Suppose you started house shopping before the COVID-19 pandemic resurfaced. You shelved your home-buying plans for a while, but now you’ve got your eye on the perfect property. Is that Michigan mortgage preapproval you got still valid?
Probably not. Although it varies by lender, most Michigan mortgage companies only offer mortgage preapprovals that last 45-90 days. So if it’s been a few months, you should redo the preapproval process or at least talk with your lender before you resume house shopping.
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A mortgage preapproval is a document indicating the amount you’ve been approved to borrow. It’s extremely important to the home-buying process because – unless you’re paying cash – it defines how much house you can afford.
As a general rule, lenders use your monthly income to determine the type of payment you can afford. They do this using percentages; your monthly home payment should be around 28% (or less) of your total monthly income. Your total debt payments (including your house payment) shouldn’t be more than 36 percent.
You may also see the term ‘mortgage prequalification’. That’s very similar to a mortgage preapproval in Michigan; the main difference is the amount of documentation you need to provide and the type of credit report inquiry generated. For more details, see our earlier post on Michigan mortgage prequalification.
In today’s real estate market, it’s good to recognize that mortgage preapproval – which is one step closer to the actual mortgage – lets buyers know you’re ready to make a serious offer. You’re not just shopping with a budget in mind; you know how much you can spend and your lender is ready to give you that amount.
When you want to get pre-approved for a mortgage, you’ll need to fill out an application from your mortgage lender. You’ll also have to supply information confirming:
Your mortgage lender will use this information to verify your creditworthiness (by making a hard inquiry on your credit report) as well as your job history and your income. If everything checks out, you can expect to hear back from your lender with a mortgage preapproval in about 10-14 days.
The real estate market is hot in Michigan, so don’t wait to start your mortgage process. Our Pro Snap Digital Mortgage lets you handle the process digitally – without leaving your home. Or you can use our Pro Snap app to initiate your mortgage paperwork from your mobile device. Plus, our Fast Pass service lets you close on your mortgage within minutes. Now, when you find your dream home, you can get financing faster than ever!