For Buyers: Condo Buying Tips

1. Use a Buyer's Agent
2. Why You Should Not Make Any Major Credit Purchases
3. Be Wary About the Listing Agent
4. Be Careful of the "Dual" Agent
5. Getting a Legitimate Lender and Getting Pre-Approved
6. Finding the Right Seller
7. Build a Plan of Action and Get Ready
8. Hot, Normal, and Cold Markets
9. Importance of Inspection
10. Avoiding Financial Stress

Getting a Legitimate Lender and Getting Pre-Approved

It used to be that buyers could go condominium shopping and when they have found their dream condo, then they go to get pre-approved. However, in today's market, that has proven to be one of the least effective methods in landing the dream condo.

Most lenders can pre-qualify you for a mortgage over the phone. Based on general questions about your income, debt, assets, and credit history, lenders can estimate how much mortgage you qualify for. However, being pre-qualified and pre-approved are different things. Pre-approval means that you have applied for a mortgage; you have filled out the mortgage application, received your credit report, and verified your employment, assets, etc. When you are pre-approved, you know exactly what the maximum loan amount will be.

A pre-qualified letter is not verified and in essence, does not count for much if you are competing with other buyers who are pre-approved. When you are pre-approved, you and the seller know exactly how much you can afford to pay for a condominium. It gives you credibility as an interested buyer and lets the seller know immediately that you will qualify for a loan to buy their property.

In addition to being pre-approved, it's important to be pre-approved with a legitimate lender. Legitimate lenders include: banks, mortgage bankers, credit unions, savings and loan associations, mortgage brokers, and online lenders.

Some lenders to avoid: those who lose a form or misplace a file, those who gather information from you in an unorganized manner, those who are not informed about interest rates, points or costs, and those who cannot provide you with the right information.

Article by CLTA

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