The MOST IMPORTANT Step!

An Important Note
about this step

This "Pre-approval"  belongs to you!  It is based upon your credit information. If you choose later in the process to work with another Realtor or Loan Officer, the information that you are given can be presented to another agent or loan officer (the loan officer may run his or her own evaluation to meet his or her own company's requirements.) You take the information with you!

Taking this step does not obligate you to deal with either the Realtor or Loan Officer -- it only helps YOU! 

By the way, when the Loan officer runs a credit report for you (from all three credit bureaus) you will be given a printed copy of the credit report!

The MOST IMPORTANT step that you must take to buy a house is to submit your financial information to a lender so that he can pre-approve you to the amount that you can afford to purchase.  This isn't an easy step for most people, it means opening up an area of their lives which is very private to a almost a total stranger.  Your Realtor and your Loan Officers understand this desire to maintain privacy and information that you provide to them is treated with respect and extreme care to protect and safeguard it.

Please keep in mind, these processes of getting pre-approved and helping you find your next home do not cost you anything at this point.  There is no cost to you for my services as a Realtor.  If I am able to help you buy a house, my compensation is normally paid at the closing of the sale of the house as a seller expense. There are some costs associated with getting a loan but those don't get charged until a home is purchased.  If a lender wants to charge you for the pre-approval process they are not the company to handle your mortgage!

Can I trust them?
You need to find two people you can trust.  If you are going to buy a home there are two people that you need: a Realtor and a Loan Officer. 

Most people can find a real estate agent without looking very hard.   Most people haven't got a clue where to find a Loan Officer.   Did you notice I said most people can find a real estate agent?  A Realtor is a little different.  A Realtor is a real estate agent who belongs to the National Association of Realtors and who has taken an oath to follow stricter ethics rules -- rules to protect you.  A Loan Officer is a representative of a financial institution who can check your credit worthiness and approve you for a loan to buy a home.

I am a Realtor who works for Keller Williams Realty (currently 4th largest real estate firm in the country).  I am a retired military officer.  I have degrees in business from Florida State University and Webster University.   After my retirement from the military, I worked in Hospitality Management for fifteen years. Real Estate is my third career. 
 
The Loan Officers that I will put you in touch with work for the large nationwide mortgage companies. They have years of experience in the financial world. 

Where the money for the purchase will come from.
Typically homebuyers will need some money for a down payment and closing costs. Because of the problems developing in the mortgage industry, lenders have tightened up their lending practices If your credit isn't stellar but you have managed to save 10-20% for a down payment, you will still appear to be a very good financial risk to a lender.  You will need "good faith" money to place as a deposit when an offer is made.  Usually $500 to $1000 dollars is sufficient; it depends upon the purchase price of the home. These funds can become part of your downpayment or can be returned to you at the closing.

Are You Ready?
Here is a link to a Financing Worksheet in Microsoft word.  As your Realtor, one of the important services that I provide to you, is assistance in processing financing documents through as reputable lender.  Please complete this worksheet and print it or email it to the mortgage lender of your choice, or email it back to me.

Please complete the worksheet and submit it for financing pre-approval.  This is an important step and a serious buyer will take this step early in the process.  If you choose to submit it to another lender, please let me know which lender you will be using, and let me know the results when your lender gives them to you.  If you have already received a pre-approval letter from a lender, please mail a copy to me so that I can place it into your file so it will be at hand when the time comes. If you have scan or fax capability you can scan and email it or fax it to me at 407-956-6175 (no cover sheet needed).