What Is a Mortgage Discovery Call?

A mortgage discovery call is a short, no-pressure first conversation with your loan officer, and it does not involve pulling your credit. It is a chance to lay out the puzzle pieces of your situation so we can point you toward the right loan before you ever formally apply. It is not required, there is no commitment, and your credit stays untouched.

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

The quick version

• No credit pull on this call
• Not required, and no commitment
• 30 to 45 minutes for a purchase, 15 to 20 for a refinance
• Covers the four cornerstones: income, assets, credit, debts
• You leave with a plan and a document list

What a mortgage discovery call actually is

Before anything else, we like to encourage people to schedule a discovery call. It is not required. You can jump straight to the next step, fill out an application, upload your documentation, and then we will call you for a quick recap to confirm things. But the discovery call is the easiest, lowest-stakes way to start.

These calls take anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes for a purchase, and usually 15 to 20 minutes for a refinance. And to be clear: we are not running your credit on this call. We are very protective about when we run credit, so there is no credit pull and no commitment. It is just a conversation.

If you would rather skip ahead, that is completely fine. Here is how the two starting points compare:

	Start with a discovery call	Start with an application
Best if	You have questions and want a plan first	You are ready and know your numbers
Credit pulled?	No	Yes, once you formally apply
Time	30 to 45 min purchase, 15 to 20 min refinance	Complete the application and upload documents
Commitment	None	Begins the formal process

“We’re very protective of running credit. There’s just no commitment.”

Glenn Groves, GTG Financial

The four cornerstones we talk through

“On a discovery call, we like to lay out all the puzzle pieces.”

Glenn Groves, GTG Financial

I will ask you four simple questions: What do you do for a living? What kind of assets do you have to work with? What kind of FICO score do you think you have? And what existing debts do you already have?

Those are the four main cornerstones of a pre-approval: income, assets, credit, and existing debt. Notice that I am asking what FICO score you think you have. We do not need to pull it to have a productive first conversation.

What you walk away with

Talking through those four pieces lets us figure out what is the best type of loan product for you, which lender is the right fit to close your loan on time, and how to make sure you are prepared for your upcoming transaction. It also allows me to figure out exactly what kind of documents I am going to need to see from you.

Where the discovery call fits in your loan roadmap

The discovery call is Stage 1 of the loan roadmap. From there the path continues into your application, qualification, and pre-approval. If you want to see every stop before you start, walk through the full GTG loan roadmap.

Whether you are buying your first home in Santa Rosa, moving up in Sonoma County, or refinancing anywhere in California, the discovery call is the simplest way to start with a clear plan and no pressure. When you are ready, you can also get pre-qualified online. For a neutral, government overview of the homebuying process, the CFPB’s guide to preparing to shop is a helpful resource.

Ready to map out your options? Schedule your discovery call with Glenn or request a quote.

Frequently asked questions

Does a mortgage discovery call affect my credit?

No. We are very protective about when we run credit, and we do not pull it on the discovery call. Your credit stays untouched until you decide to formally apply.

How long does a discovery call take?

About 30 to 45 minutes for a purchase, and usually 15 to 20 minutes for a refinance.

Is a discovery call required?

No. You can jump straight to an application, upload your documents, and we will call you for a quick recap instead. The discovery call is simply the easiest way to begin.

What should I have ready for the call?

Just a general sense of the four cornerstones: your income, the assets you have to work with, the FICO score you think you have, and the debts you are already carrying.

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