While many buyers are aware that a mortgage pre-approval letter increases their buying confidence and power, most may not understand exactly why pre-approval is so important.  Why should you jump through the application hoops before even beginning your home search?

First, you’ll know exactly how much loan you can afford, making your initial home search much easier.  Why waste your time looking at homes either out of your reach or well below your financial grasp?

Second, pre-approved buyers stand on solid negotiating ground with sellers.  Sellers working with well-qualified buyers are more likely to accept the offer and less likely to stall on terms and conditions.

Notice that the topic of this column is “pre-approval,” and not “pre-qualification.”  What’s the difference?  Pre-qualification is easy - you provide basic information to a lender, and in a few short minutes, you have an answer.  Pre-approval requires strict verification of documentation relating to your employment, credit history, sources of income, etc.  It takes more time, but is more accurate and carries more weight.

Understand that pre-approval is not binding, and is still subject to a satisfactory appraisal on the prospective purchase.  If your financial situation changes, interest rates rise or fall, or the deadline passes, a recalculation will be necessary; but a little legwork now will pay off handsomely as you approach the finish line on your contract.

If you are in need of real estate guidance, please feel free to call me and I will be happy to share my knowledge with you at no cost or obligation.  If you prefer, email me at donkingsley@kingsleyrealestate.com.

If you’re in your fifties, sixties or beyond, you may be facing your first move in decades.  The process may seem overwhelming, and you may be anxious about the future and the big changes coming up.  However, a trusted REALTOR® can help with all the steps along the way, especially with selling your home quickly in a competitive market.

If you’ve occupied your home for ten, twenty or more years, you’ll want to enlist family members to get your home market-ready, and prepare for your move.  Beyond the cooperation of friends and family, you might also consider a professional “move manager” to help you settle in to your new home.

These experts are well versed in the complexities associated with moving from a “lifetime home” - the preparation involved in staging your home for showings as well as the organization needed to get you moved with a minimum of hassle and confusion.  You are in complete control, while they unclutter the house, pack and organize boxes, make the home sparkle, and arrange for moving, shipping, or donating belongings as you direct.

By showing your home in the best possible light, buyers will be able to picture their own families there.  Combined with the REALTOR’S® marketing tools, this formula can provide a quick and profitable sale while you settle into your new residence!

If you are in need of real estate guidance, please feel free to call me and I will be happy to share my knowledge with you at no cost or obligation.  If you prefer, email me at donkingsley@kingsleyrealestate.com.