What's an underwriter and what do they do?

An underwriter is the lender's reviewer who checks that your income, credit, assets, and the home meet the loan's guidelines. They may ask for more documents, which is normal. If the agent and lender do their jobs well, the buyer is usually prepared. Conditions sometimes come up from the appraisal or from a wood-destroying insect report, and they can delay a closing. In my experience, I've been able to work through those by communicating with the other agent about extra time if needed, and by curing the condition right away. Answer requests quickly, and avoid new debt or large deposits you can't document while your loan is in process.