Redfin

JULY 31, 2025

Look into first-time homebuyer benefits Many programs are designed to make homeownership more accessible for first-time buyers by reducing upfront costs, lowering monthly payments, and helping with mortgage qualification. Someone who can focus on structural and design aspects of the home instead of staging is preferred.

Purchase and sale agreement

Rochester Real Estate

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

For example, if you use a bank for your loan you may already have a pre-existing relationship with them and they sometimes offer very competitive interest rates. Have you tried calling a bank on a Saturday night to get a pre-approval letter? These include improving credit and balancing your debt to income ratio.

Finance

Housing Wire

MAY 7, 2025

Ive had clients come in looking to restructure their debt some are refinancing personal loans or extending their car loan terms just to make room in their monthly budget for the reinstated student loan payments. King is concerned that borrowers who missed payments will have unrealistic expectations about their mortgage qualifications.

Loans

McKissock

JANUARY 31, 2021

Maybe they made a new purchase and their debt to income ratio is too high. Or maybe the underwriter feels that their income and credit score isn’t high enough. Often, lenders do a pre-qualification that is strictly based on the information that the client gives the lender.

Debt-to-income ratio

HomeLight

DECEMBER 8, 2023

The temporary debt juggling act: A key factor in the bridge loan process is your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Your lender will determine this ratio through an equation that involves the payments on your existing mortgage, the payments for the new house, and any interest-only payments on your bridge loan.

Equity

HomeLight

JUNE 27, 2022

You’re choosing from pre-set finishes and you may get to choose paint colors, types of flooring , fixture finishes, and appliance packages. These allow you to choose a few paint colors and add-ons, but you will mostly get pre-built features that the builder has already decided on. Tour the model homes. Shop around for your mortgage.

New Construction

Windemere Buying

OCTOBER 18, 2021

Not getting pre-approved Getting pre-approved is a key component of the early stages of the buying process and will help to maximize your chances of getting your offer accepted. Because new credit changes your debt-to-income ratio, lenders will likely want to review your mortgage approval and your risk of non-payment.

Pre-approval