{"id":8154,"date":"2023-09-25T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-25T10:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thezakariagroup.com\/beginning-with-pre-approval\/"},"modified":"2023-09-25T10:30:00","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T10:30:00","slug":"beginning-with-pre-approval","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thezakariagroup.com\/beginning-with-pre-approval\/","title":{"rendered":"Beginning with Pre-Approval"},"content":{"rendered":"
If you\u2019re looking to buy a home this fall, there are a few things you need to know. Affordability is tight with today\u2019s mortgage rates<\/a> and rising home prices<\/a>. At the same time, there\u2019s a limited number of homes<\/a> on the market right now and that\u2019s creating some competition among buyers. But, if you\u2019re strategic, there are ways to navigate these waters. The first thing you\u2019ll want to do is get pre-approved for a mortgage. That way you\u2019ll know your numbers and can set yourself up for success from the start of your home search.<\/p>\n To understand why it\u2019s such an important step, you need to know what pre-approval is. As part of the homebuying process, a lender looks at your finances to determine what they\u2019d be willing to loan you. From there, your lender will give you a pre-approval letter to help you know how much money you can borrow. Freddie Mac<\/em> explains<\/a> it like this:<\/p>\n \u201c<\/em>A pre-approval is an indication from your lender that they are willing to lend you a certain amount of money to buy your future home<\/em><\/strong>. . . . Keep in mind that the loan amount in the pre-approval letter is the lender\u2019s maximum offer. Ultimately, you should only borrow an amount you are comfortable repaying.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Basically, pre-approval gives you critical information about the homebuying process that\u2019ll help you understand how much you may be able to borrow. Why does this help you, especially today? With higher mortgage rates<\/a> and home prices<\/a> impacting affordability for many buyers right now, a solid understanding of your numbers is even more important so you can truly wrap your head around your options.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s face it, there are more buyers looking to buy than there are homes available for sale and that imbalance is creating some competition among homebuyers. That means you could see yourself in a multiple-offer scenario when you make an offer on a home. But getting pre-approved for a mortgage can help you stand out from other hopeful buyers.<\/p>\nWhat Pre-Approval Does for You<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Pre-Approval Helps Show Sellers You\u2019re a Serious Buyer<\/strong><\/h4>\n