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7 Questions to ask your Lender when Obtaining a Pre-Qualification Letter

Pre-qualification is an essential first step in the home buying process. It determines how much money you can borrow and gives you insight into what your mortgage options are – allowing your lender to better identify your unique needs and goals.

To help you best get prepared, we’ve listed 7 important questions to ask your lender when starting the pre-qualification process.

  1. What is your pre-qualification process? Every lender has a different process. To help you best prepare and save yourself the most time and energy, ask your lender what documentation is required before starting the process.

  2. How long can I expect the process to take? There are many factors that go into the overall timeline, such as processing, underwriting, title search, appraisal, and other verification procedures.

    By asking how long the process will take up front, you can set realistic expectations for yourself. It can also be helpful to ask what factors could delay the home closing, so you can best prepare for any likely hurdles.

  3. Are my taxes and insurance included in the payment? This will determine how much your monthly payments will be, as well as how much money you will need to bring to the closing.

  4. Is there anything that could increase my interest rate or loan payment? If a borrower chooses a fixed interest rate loan, their payment will never increase throughout the life of the loan. However, if taxes and insurance are included, your payment could change over time due to increases in HOI premiums and property taxes.

  5. Can I lock in my interest rate? And if so, how long will my interest rate be locked? Typically, mortgage rates are priced with a 30-day lock, but you can choose to delay this if you are purchasing a foreclosure or short sale. A shorter lock period means a lower interest rate, while a longer lock period results in a higher interest rate.

  6. How will my credit score affect my interest rate? This is an important question to ask, especially if you have had any changes in your recent credit scenario.

  7. How much should I expect to pay at closing? There are many factors that go in to determining your closing costs, such as your earnest money deposit, appraisal fees and seller contributions. By getting this number up front, so you can properly budget for closing day.

To learn more about the pre-qualification process and get the answers to your questions, contact a VanDyk Loan Originator today!

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