Design Earnest money deposit Pre-approval 
Redfin
JULY 14, 2025
Earnest money is a good-faith deposit buyers make when submitting an offer on a home. It’s designed to show the seller they’re serious about the purchase and typically ranges from 1% to 3% of the purchase price. The money is held in escrow and is typically applied towards the buyer’s closing costs or down payment.
Redfin
JULY 30, 2025
Knowing your true budget means going beyond just what a lender will approve you for. 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. Why pre-approval matters: It gives sellers confidence in your ability to close.
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Redfin
JUNE 27, 2025
Not getting pre-approved for a home loan before starting your search A common mistake for first-time homebuyers is jumping into the search without first getting pre-approved for a mortgage. A credit score of 500 is typically needed for mortgage approval. What financial requirements are necessary?
Redfin
JULY 30, 2025
You’re buying in a designated redevelopment area, where certain programs have less strict rules. Should I get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage? If you’re considering buying a home, you’ve likely heard of getting pre-qualified or pre-approved. You’ve been renting or living with family.
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? Many of these former homeowners would love to get back into owning a home, but how?
The Close
FEBRUARY 14, 2024
Myth #5: Buyers Prefer an ‘HGTV Style’ Home Remodel HGTV brought a lot of great things to homes—interior design on a budget, a newfound love for historic homes, and, of course, the dreaded open floor plan. I was new and didn’t know this, but their pre-approval was with an online lender with a less-than-stellar reputation.
Realty Biz
JULY 1, 2023
Depending on how far along in the escrow process you are, this can be done in a variety of ways: Providing a deposit - If you have not yet made an offer on a home, consider providing an earnest money deposit as your first step.
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