One of the most important early steps you need to take before you are ready to make an offer on a home is to meet with a lender and get pre-approved for your loan.  Notice I didn't say pre-qualified.  It's a big advantage to be pre-approved.

When sellers and their agents are evaluating offers for their home, a major consideration is the buyer's ability to close on the purchase, which for the most part means the buyer's ability to get their loan approved.  When buyers are merely pre-qualified, it often means that they have informed their lender of their income, debt, and a few other items, but it doesn't mean that the lender has confirmed this info to their satisfaction. There remains doubt in the seller's mind that the buyer can actually get their loan approved.  When the buyer's loan has been pre-approved, the lender has confirmed such information as credit score, salary, assets, other debt, etc.  This makes the offer much stronger than similar offers with simple pre-qualification.  Sellers may even accept your pre-approved offer even if your price is lower than other offers.  The sellers know that there is much less chance that your loan will fall through, leaving them back at square one.  And they know that you have already completed much of the loan process, making you able to close more quickly.

Pre-approval is also helpful in determining just how much home you can afford, enabling you to focus on homes that are within your reach.

As your Broker, I will help you get pre-approved. Items the lender will confirm include:

• Monthly income
• Employment history and stability
• Credit scores and history
• Debt and other monthly expenses
• Cash available for down payment and costs

If you're serious about buying a home, familiar with the market, and ready to go, this is the most important next step you can take, and I'll be happy to help.