Consumer complaint received 2022-09-22
Product: Mortgage — VA mortgage
Issue: Closing on a mortgage — 
Company: Parkway Financial Group, LLC (WA)

On XX/XX/XXXX my Husband and I decided to look at new construction homes in XXXX Washington. We had just gotten married a few weeks prior to viewing the home and were just looking at what was available to us. Upon getting to XXXX XXXX we found a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX home that we felt would fit our future needs. It was on sale for {$510000.00} for their purple tag sale that month. We were told to just try applying and see what happens but to use their suggested mortgage lender Inspire Home Loans. As newlyweds and first-time home buyers, we were excited to possibly buy this new home. My husband is active military so we opted to use our VA loan. After filling out this application we informed our newly assigned loan officer XXXX XXXX that we have not yet received the XXXX that is given to us once we inform the XXXX of our legal marriage. XXXX told us this is not a problem we should still apply and try to move forward. He also was confused about which of us was active military and we clearly stated it was my husband multiple times. Throughout this process, XXXX has failed to remain clear on anything and we had to correct him multiple times on different things. A new issue arose when I told him I had just started my first job out of college and did not have 12 months of work history. XXXX still pressed us to move forward claiming everything will be fine and he can use my school time as work history. So this is what we did and a few weeks later we were told how much our loan would be, and how much we needed at closing. We then opted to tie our closing costs into our loan which does change the amount on the loan. XXXX still informed us we could qualify and everything would be okay. We asked when we should hand over our {$7500.00} earnest money to XXXX XXXX and XXXX said we were good to go and we can give our earnest money whenever. On the other end, XXXXXXXX XXXX told us that we had to give our earnest money by XX/XX/XXXX and that they had raised the price of our home within 24 hours of last speaking with their company about the price of our home. Even with this new knowledge, we moved forward and suddenly he needed proof of XXXX. We told him at the very beginning we have no control over when it will start, we went to the proper appointments through the XXXX and filed our marriage through them so we should be receiving it within a few months. As of today 's date XX/XX/XXXX, we still are waiting for the XXXX to start. A month or so went by after we signed and agreed to the new loan amount with closing costs included and issues arose in my place of work and I had to leave. At this point, I thought the loan would be over, and we'd be issued a denial and that would be that. But this was not the case, XXXX emailed me and said if I could find a new job before the end of XXXX we would be in the clear and still be able to close on the house. So it being the first week of XXXX and still wanting this home, I applied to anything and anywhere that would pay me. Of course, trying to rush something like this never works and I didn't hear back from anyone until I applied at XXXX. I did their initial screening and got approved and an offer letter. But the offer letter they send to people has a contingency in it that says I have to pass a background check and a drug screen. I did this, but their offer letter is mass sent out so it's automatically in it. XXXX says this works, but he needs an XXXX  number which I didn't have. At this point, my husband and I were so confused and tired of stressing over all of this that we made the choice to back away from the loan. We made a phone call to XXXX and called XXXXXXXX XXXX  and everyone knew. Or so we thought. A few days later on XX/XX/XXXX, I received an email claiming they were forced to move forward with the loan because my husband and I failed to let them know what we wanted. So they denied us based on my work history and current employment status. This obviously is not true as we had backed away on XX/XX/XXXX. We were then told we could not receive our earnest money back which we had expected however now we are upset because they are not issuing the correct information and denying us something that we feel they would have done regardless of my job situation. We feel they led us astray and to believe that we could qualify for a large home loan that we never could truly afford. At this point, we would like to see if we can get our earnest money back and walk away. Do you have any information about if it's possible to get our earnest money back? Please help us navigate this situation.