Redfin

JUNE 13, 2025

In this Redfin article, we’ll walk you through what’s different as a second-time homebuyer, how to prep your finances, and what strategies ease the transition—whether you’re upgrading in Flagstaff, AZ , downsizing, or just making a change in Fort Worth, TX. Needs strong financial reserves or bridge financing.

Debt-to-income ratio

Rochester Real Estate

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

Factors such as earnest money deposits, loan approvals, and real estate agent involvement should be considered. Additionally, if all your bids are accepted, you may face the challenge of financing multiple purchases simultaneously. Consider factors like real estate contingencies, timelines, and financing options.

Earnest money deposit

Redfin

JULY 30, 2025

Key takeaways: First-time homebuyer: Anyone who hasn’t owned a primary residence in the past three years Common first-time homebuyer qualifications: Credit score, debt-to-income ratio, down payment, income limits, employment history, purchase limits, homebuyer education Buying your first home? Let’s get started.

Debt-to-income ratio

Redfin

JULY 30, 2025

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. Pre-qualification: An informal lender evaluation of your finances, estimating affordability.

Pre-approval

The Mortgage Report

JULY 7, 2025

Getting Pre-Approved Down Payment Assistance Buying With Low Credit Buying With Low Income Buying With A Disability Who Has The Best Mortgage Rates? The best time to borrow is when the market’s in your favor and your finances are solid. How Much Home Can I Afford? Check your best options to tap home equity.

Equity

The Mortgage Report

JULY 1, 2025

Getting Pre-Approved Down Payment Assistance Buying With Low Credit Buying With Low Income Buying With A Disability Who Has The Best Mortgage Rates? Personal finance expert and senior contributor at Save My Cent, Andrew Gosselin , says this news shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone. How Much Home Can I Afford?

Loans

Marco Santarelli

JUNE 28, 2025

It's essential to factor in that for larger loan amounts, many lenders may require a larger down payment or stricter qualification criteria. Key strategies include: Getting Pre-Approved : This will provide you with an idea of what you can afford and can set you up for a smoother closing process.

Mortgages

Redfin

JULY 31, 2025

If you’re unsure where to start, check with HUD-approved counseling agencies, non-profit organizations, and local housing authorities to find available courses. Check with your state’s housing finance agency for options. When preparing your finances, be sure to budget for regular upkeep and repairs.

Purchase and sale agreement

Marco Santarelli

MARCH 23, 2025

This slight decline might provide a silver lining for those trying to secure their financing. These values offer insights into not just how much these homes will cost, but also how potential homebuyers can plan their finances accordingly. Pre-approval: Before looking at homes, you should get pre-approved for a mortgage.

Mortgages

Redfin

JULY 7, 2025

From untangling shared finances to understanding how property division works in your state, there are legal, financial, and emotional factors to consider before moving forward. Document everything: Keep detailed records of your finances and communications related to the purchase to protect yourself during the divorce process.

Debt-to-income ratio

Redfin

MARCH 4, 2025

The difference between these two accounts is that traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax, so youll be taxed once taking them out. Here are some factors to consider: Pros of buying a home with 401(k) funds Easier qualification process: With most loans, theyll examine your finances and run a credit check in order to approve the loan.

Debt-to-income ratio

Housing Wire

MAY 7, 2025

Weve also seen a slowdown in pre-approvals for new mortgages as lenders are recalculating DTI ratios with student loans back on the books. Carlos Scarpero, a mortgage broker at Edge Home Finance , says hes noticed two key rule changes that are leading him to have to decline multiple borrowers with student loan issues.

Loans

Housing Wire

JANUARY 18, 2022

Clients will be able to finance 100% of their purchase…and do this faster than a conventional mortgage,” the company said. “By ” Per the company’s website , it takes five minutes to receive a pre-qualification for a mortgage, though final approval is conditional on finishing the application and providing supporting documents.

Mortgages

Housing Wire

AUGUST 13, 2021

Existing investors and others including Andreessen Horowitz, Singapore’s GIC, GGV Capital and Moore Specialty Credit participated in the round, which pre-empted a capital raise that could have featured new investors, she said. We’re aiming to bring a legitimacy to alternative home financing options,” said Hefets.

Pre-qualification

HomeLight

JUNE 19, 2023

Like pre-qualification or pre-approval. Let’s lay it all out: How pre-qualifications and pre-approvals are similar Pre-qualifications and pre-approvals have a few things in common. Learn More What’s a pre-qualification? But what exactly are they?

Pre-qualification

Housing Wire

JULY 4, 2024

Current market challenges The real estate market is currently characterized by a complex interplay of factors: Interest Rate Volatility: Fluctuating interest rates have made it difficult for potential buyers to predict the cost of financing a home. Yes, prices are higher, but this also means homes are valuable long-term investments.

Pre-qualification

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 22, 2023

Texas residents interested in becoming a real estate agent must first complete 180 hours of approved coursework to be eligible to sit the state licensure exam. After you complete all six courses, you’ll have to take and pass the pre-license course final exam. That’s a longer program than in most states. How much exactly?

Pre-approval

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 28, 2023

I’ve got several pre-approvals out there where people just can’t find what they want and the rates are throwing them off,” Don Monson, branch manager at Sente Mortgage , said of the challenges he faced in 2023. The lack of inventory led to rising home prices, creating multiple-offer situations in some parts of the country.

Loans

First Team Real Estate

AUGUST 31, 2020

If you’ve read any tips for homebuyers then chances are you’ve heard that you need to get pre-approved for a mortgage loan. The question is – how exactly do you get the pre-approval? Here are the steps you need to take to get pre-approved for a mortgage loan and the most important facts you need to get you there.

Pre-approval

Realtor.com

JANUARY 16, 2023

. “While you do not ‘need’ a pre-approval letter from your lender in order for your offer to be accepted, I highly recommend all of my buyers present it,” says Denise Shur , a Realtor® with 1:1 Realty in San Jose, CA. ” What is mortgage pre-approval? .”

Mortgage pre-approval letter

Realtor.com

AUGUST 13, 2020

Step 1: Getting mortgage pre-approval. Step 1: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Your first step shouldn’t be to check out homes; it should be to get mortgage pre-approval from a mortgage lender or broker. Keep in mind that mortgage pre-approval is different than mortgage pre-qualification).

Pre-approval

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 29, 2023

With so many approved, online options to choose from, we’ve pinpointed the best online real estate courses in New York using criteria that matter most to you: flexibility to fit your schedule, a price that fits your budget, and a course that’ll prepare you to ace the exam and start your new career with confidence and industry savvy.

Pre-approval

Realtor.com

NOVEMBER 11, 2022

Here are more step-by-step home-buying details, including information about down payments, closing costs, mortgage rates, pre-approved mortgages, and more. Step 1: Why financing is the key to buying a new home. Step 1: Why financing is the key to buying a new home. Step 2: Qualify for a home loan or loan pre-approval.

Pre-approval

Realtor.com

APRIL 29, 2021

To avoid this fate, make sure to crunch your numbers in our mortgage calculator or a home affordability calculator , and apply for mortgage pre-approval to see just where you stand in terms of how much house you can afford. Pre-qualification and pre-approval are essentially the same. Absolutely not.

Pre-qualification

Windemere Buying

JUNE 7, 2021

Getting pre-approved is a great first step for buyers, but there can be a number of hurdles in the process. Pre-approval is broken down into two steps: pre-qualification and pre-approval. Large cash purchases decrease a buyer’s cash-readiness from the time when they were pre-approved.

Pre-approval

HomeLight

OCTOBER 22, 2021

It’s tough to say without a mortgage approval, but it always helps to start with a home affordability calculator. You may be wondering how affordability calculators work if you’re ready to get some numbers down on paper before showing up for a pre-qualification meeting with a lender. So, how much home can you afford?

Pre-qualification

RIS Media

OCTOBER 22, 2020

Here are some tips from Zillow for how your buyers can score their dream home despite the bustling market: Financing. According to a Zillow survey, offers typically fall through because of issues with money, mortgage or financing. Be sure to also clarify the difference between pre-approvals and pre-qualifications.

Pre-qualification

RIS Media

DECEMBER 19, 2020

Pre-qualifying for a mortgage is often the first step toward owning a home. If you are a first-time homebuyer who meets certain credit and income qualifications, you could look at an FHA loan to get a lower down payment. For more information on applying for a home loan, please visit Home Financing Center. . Talk to a Lender.

Loans

Realty Biz

DECEMBER 10, 2020

It is effortless to start looking at homes that you will later find you can’t afford when you try to get approved for a mortgage. The lender will look at your finances, income, outgoings, credit score, and more to assess your ability to pay. Comparing a Mortgage Preapproval to Full Approval. What is a Preapproval Letter?

Loans

Lighter Side of Real Estate

NOVEMBER 20, 2024

You can browse listings from your couch, get pre-approved for a mortgage, and even apply for mortgages with a few taps right online, all without speaking to a single person. From pre-approval to closing, they’re with you every step of the way, answering questions and ensuring no detail is overlooked.

Pre-approval

Realtor.com

FEBRUARY 28, 2021

Although there are factors when competing with other buyers that are beyond your control, there is one step that will give you an edge: Start your home search process by getting a Verified Approval Letter (VAL), an underwritten offer that shows sellers your financing is verified. Any extra certainty helps.

Pre-approval

BAM Media

JULY 2, 2024

It’s an acronym that provides a framework for conversations around buyer qualification. I’m not a big fan of asking, “ Hey, are you pre-approved ? If they say no, and they’ve been pre-approved with enough cash to put down, great! Most of us know what LPMAMA stands for. Would you like one?”

Pre-approval

CT Homes

AUGUST 31, 2020

Financing Issues. There is a huge difference between a pre-qualification and a pre-approval. Most lenders or mortgage companies will issue a pre-qualification letter after reviewing the credit report and taking verbal information on income, assets and employment.

Earnest money deposit

RIS Media

JANUARY 19, 2021

Before you start looking for your next home, you should get pre-approved for a mortgage. You don’t necessarily have to borrow money to buy a home from the same lender that pre-approved you. What is Pre-approval and Why is It Important? Pre-approval and pre-qualification are not the same thing.

Pre-qualification

Realty Biz

MARCH 30, 2023

Assess Your Finances As you might assume, a good place to begin is by assessing your finances. Documentation and the Pre-Approval Process Pre-approval is a must for anyone looking to purchase a home. Be sure to have all of your documentation in order and ready to go before starting the pre-approval process.

Mortgages

HomeLight

FEBRUARY 12, 2021

As a seller, you’re usually not taking on additional risk by accepting an offer from a buyer pre-approved for an FHA loan than you would with a buyer pre-approved for a conventional loan. Defective paint surfaces in homes constructed pre-1978. of all mortgage originations. A leaking or worn out roof.

FHA loan

Realty Biz

SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

Let's delve deeper into these topics to guide you towards an affordable home financing solution. They can help you navigate the mortgage process and identify suitable options based on your financial situation and provide you with a pre-approval. For example, you can get approved for an FHA loan with very low credit scores.

Finance