You want me to show you property, mortgage preapproval required before getting in my car

The necessity of mortgage preapproval in buying a home today

The housing market is crazy in many areas of the country, and multiple offers are commonplace almost everywhere.  Here in the Napa Valley, especially in the cities of Napa and American Canyon, anything priced correctly and is perceived as a good value are receiving 5 - 10 offers regularly. This is especially true for anything priced up to $450,000. Heck I have heard of as many as 22 offers on a Brown's Valley 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in great condition which was priced at $435,000 and sold with 17 offers over asking price at $465,000. It appraised too.

Buyers who want an advantage in the bidding process will need more than a mortgage prequalification – they will need a preapproval.

• The differences between mortgage prequalification and preapproval are significant. Prequalifying for a mortgage is based solely on what a borrower discloses to the loan officer or broker about his/her earnings, credit score, and total assets, including what is available for a down payment. By contrast, a preapproval requires a borrower to provide documentation of his/her income and assets.

• The lender typically pulls the borrower’s credit report and score, while the borrower gathers together almost everything else needed for the actual mortgage underwriting: W-2 wage statements; 1099s; recent pay stubs; bank statements; and statements from Individual Retirement Accounts and 401(k)s; and other assets that could show the borrower has the resources to buy and maintain a home.

• At one of the country’s largest mortgage lenders, Wells Fargo, the first quick review provided by an underwriter constitutes an agreement to lend.  Other lenders may treat preapprovals as more of an opinion on the person’s ability to borrow, not a guarantee to lend.

• With so many homes receiving multiple offers, a preapproval is more important in today’s marketplace. 

• The preapproval letter should include the amount a borrower is qualified to borrow, as well as the loan officer’s contact information.  Some letters may have an estimated monthly payment, but details about the loan time and interest rate are not included.

• Timing also is important.  Buyers should aim for obtaining a preapproval letter from a lender within 30 to 60 days of the expected purchase date.  That is because some letters expire in 90 days.