Loan Application Process

Obtaining a home loan or refinancing an existing home loan does not need to be a stressful experience, at the Orange Credit Union our friendly Lending Relations Officers will help guide you through the complete process from first inquiry all the way through to settlement and beyond.  

Below is a simple guide of our application through to settlement process.

The initial enquiry

You can discuss your needs with one of our lending relations officers over the phone, or come into the branch for a face to face meeting. This is where we will discuss  exactly where you are up to with your home loan journey  and give you  the information you need to move forward. It doesn’t matter if you are just starting to save, or you are ready to submit an application, this is where we get to know you, and what you want to achieve. You can also visit our website for  help  with general information such as interest rates, inclusions guidelines, and calculators etc.

4 easy ways to submit your application

Once we have received your application

If not already discussed, within 24-48 hours of receiving your application one of our Loans Officers will contact you, go through it with you, and let you know if any additional information or documentation will be required to process your application.

Conditional approval

Should your application meet our lending requirements we will then be able to grant you a “Conditional approval”,   At this point we invite you to find a house (if not already done so), once you have found your new home, or if you are refinancing an existing home, this is when we organise a valuation of the property.

Full approval

The valuation report takes approximately, 3-5 working days to be received, once received it will be assessed to ensure that the property meets our  lending  criteria.  Once these conditions are met, we will call you to let you know that you have full approval, and you can proceed with the purchase or refinance.  Your real estate agent will then provide a ‘Contract Of Sale’ document, and this document along with you loan documents will then be passed on to our legal team to prepare the mortgage for you.

Exchange and settlement

Once the ‘Contract of Sale’ has been signed, there is a cooling off period (5 business days). At the end of this period you will contacted by our  legal team to inform you that the ‘Exchange’ of contracts has been completed, they will also send you the Mortgage documents for you to read, and invite you to make an appointment to sign the mortgage documents with either your own legal team or you can use our legal team, (Baldock Stacy & Niven solicitors), this choice is yours. Once you have signed and returned the mortgage documents to our solicitor. Your Lending Officer will contact  you to  a convenient time  to come in and sign your loan contracts. 

Settlement

Settlement  usually takes place 45 days after  exchange of contracts. On the day of settlement your loans officer will prepare all of the cheques  to be handed over at settlement. And then after settlement has been completed the real estate will give you the keys to your new home.

Orange Credit Union can also:

1. Organise Lender Mortgage Insurance with your loan to help you get into your home quicker if you do not have a full 20% deposit, your Lending Relations Officer will go through this with you at the time of receiving your application, they will advise you and organise any documents or requirements that you may need for your loan application to be successful.
2. The Orange Credit Union can also organise and submit the ‘First Home Owners Grant’ application if you qualify for the grant. 
3. Organise all of your insurance needs for you, as agents for QBE Insurance we can offer you a great deal on all of your insurance needs, home & building insurance, and landlords insurance, as well as full insurance for your vehicles, boats, caravans, bikes. You can also receive greater discounts if you have more than one policy with us.