Getting preapproved for a mortgage is an essential part of the home-buying process. While it’s possible to wait before securing your financing, there are major benefits to getting preapproval early.
For more information about preapproval, here are the basics to consider:
It’s recommended that would-be homebuyers obtain a preapproval letter from a mortgage lender as soon as possible in their buying process. The earlier you take care of this important step, the earlier you’ll know exactly how much money you can afford to spend on a home. This can help you narrow down your home search.
In addition to helping your home search, getting mortgage preapproval also shows sellers you are a qualified buyer. Preapproval requires a careful examination of your financial situation, including factors like debt-to-income ratio and liquid assets.
Going through the process confirms your eligibility for a mortgage and communicates to sellers that you’re less likely to back out of a sale.
Compare mortgage lenders to find the best fit for your needs. You can request a loan estimate and mortgage preapproval letter from a lender after providing essential documentation like investment account statements, bank statements, pay stubs and credit report.
If you intend to buy a home, it’s a good idea to get preapproved for a mortgage sooner rather than later. The more prepared you are with your finances, the more effective your home search will be.
You don’t need to do this alone. I am bilingual in English and Spanish, and I have been in the industry for over 20 years, after earning my degree in Business Management and successive studies in Human Resources and Technology. Never content to let my education lapse, I also received a certification in Negotiation Skills from Pepperdine University and attended courses at Stanford University. A leader in the field, I am a member of the Santa Clara Board of Realtors and served as a professional standards ombudsman for 8 years. I completed a term as the President of the National Hispanic Organization of Real Estate’s Santa Clara chapter in 2016, now serving as this organization’s National Vice President. I pursued additional in-depth training to achieve professional designations as an ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative), CRS (Certified Professional Specialist), and SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist), GREEN certification, and RCS-D (Divorce Real Estate Specialist). Far from being a meaningless alphabet soup, this demonstrates how proactive I am in pursuing the latest knowledge so that I completely prepared to satisfy all my sellers' and buyers' unique needs. I am committed to Excellence!