Disclaimer

The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.

Back To All Articles

Mortgages

Mortgage Loans in a Seller's Market: Should You Shop Around?

Before you hit the open houses, shop for a mortgage. Securing the best rate can save you hundreds of dollars a month.

On Behalf of Veitengruber Law | Jun 14,2022

After two years of a hot housing market, aspiring buyers may be wary of entering the market even if they are ready to purchase a home. But don't count yourself out before you've tried. The market is competitive, but interest rates are still low enough to make it worth your time. Shopping around for the best mortgage rate you can get can save you thousands over the lifetime of your loan. Here are some tips for getting your finances in order before shopping for a new home.

1. Shop Around—But Do It Before You Start Looking for Homes

Take some time to talk to different lenders and determine who will give you the best rate. Searching for the best rate and locking in on a lender before you begin your home search is crucial in this intense market. Your offers will have more weight if you prove a lender is willing to give you a loan. When it comes to a bidding war, you don't want to be caught with the less appealing offer because you didn't put the work in at the beginning. Don't waste time comparing lenders while you are putting in offers. Find the lender with the best rate first and then enter the market as a strong buyer.

2. Pre-Approval Might Not Be Enough Anymore

In today's aggressive housing market, buyers need every advantage. A pre-approval letter from a lender used to be enough to prove to sellers that you are making a serious offer. But a pre-approval letter doesn't give buyers the competitive advantage it used to. Completing the underwriting process before beginning your home search will show buyers you mean business. It will also provide them with confidence in your ability to get to closing quickly since you will only need the final appraisal to secure your mortgage loan. Some sellers see a fully underwritten buyer as comparable to a cash buyer.

3. Establish How Much House You Can Afford

Knowing your interest rate makes it easier to determine how much house you can afford. The lender with the best rate will be able to tell you how much you are pre-approved for based on their financial background check. This will help you narrow your search to homes within your price range. Knowing how much home you can afford will also help you put your most competitive offer first.

4. Limit Rate-Shopping to a 30-Day Window

Rate shopping can impact your credit score if you aren't careful. Too many hard credit inquiries can lower your score. The exception is if you have a grouping of many inquiries within a 30-day window. Credit reporting agencies understand that as a consumer, you are likely to want to shop around for the best rates and may have many inquiries within a short period. If you keep your shopping around to within a 30-day window, your credit report will flag this group as one hard inquiry.

Before you hit the open houses, shop for a mortgage. Securing the best rate can save you hundreds of dollars a month. You can compare rates through Zillow's online mortgage marketplace or by talking to local banking institutions.

 

TAGGED WITH SELLER'S MARKET

Contact

Wall Township

1720 Highway 34 Suite 10 Wall Township, NJ 07727

Phone: (732) 894-4909

Fax: (732) 695-3917

Bordentown Office

33 Third Street 2nd Floor Suite 3 Bordentown, NJ 08505

Phone: (609) 542-2339

Metuchen Office

(By Appointment Only)

247 Main Street Metuchen, NJ 08840

Phone: (908) 386-4767