Choosing a Reputable Lender
Choosing a Reputable Lender and Obtaining a Pre-Approval
In the past buyers used to go house shopping first and then obtain a pre-approval after finding the right home. However, in today’s fast paced real estate market, that has proven to be one of the least effective methods in landing a home since most sellers expect a pre-approval to accompany an offer in order to even be considered.
Most lenders can pre-qualify you for a mortgage loan over the phone or via the internet, based on general questions about your income, debt, assets, and credit history. However, being pre-qualified and pre-approved are different things. A pre-approval generally means that you have applied for a mortgage and filled out a mortgage application, received a credit report and verified your employment, assets, etc. When you are pre-approved, you know exactly what your maximum loan amount will be.
On the other hand, a pre-qualified letter is not verified and in essence, does not count for much if you are competing with other buyers who are pre-approved. When you are pre-approved, you and the seller know exactly how much house you can afford. It gives you credibility as a viable buyer and lets the seller know immediately that you qualify for a loan to buy their property.
In addition to being pre-approved, it’s important to have obtained your pre-approval from a reputable lender, such as: banks, mortgage bankers, credit unions, savings and loan associations, mortgage brokers, and online lenders.
You should always deal with a lender that you have heard of and is known to your agent.
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MARK SIMPSON, Assoc. Broker/REALTOR®
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