traceable and avoid financial changes that could require the file to be re-underwritten.
Pre-qualification versus pre-approval
| Feature | Pre-qualification | Pre-approval |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Ballpark estimate based on figures you enter | More thorough review supported by documents |
| Purpose | Early budgeting and conversation about possible borrowing range | Helps a buyer who is ready to shop and make offers |
| Result | Approximate indication, not a verified maximum | Maximum conditional loan amount, subject to remaining conditions |
| Verification | Limited compared with pre-approval | Final verification still occurs before closing |
| Guild timing stated in the April 30, 2025 guide | Not stated | Valid for 60 days; confirm current terms with Guild |
Neither status is a promise that you can borrow a particular amount for every property. The eventual loan depends on verified finances, the selected program, the property, appraisal, title and all underwriting conditions.
Using MyMortgage and the mobile app
Guild describes MyMortgage as a paperless path from application to closing. It provides an electronic application, a personalized checklist, document uploads and saved progress when an application is paused. This can reduce the need to exchange paper, but it does not remove the requirement to provide complete and current records.
The mobile app supports purchase and refinance applications, direct contact with the loan team, document scanning and upload, and access to pre-approval letters and loan scenarios. Before uploading a scan, check that every page is captured and readable. Keep the original files in case the processor asks for a clearer copy or a newer statement.
Loan programs to discuss with Guild
Guild loan-officer materials list several categories. Availability and eligibility depend on your qualifications, property, state, underwriting and the rules of the individual program. A listed category is not an offer or a promise of approval.
| Program category | What to ask about |
|---|---|
| Conventional | Down payment, credit and debt requirements, mortgage insurance and total cash to close |
| FHA | Government-insured program rules, upfront and ongoing mortgage insurance, property eligibility and required funds |
| VA | Eligibility based on service, funding-fee treatment, occupancy rules and residual requirements |
| USDA | Property-location and household-income rules, occupancy and upfront or annual fees |
| Down-payment assistance | State or local availability, income limits, homebuyer requirements, repayment or deferred-payment terms |
| Jumbo | Loan-size threshold, reserves, credit, income documentation and property requirements |
| Manufactured home | Home classification, land ownership or lease, foundation and property standards |
| Renovation | Eligible improvements, contractor documentation, draw procedures and appraisal treatment |
| Energy-efficient | Eligible upgrades, documentation of improvements and how costs are incorporated into the loan |
Ask the loan officer to show how each eligible option changes the interest rate and annual percentage rate, monthly payment, mortgage insurance, closing costs, cash needed at closing and restrictions on the property or occupancy.
How to compare a Guild offer with other options
Compare complete loan estimates rather than focusing on the advertised rate or the maximum amount on a pre-approval letter. The relevant questions are:
- How much cash is required at closing, including the down payment, closing costs and prepaid items?
- What are the interest rate and annual percentage rate, and are they fixed or subject to change under the proposed terms?
- What will the monthly payment include, and how much mortgage insurance applies?
- Which lender, program or property fees are included in closing costs?
- What eligibility rules apply to your income, credit profile, occupancy, state and property type?
- How long does processing normally take for your file, and which conditions could delay it?
- What conditions are attached to the pre-approval, and when will they be re-verified?
- Who will service the loan after closing, and how will payment or servicing questions be handled?
Guild’s listed programs and conditions must be confirmed for your state and transaction. A comparison is meaningful only when the loan amount, term, property, points, credits and estimated closing date are aligned.
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Maintain stable finances
Because final verification occurs before closing, avoid changing jobs, taking on new debt, moving money between accounts without records, closing credit accounts or making unusually large purchases while the loan is in process. If a change is unavoidable, tell the loan team immediately rather than waiting for a later statement to reveal it.
Track every request
Use the MyMortgage checklist or the app to see outstanding items. Save a copy of each upload and note the date sent. When a processor asks for an explanation, answer the specific question and attach the supporting record. Sending unrelated documents can make it harder to identify what remains open.
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Keep documents current
Bank statements, pay stubs and other records can become outdated during a long transaction. Supply refreshed documents when requested, even if the earlier version was already accepted for pre-approval. Do not edit or crop statements in a way that removes account ownership, dates or transaction details.
Protect the property timeline
Pre-approval does not replace appraisal or title work. A property with a value, condition, ownership or lien issue can require additional review or fail a program requirement. Keep contractual deadlines in view and ask which conditions must be completed before each milestone.
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Income does not match the documents
Why it happens: The application may use gross income, self-employment figures or variable earnings differently from a pay stub or tax return.
Fix: Tell the loan officer how each income source is earned, provide the requested history and ask which figures the underwriter can use. Self-employed applicants should clarify whether two years of tax returns or an approved bank-deposit method applies.
Missing pages or unreadable uploads
Why it happens: Phone scans can omit pages, blur account numbers or cut off dates.
Fix: Rescan the complete document in good light, confirm that every page is visible and upload it to the exact checklist item. Keep the original file available.
Unexplained credit events
Why it happens: Late payments, collections, bankruptcy or foreclosure appear in the credit review without context.
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Fix: Prepare a factual letter of explanation and any relevant discharge or court paperwork. Ask whether additional records are needed before the file reaches underwriting.
Large or unfamiliar deposits
Why it happens: The lender must understand where funds used in the transaction came from.
Fix: Keep a clear paper trail and provide the supporting statements or transfer records requested. Do not move funds repeatedly between accounts while documentation is pending.
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Why it happens: Guild’s April 30, 2025 guide states a 60-day validity period, and the file is finally verified again before closing.
Fix: Ask the loan officer how to refresh the letter before it expires and whether updated income, asset or credit documents will be required.
The property does not fit the selected program
Why it happens: Program eligibility covers more than the borrower; appraisal, title, condition, location, construction and occupancy can matter.
Fix: Discuss the property type and address with the lender early, before relying on a pre-approval for an offer. If the property fails one program’s rules, ask whether another eligible program exists rather than assuming the loan can be changed at closing.
Questions to ask your loan officer
- Which Guild programs are available for my state, income type and property?
- What documents should I upload now, and which ones will need to be updated later?
- Is my current status pre-qualification or pre-approval, and what conditions remain?
- How long is my pre-approval valid, and what is the process for renewing it?
- How will self-employment income, bonuses, commissions or losses be evaluated?
- What credit events require a letter of explanation or discharge paperwork?
- What appraisal, title or property conditions could prevent this loan from closing?
- How do the eligible options change cash to close, payment, mortgage insurance, rate and APR?
- Which documents can I submit through MyMortgage or the app, and how will I know they were accepted?
- Who should I contact when a condition is unclear or a financial change occurs?
A practical application checklist
- Choose a Guild loan officer, branch, MyMortgage or the mobile app.
- Collect identification, address, Social Security number, employment history and co-borrower details.
- Gather pay stubs, W-2s, applicable tax returns, bank statements and investment statements.
- List debts, other real estate and any bankruptcy, foreclosure, collection or late-payment history.
- Submit the application and upload complete, readable documents.
- Ask whether you need pre-qualification or a document-supported pre-approval before shopping or making an offer.
- Review the conditional amount, validity period and outstanding conditions with the loan officer.
- Answer processor and underwriter requests promptly and keep financial information stable.
- Provide updated records when requested and cooperate with appraisal, title and collateral review.
- Confirm that every condition is satisfied before signing final closing documents.
The application is complete only when Guild has verified the borrower, income, assets, debts, credit and property and all required conditions have been cleared. Starting early, submitting organized records and communicating changes promptly gives the lending team the information it needs to move from an initial application to a closing decision.
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