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Offers & contracts
The lender's written commitment to hold your quoted rate for a set number of days — because until it's locked, the quote can move with the market.
A quote is weather; a lock is a contract. Locks run for a defined period and should comfortably cover your expected closing date, because extensions cost money and expirations reprice the loan.
Ask three things in writing: how long the lock runs, what an extension costs, and whether it includes a "float-down" if rates drop meaningfully before closing (some do, on terms).
When comparing lenders, compare locked quotes from the same day or two — an unlocked teaser against a locked rate is not a comparison, and daily rate-watching is noise until you have a contract and a lock to protect.
Source: CFPB — Buying a House (official guide)
Who confirms it for you: Your lender, in writing — the lock agreement is a document, not a conversation.
Educational, not advice — and never an eligibility determination. Program rules and loan requirements change; the cited source and the named confirmer are the authorities for your case.