Don’t you just love going online and browsing through all of the houses you see yourself living in one day? Looking at floor plans.. deciding on your “must haves''.. mentally checking houses off your list.. these are all amazing things! -- but if you haven’t been pre-approved for a loan, the only issue here is that you don’t know for certain if the home you’re looking at is within your price range. Of course you have a general idea of how much you’re able to afford, but knowing for certain how much you are qualified to spend is what will set you up for the next steps in finally buying your dream home!
There are several benefits to consulting with a lender and receiving a pre-approval letter. If you are unsure about where you stand financially when it comes to purchasing a home, this gives you a great opportunity to to discuss budgeting and loan options with your lender! Getting pre-approved will help you learn the maximum amount you are able to borrow, making it easier to set the price range and narrow down your options.
There are a great number of first-time home buyers (and even some with experience) that are overwhelmed by the thought of seeing a lender because they have no idea what documentation is needed to be fully prepared -- That is why we are here to help!
Some of the items you can expect your lender to look into are; your credit report, proof of income and assets, employment verification, and any other required documents specific to your situation. The requirements for pre-approval may vary depending on your situation and the kind of work you do, but here is a general list of what you can expect your lender to ask for:
Income
2 most current Pay Stubs (recent 30 days), OR 2 Most Current LES
W-2’s for 2020 and 2019
Tax Returns for 2019 and 2018
Business Tax Returns for 2019 and 2018 - Only if Self Employed
Assets
Current 30 Days Bank Statement
Miscellaneous
DD-214 and Certificate of Eligibility (Veterans Borrowers Only)
Divorce/Decree/Child Support Order - Only if Receiving or Paying Child Support or Alimony
Tribal ID Card for HUD 184 loans
Settlement Statement from the sale of your home (if applicable)
At the end of the day, the purpose of a lender is to help you save time, get a better understanding of where you stand financially, and ultimately begin the process of helping you find the perfect home! They want to make sure you have your best foot forward before making such a huge decision, so you only stand to benefit from getting a pre-approval letter before beginning your home search.
At Precision Home Group, we pride ourselves on making sure that our clients have access to the most reputable resources throughout the entire home buying process. If you are looking for an experienced, knowledgeable lender to help you get pre-approved for your dream home, we highly recommend Alex Rasmussen with AlaskaUSA!
For more information regarding the pre-approval process, contact one of our agents or get in touch with Alex directly at A.Rasmussen@alaskausamortgage.com.
Precision Home Group is based in Anchorage, and provides real estate services to Southcentral Alaska. We will keep you informed on current trends and market dynamics to help you make the best informed decision. If you are interested in purchasing a home, get in touch with our experienced real estate agents! Our team of experts will negotiate great deals for your home and help you navigate the buying or selling process every step of the way. If you are looking to get into a property that makes sense, or need help analyzing a potential property, reach out at 907-302-1011 or email at matthew@precisionhomegroup.com.
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