If youre planning to buy a home this year, one of the first steps on your journey is getting pre-approved. Especially in todays market when mortgage rates are higher than they were just a few months ago, getting a mortgage pre-approval can be a game changer. Heres why.
What Is Pre-Approval?
To better understand why pre-approval is key, its important to know what pre-approval is. The Mortgage Reports explains it like this:
When youre ready to take the leap into homeownership, your first step is mortgage preapproval. . . . A mortgage preapproval is when a lender determines youre qualified for a home loan. Your preapproval letter shows the maximum loan amount youre approved for (your home buying budget), as well as the specific interest rate and loan term you can expect.
As part of the pre-approval process, a lender will look at your finances to determine what theyd be willing to loan you. From there, your lender will give you a pre-approval letter to help you understand your true price range and how much money you can borrow. That can make it easier when you set out to search for homes because youll know your overall numbers. And with mortgage rates rising and impacting affordability, a solid understanding of your numbers is even more important.
Pre-Approval Can Signal Youre a Serious Buyer
Another added benefit is that pre-approval lets the seller know youre qualified to buy their house. A recent article from realtor.com notes:
. . . getting pre-approved can actually improve your chances of falling into the sellers good graces, and youll want to get it done as early as you possibly can in the home-buying process.
Even though bidding wars are easing this year as the market shifts, preapproval is still an important part of making a strong offer. It can help a seller feel more confident because it shows youre serious about their home and that youre a qualified buyer.
Bottom Line
Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is critical. It helps you better understand what you can borrow and shows sellers youre serious about purchasing their home. Connect with a local real estate professional and a trusted lender so you have the tools you need to succeed as a homebuyer in todays market.
