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Why do I need to get a Pre-Approval before I look at houses?

Writer's picture: Charles "Skip" GeiserCharles "Skip" Geiser




If you’re buying a home this spring, today’s housing market can feel like a challenge. With so few homes on the market right now, plus higher mortgage rates, it’s essential to have a firm grasp on your homebuying budget. You’ll also need a sense of determination to find the right house and act quickly when you go to put in an offer. One thing you can do to help you prepare is to get pre-approved.


To understand why it’s such an important step, you need to know what pre-approval is. As part of the process, a lender looks at your finances to determine what they’d be willing to loan you. From there, your lender will give you a pre-approval letter to help you understand how much money you can borrow.

Freddie Mac explains it like this:

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. . . . Keep in mind that the loan amount in the pre-approval letter is the lender’s maximum offer. Ultimately, you should only borrow an amount you are comfortable repaying.”

Basically, pre-approval gives you critical information about the homebuying process that’ll help you understand how much you may be able to borrow so you have a stronger grasp of your options. And with higher mortgage rates impacting affordability for many buyers today, a solid understanding of your numbers is even more important.


Pre-Approval Helps Show You’re a Serious Buyer


That’s not the only thing pre-approval can do. Another added benefit is it can help a seller feel more confident in your offer because it shows you’re serious about buying their house. And, with sellers seeing a slight increase in the number of offers again this spring, making a strong offer when you find the perfect house is key.

As a recent article from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) says:

If you plan to use a mortgage for your home purchase, preapproval should be among the first steps in your search process. Not only can getting preapproved help you zero in on the right price range, but it can give you a leg up on other buyers, too.”


Bottom Line


Getting pre-approved is an important first step when you’re buying a home. It lets you know what you can borrow for your loan and shows sellers you’re serious. Connect with a local real estate professional and a trusted lender so you have the tools you need to purchase a home in today’s market.




 

What is the Market Doing?


 

Escambia County


Escambia

Month

Closed Sales

% Change Year Over Year

March 2023

463

-18.1

Feb

345

-22.6

Jan 2023

304

-28.0

Dec 2023

375

-31.7

Nov 2022

321

-31.1%

Oct 2022

438

-15.8%

​Sep 2022

459

-13.1

Aug 2022

518

-2.1%

Jul 2022

505

-9.8%

Jun 2022

592

-3.6%

May 2022

583

16.8%

Apr 2022

522

0.2%

Mar 2022

565

2.5%

Feb 2022

446

14.4%

Information from Florida Realtors

 

Santa Rosa County







Santa Rosa County

Month

Closed Sales

% Change Year Over Year

​March 2023

404

-12.2

Feb 2023

257

-35.8

Jan 2023

228

-27.2%

Dec 2023

330

-30.2%

Nov 2022

281

-31.3%

Oct 2022

331

-34.5%

Sep 2022

373

-20.1%

Aug 2022

427

-15.3%

Jul 2022

410

-20.1%

Jun 2022

492

-11.5%

May 2022

447

-4.1%

Apr 2022

421

-7.9%

Mar 2022

460

-0.4%

Feb 2022

400

9.6%

Information from Florida Realtors

 


Current Mortgage Rates


 







 



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The information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice. Skip Geiser LLC. does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained herein. Nothing herein should be construed as investment advice. You should always conduct your own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice before making any investment decision. Skip Geiser LLC. will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on the information or opinions contained herein.


 



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