Benefits of Pre-Qualification
The Benefits of Getting Pre-Qualified for a Mortgage
During the height of the real estate boom, getting a mortgage was easy. Now, home buyers have to jump through hoola hoops before they can sign on the dotted line
Today, the first step in landing a home loan is obtaining a letter of preapproval. This means a mortgage lender has verified that you’re approved for a mortgage of a certain amount over a fixed timeframe.
Preapproval letters are prepared even before you’ve picked out your home. They remove some of the uncertainty in the home-buying process. In the current housing market, real estate agents and sellers don’t want to work with buyers unless they have been preapproved.
With a letter in hand, buyers know exactly how much they can borrow and therefore how much house they can afford. A preapproval letter shows the seller and the seller’s agent that the buyer is capable of buying their house. For most sellers, the issue is not whether they can get an offer, but whether they can close the deal.
Agents see preapproved buyers as more serious because they’ve taken proactive steps to secure a preapproval. When it’s time to make an offer, a preapproved buyer will be in a better position to negotiate especially if they have a large down payment and can close a cash deal. It will also allow the buyer and agents to be more efficient with their time in viewing properties that fall within the qualification range.
Here’s what home buyers need to know about mortgage preapproval.
Get Preapproved before you Begin your Search
When seeking preapproval, talk to a few different mortgage lenders to find the best mortgage package that suits your needs. Two or three lenders are customary but more aren’t necessary to get a good deal because loan packages are generally very similar and pricing tends to be comparable. It’s best to consult with lenders before you start house hunting. This way, you’ll know how much you can borrow and which houses are in your price range.
Prepare your financial biography.
Getting preapproved means a lender must review and verify a home buyer’s income, credit and assets to ensure he can make the necessary monthly payments on a house. In the wake of the housing bust, borrowers must be more forthcoming when it comes to their finances. Your lender should tell you precisely what you need, but be prepared to include:
- W2 statements (or 1099 income statements) for the last two years
- Federal tax returns for the last two years
- Bank statements for the last few months
- Recent pay stubs and proof of other income
- Proof of investment income
Understand the preapproval process does not obligate you to one lender.
Preapproval doesn’t bind you to a particular lender; it’s just a promise that the lender is willing to make the loan. It’s just a pre approval; the buyer isn’t obligated to borrow from that lender.
Contact us at 860-805-8500 to get help or you can reach us online.
