What is most likely to hold this condo file up next?
The most common blockers are: missing HOA questionnaire, incomplete financial documents, unclear project status, unknown occupancy type, disclosed but unresolved litigation, missing insurance documentation, or low/unconfirmed reserves. If one of these isn't clearly resolved, it's probably the next thing that will hold the file up.
Why it's not always simple
Different files have different vulnerabilities. A file with a clearly defined project might stall on financial documentation, while another file might move through financials quickly but stall on an unresolved questionnaire. The next blocker depends on the specific project facts and what's already been resolved.
The bigger issue: you often don't know what will hold you up until you're actually waiting for it.
What people usually miss
People assume if the initial intake went smoothly, the file will keep moving smoothly. What usually gets missed:
- The first phase of obstacles is different from the middle phase — new blockers emerge as review deepens
- A project that looked fine at intake might reveal delinquency or litigation mid-process
- Documentation that seemed adequate turns out to be incomplete when the lender reviews it
- HOA cooperation that seemed fine at intake can slow down in the follow-up phase
- Not asking the right diagnostic questions upfront to surface potential blockers
- Assuming progress is constant when file movement usually follows a stop-and-start pattern around blockers
The real problem: files usually stall at one of a handful of predictable chokepoints, but people don't anticipate which one.
Example
A processor has a file moving relatively smoothly through intake. But she hasn't systematically confirmed project status, occupancy type, or whether litigation exists. When the file hits the underwriting phase, all three items are flagged as incomplete or unconfirmed. The file stalls while she goes back to gather what should have been confirmed upfront. If she'd run through a systematic check of known blockers at the start, she would have anticipated and resolved this issues weeks earlier.
If this is a real file
Don't just assume the file will keep moving. Take a moment to systematically check: project status confirmed? Occupancy type clear? Litigation disclosed and addressed? Key documents on hand? If any of those are unclear or missing, they're probably what's about to hold you up.
If you want to quickly understand what's most likely to hold your specific file up and get ahead of it, you can run a 60-second pre-screen.