If you’re new to the home buying process (or it’s been a few years), the home mortgage process can feel overwhelming. Our job is to partner with your chosen mortgage specialist (meet some of our local favorites here!) and work together in your best interest. Whether on the financing side or the negotiations side, we’re here to support you on the way to your goal of buying your next home.

Getting Preapproved

The first step to buying a home is establishing your buying power. For some, that means making arrangements with your CPA and financial advisor. For most of us, it means talking with a qualified loan professional and getting preapproved for a home loan.

Due to how quickly the typical home sells, it’s important to complete the preapproval process prior to viewing homes. Your loan officer will gather information about your income, assets and debts, and compile information from the documents you provide (bank statements, W-2 forms, tax returns, and such). They will also run a credit check before solidifying your preapproval amount.

A quick note: while the terms are often thrown together, a prequalification is not the same as a preapproval. The first is just an informed opinion of your buying power, usually after a phone call or initial meeting with your loan officer. The second requires documentation and is a more credible assessment.

Mortgage calculators like this one are a handy online tool as you begin your home search, but they don’t replace the work done by a licensed professional who is taking your individual situation, financials, credit score and debt load into account.