Purchases of real estate in the Vail Valley are starting to pick again this spring. Many existing homeowners are finally seeing appreciation in their homes which is allowing them to finally make that transition out of their existing home. First-time homeowners are still able to obtain financing programs with little money down and low interest rates. Such programs are enabling first-time buyers to purchase a home where the total monthly overhead is often less than their current rent. Resorts markets are experiencing a similar purchasing pace which looks to continue in to the summer.
Regardless of whether the buyer is looking at high-end resort properties, a first house purchase or a jump up to a second home, going through the initial pre-qualification process with a local mortgage lender is the first and most important item of business. This pre-qualification can be quicker, easier and less intrusive than most potential borrowers think.
With that being said, I will be the first to stress that buying a home is a complex process with many variables involved. Furthermore, I will also continually reiterate that the process of securing a mortgage for the purchase is intricate and requires the guidance of a seasoned loan officer. Those nuances, intricacies and complexities will come out as the process unfolds, but they need not be overwhelming if the process is taken step by step. The first step is getting pre-qualified. By speaking with a qualified, local lender and getting pre-qualified, the borrower will have a better understanding of what the estimated overhead they are likely to incur on a monthly basis will be, how much out of pocket they will need to close the transaction and how much they can potentially borrow.
The initial pre-qualification portion of the process does not require as much as most borrowers might think. A quick synopsis of income/employment, credits/debts and assets can provide enough information to begin the discussion. Exact numbers on the necessary information is not necessarily required. Ballpark figures of annual earnings and the sources of those earnings are enough to calculate a general idea how much of a mortgage a borrower can qualify for. An analysis of estimated assets or monies in the bank can quickly be done to determine how much money a borrower can put down on a purchase.
Mind Your Credit Rating
Once those two factors are reviewed, credit and or debts are the next piece of the puzzle. Credits and debts are often the unknown variable. The amount of outstanding monthly debt obligations, along with a credit rating or credit score, impact borrowing potential significantly.
If a borrower can accurately account for all monthly debt obligations and the status of their debts, then this can be sufficient enough to continue with the pre-qualification process. By status, I mean it is important to note if there are accounts in collection or outstanding judgments, collections, liens, etc. Even if a borrower can accurately account for this information, obtaining a current credit report is the next prudent move. A current and updated credit report will give an exact figure of other existing debts and the credit or FICO rating. Credit reports will cost roughly $25 and can be obtained by the loan officer or borrower.
After this portion of the process is complete, the loan officer may be able to draft pre-qualification letters on the borrower’s behalf. A pre-qualification letter will give sellers comfort in knowing the borrowers are serious about buying, have spoken with a local lender and are pre-qualified for the financing required to purchase the home. But pre-qualification is just the initial and first step in the process.
Pre-approval for a loan is a different analysis. In order to become pre-approved for a loan, documentation to support income and assets as well a lender pulled credit report are required, making this process much more in depth. Pre-qualification, or pre-qualifying for a loan, is meant to be a quick snap shot of a borrowers income, assets and debts in order to produce general numbers of how much a borrower may qualify for and what the overhead will likely be.
William A. DesPortes, of Central Rockies Mortgage Corp,. can be reached at 970-845-7000, ext. 103, and email@example.com.