Preapproved Vs. Prequalified: Which Is Better?

When you prepare to apply for a mortgage, you will come across financing terms like “prequalification” and “preapproval.” It’s important to understand the meaning of these terms, as this will guide your home search by allowing you to understand your buying power and show the seller that you’re a serious and qualified buyer.

At the fundamental level, preapproval and prequalification are types of mortgage approvals, and they refer to the steps a lender has taken to verify that a borrower can afford a mortgage. Here are a couple of points to keep in mind:

1. Many lenders use prequalification and preapproval interchangeably. Every lender handles mortgage approvals differently and the steps involved change from lender to lender.

2. No matter matter the type of mortgage you apply for, it’s not a guarantee that you’ll close the loan.

We’ll also explain how our preferred lender handles approvals, so you can know what to expect when you apply for a mortgage.

WHAT IS MORTGAGE PREQUALIFICATION?

A prequalification generally means that the lender collects some basic financial information from you to estimate how much house you can afford.

A prequalification is a ballpark estimate and is less reliable than a preapproval, which usually involves your lender checking your credit score and reviewing bank statements along with other financial documents.

As you begin searching for a home, realtors and sellers want to see you’ve been working with a mortgage lender so they know you can afford to buy a home. You’ll need a qualified real estate agent that can negotiate the best price and terms for you along with a solid preapproval letter.

VERIFIED APPROVAL

After you’ve been approved, you can level up to a verified approval by providing some documentation so your lender can verify your income and assets.

Verifying your income and assets along with your credit history is a more accurate estimate of what you can afford. It also carries more weight with a real estate agent and the seller, because they’ll know we verified that you can afford the home you wish to buy. You can provide your approval letter to your real estate agent and the sellers as proof that you can obtain a large enough mortgage to purchase the home.

SUMMARY

Getting approved early in your home search is a great way to know what you can afford, so you can narrow in on your dream house. To get started, apply for a mortgage and get premium pricing on your interest rate.

Preparing For A Showing

Here Are Some Helpful Tips To Ensure Buyers Love Your Home!

1. Open all draperies and window shades during the daylight hours.

2. Turn on all lights and replace bulbs with high wattage bulbs where needed.

3. Open windows a half hour before showing to circulate fresh air.

4. Place fresh flowers on the kitchen table and/or living room.

5. If possible, bake cookies or bread to add an inviting aroma.

6. The kitchen and bathroom should sparkle.

7. The house should be picked up and beds made.

8. Pets should be removed.

9. Eliminate pet odors, not everyone may share your love of animals and some people may be allergic.

10. All jewelry and valuables should be secured or removed.

11. Bathrooms should be cleaned, with towels folded and lids down.

12. When you leave the house, please leave it as if you know it is going to be shown, you never know when the right person is going to look at it!

What Is An Interest Only Mortgage?

In an interest only mortgage, the borrower covers interest on payments for a specific period of time, paying the cost of borrowing money up front, while the principal remains unchanged. This allows for reduced monthly mortgage payments early in the loan term. An interest only home loan can offer flexibility to buy a more expensive home than a borrower initially qualifies to buy. They can also be a great way to lower payments so you can divert your cash flow toward retirement, college tuition or a rainy day fund.

In traditional mortgages, payments are applied to both interest and principal. Through amortization the balance of the loan decreases over the term of the loan. Interest only mortgages are structured differently: The most common version pushes back the amortization schedule, usually 5 to 10 years, while the borrower pays interest only. The other type lasts the duration of the loan, with an agreement principal that will be settled with one balloon payment at the end of the term.

While initial payments as part of an interest only mortgage are lower, borrowers should be aware that over the life of the loan they are more expensive than traditional mortgages. Interest only loans can also be subject to adjustable interest rates. Negative amortization, a feature where missed interest payments are applied to the principal balance, is also a risk inherent to interest only loans. Keep reading to learn more and explore the circumstances that make the most sense to purse an interest only loan.

Is an interest only mortgage right for you?

Here are five questions to help you determine whether an interest only mortgage is the perfect match:

• Are you confident your income will grow in the future, but want to purchase high-value real estate now?

• Are you more interested in lower monthly mortgage payments than building home equity?

• Are you looking to invest your money in something other than your home?

• Are you fine with the prospect of your monthly mortgage payment going up when the interest-only term ends?

• Do you own investment homes and rent them out?

If you answered “YES” to any of these questions, an interest only mortgage might be your best bet! A word of consideration—while interest only home loans offer low monthly payments during the initial term of your loan, your monthly payments will rise after this term ends to cover the principal. If you don’t expect your income to increase in the foreseeable future or if you’re unsure you’ll be able to make the larger payments later on, a 15 or 30-year fixed rate mortgage could be a better fit. In addition, it may be more difficult to refinance your mortgage if your home value doesn’t increase during the lifetime of your loan. Those buying a home for the first time may find interest-only mortgages particularly beneficial. For new homeowners, who are unaccustomed to the higher cost of mortgage payments and the other costs of maintaining a home, the first years of home ownership can be particularly challenging. In many cases, you are buying a house you expect to pay off years down the line, when you are more established and may be making more money, thus the initial costs may seem daunting. If a water heater suddenly needs replacing or a roof suddenly needs to be fixed, the option to exercise an interest only mortgage at that time can come in handy, as long as you are able to cover the higher monthly payments later on.If your income is subject to fluctuation either because of freelance work or commissions and bonuses, rather than a typical flat salary, an interest-only mortgage can be similarly beneficial. Pay interest-only payments during leaner months and years with the anticipation of paying more later on. Risks of interest only payments. Making a smaller monthly payment for a period of time, with the anticipation that you’ll have the money to make larger payments down the line, always carries a risk. The total balance of what is owed on your mortgage is not changing, thus if your financial circumstances do change you may find monthly payments more difficult down the line. Additionally, the housing market can be fickle and the property purchased may fail to appreciate in value. Even if the value remains much the same, if the borrower has negative amortization you may wind up owing more on the mortgage than the actual value of the house making it difficult to make a profit on the house when and if they decide to sell. How much is an interest only payment?

When considering an interest only mortgage, do the math to figure out if you're able to handle the amount of the monthly payment. Figuring out the monthly interest only payment on your mortgage is easy. Say that the unpaid loan balance on your property is $400,000 with an interest rate of 7%. Multiply those numbers together for an annual interest of $28,000. Divide that number by 12 months and you can find your monthly interest payment: $2,333. Keep in mind that after the interest-only period, your payments will increase as you begin to pay back the loan principal.

What Is A 15 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage?

A conventional 15-year fixed rate mortgage is similar to a 30-year fixed rate mortgage in many respects. A conforming 15-year fixed rate loan features a limit of $484,350 ($726,525 in high-cost areas) and a consistent rate throughout its lifetime, giving you secure and predictable monthly mortgage payments. So what does this loan offer that a 30-year fixed rate loan doesn’t?

View Today's 15-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates

The main difference is the length. With a 15-year mortgage, you’ll pay off your mortgage in half the time, putting you on the fast track to full amortization. A 15-year fixed rate mortgage also features lower rates than its 30-year counterpart. A shorter loan term plus lower mortgage rates means less interest on your loan and more money in your bank account! Conventional 15-year fixed rate mortgage features include:

• 3-5% minimum down payment options for qualified homebuyers.

• Regular, qualified income required.

• No private mortgage insurance (PMI) with 20% or more down.

• Seller assistance with up to 3% of closing costs.

• Loan options up to $5 million for non-conforming mortgages.

• Home Style renovation loans with options as little as 5% down.

• 203k renovation loans with a minimum 620 FICO score.

Is a 15-year fixed rate mortgage right for you?

A 15-year fixed rate mortgage is popular with two different demographics. Younger homebuyers with sufficient income often use it to pay off their home before their children start college, while older homebuyers with established careers and higher income use it to pay off their mortgages before retiring. A word to the wise: 15-year fixed rate mortgages feature higher monthly payments than a 30-year loan. You’ll need to factor that into your budget when deciding whether this loan fits your needs.

Types Of Home Loans

Which Mortgage is right for you?

There are a number of different types of home loans available to you, and it can pay to familiarize yourself with them. It only takes a few minutes to review your home loan options and get an idea of what might provide the best value for your needs

Home loan options include:

30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage

Settle down for the long haul with a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. Because of the steady interest rate inherent to a conventional 30-year fixed rate mortgage, you can look forward to consistent monthly payments for many years to come, providing you with peace of mind and a consistent budget. We recommend this type of home loan if you're planning to stay in your home for a minimum of 5-10 years.

15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage

Pay off your home twice as fast with a 15-year fixed rate mortgage. Your rate stays the same throughout the life of the loan, giving you secure and predictable monthly mortgage payments and less interest on your loan. Get on the fast track to amortization with this home loan option.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage

Keep your options open with an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM). This type of home loan features an interest rate that changes after a fixed amount of time. ARMs are a great home-buying option and typically offer lower interest rates than fixed mortgages and extra protection with rate caps.

Jumbo Loan

Move into your forever home with a jumbo loan. Need a loan that exceeds the current conforming limit? A fixed or adjustable jumbo mortgage can help you make your move. This type of home loan will allow you to buy a lot of real estate but can also require more stringent credit guidelines and a larger down payment.

FHA Loan

Make your home ownership dreams come true with an FHA loan. Featuring flexible credit restrictions and down payment options as low as 3.5%, an FHA loan is a popular type of loan for first-time home buyers.

VA home loan

Enjoy exclusive military benefits with a VA loan. If you are a veteran or an active-duty service member, a VA loan offers less restrictive credit guidelines and low down payment options for you and your family.

Interest Only Mortgage

Free up your cash flow with an interest only mortgage. Take advantage of the low monthly payments right off the bat to afford a more expensive home and invest your income elsewhere.