Pre- Qualification Versus Pre-Approval

Mortgage Pre-Qualification vs. Pre-Approval: What's the Difference?

 

When buying a home, cash is king, but most folks don't have hundreds of thousands of dollars lying in the bank. Of course, that's why obtaining a mortgage is such a crucial part of the process. And securing mortgage pre-qualification and pre-approval are important steps, assuring lenders that you'll be able to afford payments.

However, pre-qualification and pre-approval are vastly different. How different? Some mortgage professionals believe one is virtually useless. “I tell most people they can take that pre-qualification letter and throw it in the trash,” says Patty Arvielo, a mortgage banker and president and founder of New American Funding, in Tustin, CA. “It doesn’t mean much.”

We asked our experts to weigh in to help clarify the distinction. A pre-qualification is merely a financial snapshot that gives you an idea of the mortgage you might qualify for. “It can be helpful if you are completely unaware what your current financial position will support regarding a mortgage amount,” says Kyle Winkfield, managing partner of O’Dell, Winkfield, Roseman, and Shipp, in Washington, DC. “It certainly helps if you are just beginning the process of looking to buy a house.”

Why is mortgage pre-approval better?  A pre-approval letter is the real deal, a statement from a lender that you qualify for a specific mortgage amount based on an underwriter’s review of all of your financial information: credit report, pay stubs, bank statement, salary, assets, and obligations.

Pre-approval should mean your loan is contingent only on the appraisal of the home you choose, providing that nothing changes in your financial picture before closing. “This makes you as close to a cash buyer as you can be and gives you a huge advantage in a competitive market,” says Lea Lea Brown, a vice president and mortgage banker with Atlanta-based PrivatePlus Mortgage. In fact, pre-approval letters paired with clean contracts without tons of contingencies have won bidding wars against all-cash offers, Brown says.

The reliability you want your offer stand out over other offers. A pre-approval can give you that edge. So take notice, potential home buyers. While pre-qualification can be helpful in determining how much a lender is willing to give you, a pre-approval letter will make a stronger impression on sellers and let them know you have the cash to back up an offer.

Meg Kalimon
Treeline Realty Corp.
Fort Myers, FLorida 33966
239-789-7772
www. MegKalimon.com

 

 

By Lisa Gordon | Jun 20, 2017