Why You Should Sign Your Loan Disclosures Fast

Signing your loan disclosures is not a commitment. You are only acknowledging that you received them, even if there is a typo or a wrong number on the page. Signing quickly matters because your lender cannot start underwriting or order the appraisal until they have that acknowledgment. Here is what you are actually signing, and why speed helps you.

Reviewed by Glenn Groves, Mortgage Broker, NMLS #1124642. GTG Financial, Inc. NMLS #1595076. Serving Santa Rosa and Sonoma County, CA.

Signing disclosures isn’t a commitment

When your initial disclosures arrive, the most important thing to understand is this: signing them is not a commitment. You are simply acknowledging a receipt. Anything the lender sends has to be acknowledged to show a chain of receipt, and your signature just tells them, I have seen it.

That is true even if something on the page looks off. Even if there is a typo, even if a loan amount is incorrect, signing does not commit you to anything. You are not actually committing to the loan until you sign your final loan documents in person with a notary.

“You signing these is not a commitment. You’re just acknowledging a receipt.”

Glenn Groves, GTG Financial

Why signing fast actually matters

Here is why we ask you to sign these quickly: we are now gated. We cannot submit your loan to underwriting, and we cannot order your appraisal, until the lender receives acknowledgment that you are moving forward. Until you sign, the whole file waits.

So signing fast is not about locking you into anything. It is about getting your file in the door, in line for underwriting, and your appraisal ordered as soon as possible.

What you might think	What’s actually true
Signing commits me to the loan	It only acknowledges you received the disclosures
I shouldn’t sign if there’s an error	A typo or wrong figure doesn’t commit you either
There’s no rush	Underwriting and the appraisal are gated until you sign
These are the final numbers	They’re estimates until the rate and fees are set

Why the numbers are still just estimates

It also helps to know what these disclosures are really saying at this stage. If the interest rate is not locked yet, and if we do not have final escrow and title fees yet, then the numbers you see are all just estimates. That is normal this early in the process.

That is exactly why signing quickly is the smart move. The figures will get refined as we go, but none of that can happen until your file is in line. Let’s get in the door, get in line for underwriting, and get that appraisal ordered as soon as possible.

“If the interest rate is not locked, if we don’t have escrow and title fees yet, these are all just estimates.”

Glenn Groves, GTG Financial

Where disclosures fit in your loan roadmap

Disclosures and loan setup are Stage 7 of the loan roadmap, right after processing and just before the appraisal and underwriting. See the full GTG loan roadmap to know every step before it happens.

Whether you are buying in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, or anywhere in California, signing your disclosures quickly is one of the easiest ways to keep your loan on schedule. When you are ready, you can get pre-qualified online. For a neutral overview, the CFPB’s guide to the Loan Estimate is a helpful resource.

Ready to keep things moving? Talk with Glenn or request a quote.

Frequently asked questions

Is signing loan disclosures a commitment?

No. Signing disclosures only acknowledges that you received them. You are not committed to the loan until you sign your final loan documents in person with a notary.

Should I sign if there’s a typo or a wrong number?

Yes. Even if there is a typo or an incorrect loan amount, your signature only confirms receipt, it does not commit you. Let us know about the error so we can correct it, but signing keeps your file moving.

Why do I need to sign disclosures so quickly?

Because your file is gated until you do. The lender cannot submit your loan to underwriting or order the appraisal until they have your acknowledgment, so signing fast keeps everything on schedule.

Why are the numbers on my disclosures just estimates?

Because the interest rate may not be locked and final escrow and title fees may not be set yet. Those figures are refined as the loan progresses, which is another reason signing early helps.

Glenn Groves NMLS #1124642 / GTG Financial, Inc. NMLS #1595076 / Equal Housing Opportunity / Not a commitment to lend / CA DRE #02029711. Loan terms and pricing vary by borrower and situation. nmlsconsumeraccess.org