Underwriting - Commute letter from employer

[newmomnewme]

Background - 

Made it to the mortgage loan processor with a conditional approval feeling super excited. Today she requested the following:

-quarterly statement from 401ks

-copy of EMD cancelled check

-Contact info for Employer so SHE could request the commute letter

I have been working almost 100% remote unofficially for over 14 years. Obviously officially 100% remote for that past two years during COVID. Last month, My manager asked that I come in once per week starting Mar 28th. The others in my department are coming in 3 days weekly. Currently, My son attends virtual academy so I told my manager I may have to come in on the weekends until he gets out of school. She said ok. 

The mortgage loan processor wants the contact information for HR (who I assumed will eventually contact my manager) so she can have HR send the letter. When I called my manager to give her a heads up, she said "we don't have any 100% remote positions here, I've been looking out for you by assigning you to one day on-site starting March 28th" She suggested that I wait a couple more years for the market to cool so I could buy a home in our service area if I didn't want to find a job in the city where the house is. I am devastated and feel like I should give up. 

Question - 

What exactly does the letter from HR need to say? Will the mortgage processor tell HR I want to purchase a home in another state? Should I explain my situation in more detail, like I am remote capable and will go into the office as needed, less than 20% on-site? Should I keep my apt near the job so I can have a place in both states? 😢

I am afraid to send my EMD before knowing the letter is accepted. I am pissed because I can't afford any homes locally....and I literally didn't work on-site for the 10 years before COVID. 

Any insights you all have I would appreciate. 

[VALoanMaster]

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@newmomnewme wrote:

Background - 

Made it to the mortgage loan processor with a conditional approval feeling super excited. Today she requested the following:

-quarterly statement from 401ks

-copy of EMD cancelled check

-Contact info for Employer so SHE could request the commute letter

I have been working almost 100% remote unofficially for over 14 years. Obviously officially 100% remote for that past two years during COVID. Last month, My manager asked that I come in once per week starting Mar 28th. The others in my department are coming in 3 days weekly. Currently, My son attends virtual academy so I told my manager I may have to come in on the weekends until he gets out of school. She said ok. 

The mortgage loan processor wants the contact information for HR (who I assumed will eventually contact my manager) so she can have HR send the letter. When I called my manager to give her a heads up, she said "we don't have any 100% remote positions here, I've been looking out for you by assigning you to one day on-site starting March 28th" She suggested that I wait a couple more years for the market to cool so I could buy a home in our service area if I didn't want to find a job in the city where the house is. I am devastated and feel like I should give up. 

Question - 

What exactly does the letter from HR need to say? Will the mortgage processor tell HR I want to purchase a home in another state? Should I explain my situation in more detail, like I am remote capable and will go into the office as needed, less than 20% on-site? Should I keep my apt near the job so I can have a place in both states? 😢

I am afraid to send my EMD before knowing the letter is accepted. I am pissed because I can't afford any homes locally....and I literally didn't work on-site for the 10 years before COVID. 

Any insights you all have I would appreciate. 

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How far of a commute is it?

[newmomnewme]

thank you for responding. 
7 hour drive, 45 min flight. to most of our office locations. 

[VALoanMaster]

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@newmomnewme wrote:

thank you for responding. 
7 hour drive, 45 min flight. to most of our office locations. 

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That makes sense. Occupancy fraud is one of the biggest issues in mortgage lending so lenders are hyper sensitive to situations like this. As long as your manager or HR states that you work remotely and only need to go in once a month, you should be fine.

[newmomnewme]

@VALoanMasterI figured it had to be something like that. I sent the contact information today and I'm hoping for the best. My manager can explain my schedule to HR and hopefully the letter they send meets the need.

I'll let you all know how it turns out...I didn't see much about this topic on the forums. 

[newmomnewme]

UPDATE - spoke to processor she said HR never responded to her request for information, she will try again next week....if they never respond, she I'll make a note and do the regular employment verification - #of years employed and salary. I think we have an automated line for that information. I'll keep this thread updated....I know I can't be the only one. I read an article a couple of days ago "covid impact on work location" lots of folks moving across the country to places with lower costs for living. 

[crnbread73]

I also had to provide this as my corporate office is 4 hours from where I purchased my home.  When I originally purchased, I had to to provide the letter. My manager was able to complete a letter that said that I had the ability to work remotely as needed.  This along with the explanation that I worked about 2-3 days per week in the office was sufficient.  When I refi'd the first time, no questions asked.  But I am in the process of a refi right now and they asked for it again.  Luckily, I am 100% remote permanently.  My letter does say that I am a CA home office based employee but that didn't matter to them.  They only wanted to see that I am fully remote.  I still spend 2-3 days per week in CA as I travel for work but that didn't matter.

Good luck!

[newmomnewme]

Thanks everyone. Today I made to request via HR....the rep said he would work on the request and asked when I needed it. I found out that the reason my job is being extra serious about folks coming back in is because of covid...word is they are trimming the fat 😳. I'm working extra hard and going in weekly to make sure they know I am following the rules. My title will be ready on Friday...I'm hoping the letter is ready by then too.