Pre-approval is an important first step in the home-buying process

If you want to buy a house this year, one of the first actions you should take is to be pre-approved. Getting a mortgage pre-approval can be a game changer, especially in today's market where mortgage rates are higher than they were just a few months ago. Here's why.

What Is Pre-Approval?

To understand why pre-approval is crucial, it is necessary to first define pre-approval. The Mortgage Reports explains it like this:

"When you're ready to take the plunge into homeownership, the first step is to get preapproved for a mortgage. A mortgage preapproval is the determination by a lender that you are qualified for a house loan. Your preapproval letter indicates the maximum loan amount you've been authorized for (your home-buying budget), as well as the precise interest rate and loan term you may expect."

A lender will examine your finances as part of the pre-approval process to decide how much money they are willing to lend you. The lender will next provide you with a pre-approval letter to help you understand your exact pricing range and how much money you can borrow. This can make it easy when you go house hunting because you'll know your total stats. And, with mortgage rates rising and affecting affordability, knowing your numbers is even more critical.

Pre-approval can indicate that you are a serious buyer

Preapproval is still a vital aspect of making a solid offer, even though bidding wars are reducing this year as the market moves. It might boost a seller's confidence by demonstrating that you're serious about their home and a qualified buyer.

Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is crucial. It helps you understand how much you can borrow and demonstrates to sellers that you are serious about purchasing their house. Connect with a local real estate expert and a reputable lender to ensure you have the tools you need to succeed as a homebuyer in today's market.