# Overlay question ladder

**Mortgage Dorks Season 1**
**Course:** The Glossary - Learn the Language
**Lesson:** Overlays: Guideline Says Yes, Lender Says No
**Format:** Script

## Use This For

Show why a file can be technically eligible and still not fit a specific lender.

## Artifact Contents

- Is the issue baseline eligibility?
- Is it a published overlay?
- Is it investor appetite?
- Is there a documented exception path?
- What would change the answer?

## How To Use It

- Find one past decline and label the blocker: baseline, overlay, appetite, or missing docs.

## Guardrail

Use this as education and workflow support, not as an approval, legal, tax, or financial-advice shortcut.