When you are buying, or selling a home, your most important step to take is choosing the right real estate agent or buyer's agent. The process is very detailed and difficult and you will want someone that could potentially save you from mistakes that can cost a great deal of money.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Get Pre-Approved Before You Contact a Real Estate Agent

by Richard_T._Tyler

With the real estate industry plunging into a fiasco, it's a riskier move to make impulsive property investments on your own. It's during such times that you'll need most the assistance of a qualified agent and to be pre-approved first before you go on house-hunting.

Last year, a lot of homeowners fell into purchasing houses they can't afford. It also didn't help that dodgy agents spread in numbers. Some buyers signed on purchasing contracts unaware of hidden terms. Mortgages were sold to other lenders, who in return, raised the credit rate to profit. This forced homeowners who couldn't afford anymore to pay regular mortgage dues to bargain their properties.

To prevent the same story from repeating itself on your case, getting assessed for a mortgage will inform you right away whether you can or cannot afford a specific property. Your ability to purchase a house will be based on several criteria like your salary, credit history, monthly income, etc. Basically, standards you would usually miss out when you're assessing your property purchasing power on your own since most likely, you would be too eager to buy the house to make deeper evaluations.

Look for a bank within your area that deals with mortgages instead of searching online, which would not be wise considering the present situation. It will assure you that you directly know who you're dealing with. Moreover, it is important for you to be able to ask all questions you have and mostly, it's more convenient to do this personally.

For pre-approval, basically you would have to fill out an application. Then the banker does some financial background checks based on the information you provided and some existing records they have access too. They will check your performance in paying past and current loans. They will also review your current assets, their value and potential for liquidation or as security to back-up your loan.

It is also a good idea to do a personal check on your credit card and other loan reports to ensure that you'll have no problems once you apply for mortgage pre-approval. Check with all three agencies. If you find something questionable, keep the record and report to the company in charge as right away. You can request for the removal of the irregular item if possible.

If you want to step-up the chances of your pre-approval to turn out positively, you may want to settle some of your debt. Your credit score will be checked by the mortgage lender. The higher the score, the better the interest rate will be offered to you. If the credit score is below 650, then probably it's better to postpone your plans of buying a property.

The actual house-hunting starts once you have been pre-approved. At this stage, you can already employ the service of a licensed property agent who'll help you look for the property which fits your budget and your other preferences. And from here, it'll be just a few doorsteps to your new dream home.

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