Buying a home is a big step and an exciting one too so you want to make sure that you don’t make any mistakes during the home buying process. Now, this is not to say that is very easy to make these mistakes but sometimes, unknowingly, homebuyers can make a lot of mistakes during the mortgage process of the just don’t realize can harm their chances of actually getting a loan. When buying a home in the Tri-Valley area I urge all of my buyers to get pre-approved first. This is usually the first mistake many buyers make.
Not getting Pre-Approved.
This is where you actually sit down with a lender and figure out how much money you can spend on a house. The lender will determine how much income you’re receiving each month and how much is going out in debts, loans and basic utilities. From there, the lender will determine how much in a monthly mortgage payment you can handle which will relate to the total cost of a home. This also is a way to determine what your interest rate will be based on your credit history, report and score. Many homebuyers feel that they can simply enter some information on a mortgage calculator to determine their price range but unfortunately, if they’ve not gone through lender, their financing is not secured. Sellers look for secure financing and low risk offers. By being prepared with a preapproval letter ahead of time, you can ensure the seller that you’ve already done your financial homework.
Changing your identity.
This might sound like a crazy task but you might be surprised as to how often this happens. For instance: if a couple is planning on getting married and they’re buying a house at the same time, between the time the couple was approved for a loan versus when it closes, the wife’s last name could’ve changed. This is changing your identity and it could really negatively affect your chances of getting a home loan. Yes, you are the same person but don’t make any of these major identity or name changes until the property closes.
Making large purchases before closing.
Once the lender has determined how much you can afford you don’t want to change that in any way. This means it is not the time to finance a vehicle, spend large amounts on new furniture or other major appliances or take out loans of any kind. Consider freezing all of your assets, liabilities, loans and big spending until the closing is completed.
Not answering questions to your escrow or lender in a timely manner.
Everyone is working towards the closing date. There are numerous parties involved in the buying and selling of real estate and anything can hold up that process. Make sure you respond to phone calls and requests in a timely manner and don’t get frustrated if escrow or title officers ask for more identification or specific documents. They need to make sure that you are the correct person buying the home and that your identity is protected. Also consider all costs involved and ask about the costs including taxes, HOA dues, insurance and appraisals.
By keeping all of these things in mind you can ensure that your deal will close on time without a lot of hiccups. Of course, every single transaction is different so even if you’ve done everything possible those rare instances can happen or things simply fall through. By avoiding all of these mistakes you have a better chance at setting yourself up for successful homebuying purchase.
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