Should You Have Preapproval Before You Make an Offer?

If you’re buying a home for sale in Lakewood or Long Beach, the first thing you should do is get preapproval from your lender.

Here’s why.

Should You Have Preapproval Before You Make an Offer?

When you get a preapproval letter from your lender, which isn’t the same thing as prequalification, you’ll have a clear picture of how much money you can afford to spend on a home. It helps you to look only in the right price range for your next home, and it does something else that’s just as important: It shows the seller that you’re genuinely able to buy his or her home.

Without a preapproval letter from your lender, your offer isn’t really something the seller can count on. It’s especially important to have this preapproval if you’re buying a home in a competitive market (like Lakewood or Long Beach) because you can bet that every other buyer who makes an offer has his or her own preapproval letter.

What is Prequalification?

Prequalification doesn’t require a credit check or anything - it just requires you to tell your lender how much money you make and how much your expenses are. Your lender will, in turn, say, “If everything adds up and you have proof, this is the amount of money we’ll be willing to lend you.”

Are You Selling a Home in Lakewood or Long Beach?

If you’re selling a home in Lakewood or Long Beach, we can help. Call us at 562-882-1581 to find out how we’ll market your house to all the right buyers so you can sell it quickly and at the right price.