$\"Before$ \n

Be honest. Have you started looking at homes online yet? If you have, it\u2019s already time to get pre-approved<\/strong>. Because here\u2019s what not enough people know.<\/p>\n

If buying a home<\/a> is on your radar \u2013 even if it\u2019s more of a someday<\/em> plan than a right now<\/em> plan \u2013 you don\u2019t want to wait until later on in the process to tackle this step.<\/p>\n

No matter what you\u2019ve heard, pre-approval isn\u2019t about commitment<\/em>. It\u2019s about clarity<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And here are the two big ways pre-approval sets you up for success.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

You Know Your Numbers Up Front<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h4>\nDuring the pre-approval process, a lender will walk through your finances and tell you what you can borrow based on your income, debts, credit score<\/a>, and more. And once you have that number, your search becomes a lot more focused.<\/p>\n
With a mortgage pre-approval, you know what you can borrow, so it\u2019s easier to figure out your ideal price point, and what you can actually afford.<\/strong> And that clarity is key.<\/p>\n
Because if you just start browsing online and just guess at your price point, you run the risk of falling for a house that\u2019s outside of your price range \u2013 or missing out on ones that aren\u2019t.<\/p>\n
You want this number to be clearly defined before your search. Here\u2019s why.<\/p>\n
You Can Move Quickly When You Find the One<\/strong><\/h4>\n
This is how a lot of home searches go today. You scroll through listings just to see what\u2019s out there, and then it happens. You fall in love with something you\u2019ve seen online.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re already pre-approved? You\u2019re probably in great shape.<\/p>\n
But if you\u2019re not\u2026<\/p>\n
Instead of being able to jump on that house and quickly make an offer, you have to scramble to get a lender, gather the financial documents, and then submit the necessary pre-approval paperwork first. And while you\u2019re waiting to hear back from your lender, someone else who\u2019s more prepared could beat you to the house. As Bankrate <\/em>explains:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best time to get a mortgage preapproval is before you start looking for a home.<\/em><\/strong> If you find a home you love but don\u2019t have a preapproval in hand, you likely won\u2019t have time to get preapproved before you need to make an offer . . .\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
And that\u2019s avoidable, with the right prep.<\/p>\n
Because while you can\u2019t control when the right home shows up, you can<\/em> be ready for it. Think of it like showing up to the starting line with your shoes tied and your warm-up done \u2013 while everyone else is still looking for parking.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not about rushing your timeline. It\u2019s about removing the delay between finding the right home and being able to move on it.<\/strong><\/p>\n
One Thing You Need To Know About Pre-Approvals<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Speaking of timing, pre-approvals do have an expiration date. So, be sure to ask your lender how long it\u2019s good for. The Mortgage Reports <\/em>explains:<\/p>\n
\u201c<\/em>Mortgage preapproval letters are typically valid for anywhere from 30 to 90 days.<\/em><\/strong> However, a preapproval can be updated and extended if the lender re-checks your information.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Doing the right prep and knowing this information can make the whole process a lot smoother.<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t have to be ready to buy<\/em> to be ready to buy.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Getting pre-approved doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re committing to buy right now. It just means you\u2019ve taken a step to understand your numbers. And when a home catches your attention, you\u2019re prepped and good to go.<\/p>\n
Bottom Line<\/h3>\n
Ask yourself this: if your perfect home popped up tomorrow, would you be ready to make a move?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
If the answer is no and you want to buy, it may be time to get pre-approved. You don\u2019t feel behind before your search even officially kicks off.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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