Mortgage rates were mixed last week as the beginning of the week brought more bad economic data, while Thursday and Friday surprised with slightly better news. Meanwhile, Bernanke’s much-anticipated statement from Jackson Hole was more opt. . .
The information below applies to Purchase Transactions Only.
While shopping for a home loan, brokers and lenders will offer to pre-qualify or pre-
approve you for a mortgage. Home loan pre-qualification and pre-approval are different
and distinct processes, so it is important for you to understand the difference.
Pre-Qualified
A loan officer or loan processor working for a mortgage lender or broker can typically
pre-qualify you for a home loan within an hour. Getting pre-qualified for a home loan
is a good first step that will let you know if you should proceed to the pre-approval
process. To get pre-qualified you will need to complete a mortgage application and
allow the broker or lender to pull your credit. They will review the mortgage
application and your credit and let your know if you are pre-qualified.
Pre-Approved
Only a mortgage underwriter can pre-approve you for a home loan, loan officers and
processors can not. Typically mortgage brokers do not have underwriters on staff, so
they typically can not pre-approve your home loan. A valid pre-approval is the best
tool you can have when shopping for a new home. The key is to ensure that it is valid.
A valid pre-approval has been underwritten by an authorized underwriter (an underwriter
is the final person that says your loan is approved). If an underwriter pre-approves
your home loan application upfront, all you have to do is find the home you want, have
it appraised, and then you should be able to close in just a few days. Some mortgage
brokers and lenders will issue pre-approvals that have not been reviewed by an
authorized underwriter, be sure to ask.
To get pre-approved for a home loan you will need to provide the underwriter with your
income and asset documentation (W2’s, Bank Statements, etc). The underwriter will
review your credit, mortgage application, documentation, and then approve you for a set
loan amount and property value. Once you have been pre-approved for a home loan you are
ready to start shopping. The process typically takes a couple of days.
Knowing exactly what type of home loan you can obtain will allow you to shop and
negotiate with confidence. For example, you could inform a seller that you are pre-
approved for the mortgage and you are prepared to close next week. If the seller needs
to close quickly, it will not matter if there is another buyer that cannot close for
weeks or months. Plus, sellers do not like to take their properties off of the market
for long periods of time. The ability to close quickly is one way to get a great
deal.
To get pre-approved for a home mortgage you will need to provide the underwriter with
your income and asset documentation (W2’s, Bank Statements, etc). The underwriter will
review your credit and then approve you for a set loan amount and property value. Once
you have a pre-approved real estate mortgage you are ready to start shopping.
Read what customers say about our level of service.
Posted: 09/02/10 12:51 PM
I found Tim Atkinson to be very responsive and prompt to my inquiries. I never felt there was a dumb question and your company made me feel I was a valued customer.
Posted: 09/02/10 11:33 AM
Our Mortgage Processor, John Bessel, is great. -Very knowledgeable and helped us to find just the right rate/term combination for our needs. John spoke with me at length about the different financing options, helping to identify the one that fit us best. He has been quick to respond to questions and followed up relative to our loan status regularly.
Posted: 09/02/10 10:34 AM
This type of service related industry I feel is successful only with a diect co. . .
