After you get a mortgage loan, there are certain things that the mortgage lender expects from you.

1. The debt to be paid
2. Property taxes to be paid
3. Home insurance to be paid
4. They want you to maintain the property so that the collateral will be enough to pay off the debt.

What most borrows don’t understand or know is that they can’t make significant improvements to the home without lender approval. So, if you want to make a room addition, add a swimming pool or finish a basement, under most loan documents you have to get written authorization from the lender to do so. Otherwise, you are in breach of your mortgage loan documents.

What could they do if you have not gotten written authorization and they catch you? They could accelerate your mortgage loan and make you pay it all off all at once.