Powerful Buying Strategies (2 of 7)

Get pre-approved. Find out what you can afford and check out all your options. Meet with the various experts you need to acquire all your financial facts — a lender, your tax advisor, investment broker, etc. Knowing exactly what you can spend will eliminate time spent looking at properties you can’t afford. Not to mention, when you find the right property you can make a “clean” offer. Sellers are more likely to respond favorably to clean offers and pre-approved buyers. As a buyer's agent, I always submit a offer with a pre-approval letter. The offer is nearly worthless without one. Additionally, as a listing agent — the agent helping my clients sell their home, I would advise against getting involved with an offer that was not accompanied by a pre-approval letter from a reputable lender, mortgage broker or bank.