1. Rent or Buy? | 2. Clean Up Your Credit | 3. Get Pre-Qualified | 4. Find an Agent |
5. Get Pre-Approval | 6. Make an Offer | 7. Home Inspection | 8. Prepare for Closing |
9. Attend the Closing

5. Get Pre-approved

Now that you know how much home you can afford and a real estate agent is looking for homes for you to visit in your price-range, you should take the next step towards being a homeowner: Get pre-approved. Not to be confused with Pre-Qualification (which is simply an initial review of your finances), a pre-approval is a firmer commitment on behalf of the mortgage company and is a more formal process, which includes a credit check and even employment verification.

Getting pre-approved will put you in a better position to make a serious offer when you do find the right house, because the seller knows that your offer is good. It gives you a powerful edge as a buyer.

Pre-Approval documents

What documents are required	Who is responsible
Credit report	An Allpointe Mortgage Advisor can help you. Call 866-255-3535 or email .
Verification of income
	W-2 forms
	Recent pay stubs for the past two years
	Tax returns for the past two years
	If you are self-employed: profit and loss statements
	Additional income: e.g., social security, overtime bonus, commission, interest income, veteran's benefits
Verification of your assets	List of bank account numbers
	The address of your bank branch
	Checking and savings account statements for the previous 2-3 months
	List of savings bonds, stocks or investments and their approximate market values
	Copies of titles to any motor vehicles that are paid in full
Your debts	Credit card bills for the past few billing periods
	Other consumer debt such as car loans, furniture loans, student loans and other personal and cosigned installment loans with creditor addresses and phone numbers
	Evidence of mortgage and/or rental payments
	Copies of alimony or child support.

Once you've found a home that meets your needs, it's time to make an offer and complete the loan application.

An Allpointe Mortgage Advisor can help you through the Pre-Approval process. Call us today at 866-255-3535.