Buying your first home is a daunting task and can be a huge undertaking for the first-time buyer. Shoot, even for a move-up buyer, the experienced downsizer or a seasoned investor, it can sometimes be difficult to know where to begin. But getting a mortgage pre-approval often remains the best first step in the process, and it’s also a likely reality that your Realtor won’t seriously consider showing you property until you are either pre-approved or pre-underwritten by a mortgage lender or broker. After all, it’s really tough to know your purchase power and your budget if you don’t know how much of a loan for which you can qualify.
But buyers and borrowers got it bad (so bad!) because they don’t teach “how to buy a home” in school. So it’s less about the education that you missed and probably more about the education you never got. But in just five fun minutes we’ll cover:
- What’s a pre-approval?
- How much does it cost to get a pre-approval?
- Will a pre-approval application hurt your FICO score?
- What happens once you’re pre-approved?
- How long is a pre-approval good for?
Grab your pencil and let’s learn how to rock a mortgage pre-approval!
I don’t feel tardy,
Rob Spinosa
SVP of Mortgage Lending
Guaranteed Rate
NMLS: 22343
Cell/Text: 415-367-5959
rob.spinosa@rate.com
Marin Office: 324 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo, CA 94960
*The views and opinions expressed on this site about work-related matters are my own, have not been reviewed or approved by Guaranteed Rate and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Guaranteed Rate. In no way do I commit Guaranteed Rate to any position on any matter or issue without the express prior written consent of Guaranteed Rate’s Human Resources Department.
