Time to get Pre Approved?

If you are ready to buy your own home or sell your current home and buy a new home there is something you need to know. Before you head out house hunting, it’s important to know what price range you’re in. Only by getting pre-approved can you know exactly how much mortgage financing you can qualify for!

Most home buyers have a rough idea how much they can afford to pay each month on their mortgage. But to translate that monthly payment into a maximum mortgage amount, it’s necessary to factor in things like how big your down payment is, adjustable interest rates, mortgage insurance premiums, property taxes, monthly association fees, insurance etc. You may not be qualified to borrow as much as you think. The only way to know for sure is by getting pre-approved. 

Sellers often prefer to negotiate with pre-approved buyers because they know you’re financially capable of closing the transaction. This is especially important in a multiple offer situation. Also, having a pre-approval letter can give you extra confidence in price negotiations. On top of that, real estate agents will generally give you extra time and effort when they know you're a well-qualified buyer. 

Before you begin, it’s important to know the difference between pre-approval and pre-qualification. To get a pre-qualification letter, you just call a mortgage broker or lender (or visit a website), provide some basic financial information, then wait a few minutes. But for a pre-approval letter, lenders require documentation to confirm employment, source of down payment and other financial details. Sure, a pre-approval takes longer, but the extra diligence is why it carries more weight.  

Keep in mind that if interest rates rise, your financial situation changes, or the pre-approval expiry date passes, your lender will have to look at your situation again and issue a new pre-approval. If you’re ready to get started we would be happy to introduce you to a Realtor and we’d be happy to take you through the pre-approval process—so you’re ready to buy as soon as your dream home comes along.