The Guideline Buddy Prompt Guide
Welcome! Whether this is your first time or your fiftieth, this guide will help you get sharper, faster answers out of Guideline Buddy. You don't need to be an "AI person" — just describe the file the way you'd explain it to a teammate across the desk.
🎯 Describe the Scenario
How to explain a file so Buddy nails it the first time
⚡ Two Habits That Matter
Why these two simple habits beat any clever wording
✅ Confirm Before You Decide
How to verify an answer before you decide how to act
The Prompt Formula — RCTF
You may remember the RCTF formula. It still works — but Buddy has gotten a lot smarter, so the weighting has changed. Two of these letters do almost all the work, and two are now just polish.
The Two That Matter Most
C = Context
The loan scenario — this is the whole ballgame.
"Self-employed borrower, 12 months bank statements, 580 FICO, 10% down on a primary."
T = Task
The actual question you want answered.
"Does this qualify for a manual underwrite?"
The Two That Are Optional Now
R = Role
Buddy already knows it's a mortgage guideline expert. Skip it unless you want a specific lens.
F = Format
Buddy formats cleanly on its own. Only ask if you have a preference.
"Give me the top 3 concerns in bullets."
5 Habits of a Great Prompter
Set the Scene
This is the single most important thing you do. Always include the details that change the answer: credit profile, income type, loan purpose, property type, occupancy, reserves, and the hurdle you're worried about.
Talk, Don't Type-Search
Use full sentences. Messy is fine — Buddy won't judge your grammar, and it reads a real-world file note better than a string of keywords.
Refine, Don't Restart
If an answer isn't quite right, tell Buddy what to add or fix — "now factor in the IBR student loan payment." Following up beats starting over almost every time.
Let Buddy Ask
If Buddy asks you a clarifying question, that's not it failing — that's it narrowing in, exactly like a good underwriter would. Answer it and keep going.
Give Feedback
A quick 👍 or 👎 helps Buddy get better over time.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Even experienced users fall into these traps. Recognizing them is the first step to getting consistently great answers from Buddy.
❌ Keyword Dumps
"FHA 580 no tradelines" gives Buddy nothing to work with. Ask the real question: "Can a borrower with a 580 FICO and no tradelines qualify for FHA?"
❌ No Scenario
Buddy can't guess the file. "FHA student loans" → "How does FHA treat student loan payments on an IBR plan?"
❌ Five Questions at Once
Walk through one scenario at a time. You'll get cleaner answers and a clearer trail.
❌ Taking the First Answer as Final
Buddy cites the guideline for a reason — use it. Always open the citation and confirm before you act.
The "Talk to It Like a Buddy" Mindset
This is the shift that changes everything: you're not searching — you're collaborating.
❌ Don't Do This
Type like you're hunting for a PDF section. Use fragments and keywords. Expect Buddy to fill in the blanks.
✅ Do This Instead
Type like you're walking a teammate through a file. Use complete thoughts, and say what you actually need.
"Hey Buddy, I've got a 620 FICO borrower with a recent Chapter 13 discharge — it's been 18 months. Are there any FHA options?"
The more you give it, the more useful it gets. And if you leave something out, Buddy will ask — so there's no pressure to get it perfect on the first try.
The AUS Mindset — Garbage In, Garbage Out
Just like DU, LP, or GUS, Buddy gives you results based on what you feed it. A clean file in means a clean answer out.
Give It:
Clear Credit Profile
FICO score, tradelines, derogatory history
Loan Purpose & Program Type
FHA, Conv, VA, USDA — purchase or refi
Key Hurdles
Collections, disputes, income type, occupancy
Get Back:
Program Eligibility
Clear yes/no with reasoning
Exact Guideline Citation
The source, not just the answer
Workarounds or Exceptions
Alternate paths you may not have considered
Trust, Then Verify
Every answer Buddy gives you comes with the source — it cites the exact guideline automatically. That's your superpower, so use it.
Buddy points you to the rule and gets you there fast. The decision is still yours. That's the difference between an LO who's fast and one who's fast and right — and it's how you stay clean if a file ever gets a second look.
Sample Prompts — Good, Better, Best
See the difference that context and a clear question make. Notice what makes the best prompt great — it's the detail and the clear question, not fancy wording.
Bad
"FHA DTI manual underwrite"
No scenario, no question. Buddy has nothing to go on.
Better
"What's the max FHA DTI with a 640 FICO and 2 months reserves for a manual underwrite?"
A specific scenario and a clear ask — much more useful.
Best
"My FHA borrower got a Refer from TOTAL Scorecard, so we're going manual. 640 FICO, 40/49 DTI, 2 months reserves, and 12 months of clean housing history. Will this pass a manual underwrite, and what compensating factors does FHA need at this DTI?"
A complete scenario plus a precise, layered ask. This is the gold standard.
Quick Tips + Final Reminder
Buddy's Quick Tips
- Describe the full scenario, not just keywords
- Include credit score, income type, property, occupancy, and reserves
- Follow up to refine — it's a conversation, not a one-shot
- Answer Buddy's clarifying questions; that's it doing its job
- Always open the citation and confirm before you act
Final Reminder
The better your input, the smarter the output. Buddy is your AI guideline expert, not your search bar.
Remember:
🤝 Collaborate
Not search
📋 Context First
C + T = 90%
✅ Verify Always
Click the citation
Talk to It Like a Buddy, Not a Bot