So we started building in July and our home is just about finished. Closing it set up for 10/29 at 11:00 a.m. 
I realize there is still some time between now and then as far as reading stories of closings that changed at the last minute. But for the meantime, I have been cheesing pretty hard. On Monday, we locked in our rate at 5% with Bank of America. Yes indeed, that was a great birthday present - hahahaha. When we put together the contract, rates were at the 5.5% range so I am a happy camper.
Shelly
CONGRATULATIONS 
and good luck on your closing. Great rate.
Starting Score: EQ-686 TU 703
I'm SINCERELY glad for you!
Don't do anything stupid, like I've done! No big purchases, no hard pulls!
Thanks so much on the congrats everyone!
Before we went to the bank to get our preapproval, we shut down applying for any credit....That is definitely great advice donkort....Our LO told us the same thing....We've started looking at a living room set and washer/dryer...But we are not purchasing ANYTHING until we get our keys No vacation...No nothing!!! If it wasn't already paid for, then we didn't do it, LOL....
Love2golf - I had to go look back at our notes but the following was our timeline. We have a FHA as well:
6/25/09: Under contract
7/10/09: Picked out selections at Design Center
7/21/09: Loan app started. Full automated preapproval received from builder's preferred lender (Bank of America). Given "to do list" for preliminary application. We already had our documentation together and so the application documents were all finished on the same day.
Week of 7/26/09: Enjoyed a cruise with the inlaws for their 55th birthday. Hence why the lender wanted to make sure he got our signatures before we left for vacation, lol....
Early to mid August: This seemed to take forever. I am finishing up graduate school and so my undergrad loans are in deferment. Well of course the underwriter wanted to see what my payments would be since the loans will go back into repayment next July. No biggie for us, we were expecting for our loans to be included in our DTI. However, the whole doing 3-way phonecalls between (in particular) Sallie Mae 
Good grief it was ridiculous!!!!
8/20/09: I guess between late July and mid-August, my file was finally released to the UW. Now when I talked with the lady who was gathering my stuff to submit to the UW, she confirmed that the UW knew the only thing holding up my file was getting the update for my student loans. To me, it seemed like it was taking forever and I wanted to be sure that it was not going to be seen as a negative. At any rate, the UW had my file and asked for additional information.
8/21/09: Submitted LOE for address discrepancy, fraud alert, and different name (oh the life of a married woman, lol)
Late August to mid September: Here we go again...No news to me meant good news...Obviously the UW was satisfied with my letter.
9/18/09: Builder's rep informs that they are shooting for 1st week in November for closing. Closing date will be firmed up at the end of the month.
9/19/09: Screech = my reply. Since I will be away on business (and I've told them that for some time), I said - we either have to close the last week in October or you have to wait til I get back in town mid-November because I wanted to be present at closing (versus signing over power of attorney to the dear hubby).
9/30/09: Builder and lender says they can close us on 10/29/09. Final walkthrough is set up for 10/26/09 in case there are punch list items to get done before closing. Our home will also be certified green, so we have another inspection that should happen around the same time as well in order for the final evaluation/points to be distributed....
10/5/09: Locked in our rate at 5%...No buydown or discount.....
Overall, I could not have imagined how great this homebuilding process would be....I'm sure things may have went a bit easier since we decided to use the builder's preferred lender....Our LO has been amazing!!!! For us, we were also able to take advantage of receiving closing costs and I'm sure from the builder's standpoint, he had piece of mind that he'd know quicker in terms of the loan status....It's been a hoot to drive by and see the progress....The exterior went quickly and as expected, the interior goes slower since there's only so many trades you can have in a space at one time...Enjoy!!!!
May I ask what your credit scores are? Don't mean to be intrusive. I'm curious what earns you such a great rate!
Congradulations!!!!!
Okay I figured I would share this so folks could get a good chuckle like I did just now....
Alrighty, so included in the papers of our contract was contact info on switching the utilities over in the home...Per the paperwork, at least 3 days before closing, we are to call the companies to get the utilities in our name and use our closing date as the start of service....
So I decide in kind to give our loan officer at the bank a call this morning....Told him I wanted to give him a heads up that since we'd be moving in a new county, it's pretty standard that your credit report is pulled to start service....Hence I called cause I was like - just want to let you know what we're doing in case another credit report is pulled...
Anyhow, the LO says thanks for the heads up but that another report wouldn't be run....
You know by time I got home this evening, there was an alert from Experian waiting on me....Landsafe pulled our report again TODAY, hahahahahaa....Then I hopped on here, checked both our accounts and yes indeed...Another credit report was pulled....
I just had to chuckle since earlier today the LO was adament that another report wouldn't be run....Guess the UW showed him
Although I guess it's a good thing I actually didn't get around to calling the new companies since I ended up spending most of my time setting up disconnection for my existing services today....Therefore, I should NOT have to write a LOX for new inquiries since they're not there!