New Home Buyer Tip: Pre Qualification Vs. Pre Approval

Have you been pre-approved for a mortgage? When this question is posed to a prospective home buyer they usually give an honest yes or no answer. But in many cases they do not know that pre-qualified and pre-approved have two similar but different meanings.

Pre-qualification is only a loan agent's opinion that you will be able to obtain financing. No verifications are made, so no formal approval has been issued.

Pre-Approval means your loan application has been taken through a rigorous procedure. Pre-Approval saves you the time of looking at houses you cannot afford.

Pre-Approved buyers are ahead in the home buying process. If you make an offer on a home and then apply for a loan, instead of the other way around, you are the mercy of the lender who now knows that you don't have time to shop around.

A Pre-Approval letter from a lender will also give you an edge when multiple offers have been made on a home. Pre-Approved buyers generally close escrow more quickly since most of the paperwork has already been taken care of.

I work with a great group of Mortgage Brokers who are extremely knowledgeable about different mortgage programs that include First Time Home Buyer Programs and Downpayment Assistance. Let me know if you would like them to contact you!