Unless you were recently selected as the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft or released a hit album, you probably won’t pay for your new house in cash. Like millions of Americans, you’ll take out a mortgage.
Before you begin your housing search, try to get a mortgage preapproval. After reviewing and verifying some of your financial information, lenders will tell you how much money they’d be willing to let you borrow. Getting preapproved can speed up the sale process and demonstrates to sellers that you’re serious about buying.
Here’s a closer look at how you could benefit from a mortgage preapproval and what it takes to get one.
NARROWS THE SCOPE OF THE HOUSING SEARCH
On a very basic level, buying a home is like deciding where to go for dinner. Although the possibilities may seem endless, you’ll need to stick to your budget. Ask yourself, how much house can I afford? And stay within that range. Otherwise, you may end up regretting your decision. A mortgage preapproval ensures that you can focus on looking at homes that you can afford, since a lender provides you with a letter saying how much money you could get from it for a mortgage.
HOW PREAPPROVALS HELP BUYERS
When looking at homes, a preapproval letter can be a great tool with which to impress sellers. This document indicates that you’re serious about buying. More importantly, it shows you’d probably get the needed financing and that you have the backing of a lender to go through with a deal. Having that kind of support could even give you additional leverage when negotiating the final price of a home.
GETTING PREAPPROVED WITH AZURA
There's more than just one way to get preapproved for a mortgage at Azura Credit Union. Potential buyers can visit us in person, apply online or even get preapproved over the phone! We have a dedicated team ready to help you finance your new home.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO REMEMBER
Getting a mortgage preapproval isn’t a 100% guarantee that you’ll receive a loan. However, as long as there aren’t any dramatic changes in your personal finances, it’s fairly safe to assume that the lender will let you borrow the stated amount. Therefore, it’s best not to switch jobs just before applying for a mortgage and to avoid racking up additional debt between getting preapproved and actually trying to borrow the money.
THE TAKEAWAY
Once you have a preapproval letter in hand, you’ll be that much closer to buying your own home, even if you haven’t won the lottery!
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