Redfin

JULY 17, 2025

Closing timeline: Aligning with the seller’s preferred timeline—or offering a rent-back—can give you an edge. Instead of going back and forth with each buyer, they ask everyone to submit their best and final offer by a set deadline. But what does it actually mean—and how should you handle it? What is a best and final offer?

Earnest money deposit

Redfin

JULY 30, 2025

Get pre-approved for a mortgage and have cash ready One of the biggest signals to sellers that you’re serious is a mortgage pre-approval letter. This is more than just pre-qualification: It shows a lender has already vetted your finances. Why pre-approval matters: It gives sellers confidence in your ability to close.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

MAY 24, 2021

Our expert-backed guide is here to help. A step up from pre-qualification, preapproval often means the lender gives conditional approval, stating the size of the mortgage you’ve been preapproved for (though what constitutes a “preapproval” can vary from lender to lender). Your budget is $300,000. Perfect match, right?

Pre-qualification

HomeLight

AUGUST 31, 2021

The associated contingencies , which come with additional risks for the seller, are where you’ll find most key distinctions between a cash offer and an offer backed by a mortgage loan. submit your purchase offer with a pre-qualification or preapproval letter from a lender, these funds aren’t a sure thing until the loan is fully approved.

Due diligence

HomeLight

DECEMBER 14, 2021

Be sure and ask any agent that you’re interviewing about these qualifications. You need to sell or buy a home — and to find a Realtor ® for that transaction, you have to sift through thousands of people who could make or break one of the most serious, important financial decisions in your life. Where do you begin? Find an Agent.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

MARCH 2, 2023

Closing costs in California average about 1% of the home’s sale price , and there are other pre-paid costs you might have as well. This Pacific Coast city combines the urban vibes of art and culture alongside fun physical activities like surfing or boating. Looking to Buy Your Dream Home in San Diego?

Closing

HomeLight

JANUARY 4, 2022

It wasn’t long ago that the decision to sell your house for cash was associated with a neglected or foreclosed property whose value had plummeted, as an investor swooped in to snatch it up for a bargain. A 2022 market survey conducted by HomeLight echoes that cash is here to stay. Sell Your House for Cash: Request an Offer Today. Request Offer.

Investor