Being prepared is critical in the homebuying process. More often than not, sellers and their agents like to see that their buyer can secure the financing needed to purchase the home in question. That’s where preapproval vs. prequalification comes into play. But what’s the difference between the two? We spoke with a couple of experts, Kevin Leibowitz of Grayton Mortgage and Robert Niyazov of R&J Capital Group, to learn more.
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Lenox Hill
301 East 63rd Street
$475,000
2 |
1
Midtown
465 Park Avenue
$399,000
1 |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
857 Ninth Avenue
$475,000
1 |
1
Murray Hill
225 East 36th Street
$359,500
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1
East Harlem
2013 Lexington Avenue
$400,000
4 |
4
West Village
24 Cornelia Street
$469,000
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1
Fort George
31 Nagle Avenue
$389,000
1 |
1
East Harlem
169 East 102nd Street
$550,000
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Kips Bay
229 East 28th Street
$465,000
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Turtle Bay
212 East 48th Street
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Morningside Heights
501 West 122nd Street
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Washington Heights
664 West 161st Street
$525,000
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1
What Is Mortgage Prequalification?
Mortgage prequalification is an informal recommendation a mortgage professional creates for prospective buyers regarding their ability to secure financing for a home. As Leibowitz explains it, the information is all provided verbally in a conversation with the mortgage broker. The broker will then take all the borrower’s financial information to see if they could qualify for a loan without using any automated software or looking at bank statements.
Potential buyers might choose to pursue a prequalification vs. preapproval when they’re kickstarting their search to see what kinds of mortgages they could potentially secure. Leibowitz says it is a good way to estimate what you could comfortably afford.
However, it is essential to note that not all mortgage brokerages provide prequalifications. Niyazov says he rarely completes them since sellers expect buyers to have formal preapproval, not just a prequalification, especially in a competitive housing market. “It is important not to waste time if you are seriously looking to buy. Going through the actual preapproval process shows you are a serious homebuyer.”
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Coney Island
2932 West Fifth Street
$419,000
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1
Kensington
260 Ocean Parkway
$417,000
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1
Flatlands
1433 East 52nd Street
$450,000
1 |
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Sheepshead Bay
2800 Coyle Street
$359,999
2 |
1
Gravesend
2483 West 16th Street
$370,000
2 |
1
Flatbush
1462 Flatbush Avenue
$465,000
1 |
1
Gravesend
2546 Stillwell Avenue
$550,000
2 |
1
Gravesend
2546 Stillwell Avenue
$550,000
2 |
1
Bay Ridge
7401 Shore Road
$478,000
1 |
1
Kensington
428 East 9th Street
$490,000
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1
Kensington
428 East 9th Street
$519,000
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1
Kensington
428 East 9th Street
$530,000
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1
What Does Preapproval Mean for Homebuyers?
Mortgage preapproval is a formal process in which mortgage brokers determine if prospective borrowers can qualify for a mortgage of a specific value. The process involves more paperwork than prequalification because brokers have to look at tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, and an official credit report. However, at the end of the process, the homebuyer will have an official preapproval letter to provide with their offer.
In addition to financial information, the broker will ask for details on the buyers’ prospective property or similar properties. Leibowitz prefers buyers to show a specific property, even if it’s off the market, so he has more numbers to crunch. However, providing a price range is also acceptable, Niyazov says.
“We take the credit report, we look at the information as it’s presented to us, and we build a little computer profile for you. And then we run it through their model,” Leibowitz says. “And their model basically gives me a red light or green light.”
But what’s the point of the preapproval, besides sellers liking it? Well, you can’t actually get approved for a mortgage before you have a purchase agreement in your hands; banks won’t allow it. So, by getting preapproved, you’re not only showing the seller you can get a mortgage, but you’re also making it much easier to get that mortgage once you’ve completed the deal. Win-win!
“When we do submit it to underwriting, we get a quick approval. Because we’ve done a fair amount of the heavy lifting already,” Leibowitz says.
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75-36 Bell Boulevard
$549,000
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Kew Gardens
117-01 Park Lane South
$559,000
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Woodside
39-65 52nd Street
$599,000
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Jackson Heights
37-56 87th Street
$450,000
2 |
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Kew Gardens Hills
67-69 152nd Street
$385,000
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Oakland Gardens
220-07 73rd Avenue
$385,000
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1
Bayswater
32-16 Bayswater Court
$424,888
3 |
3
Ditmars-Steinway
45-02 Ditmars Boulevard
$590,000
1 |
1
Jackson Heights
72-17 34th Avenue
$399,000
2 |
1
Rego Park
99-32 66th Rd
$379,000
1 |
1
Oakland Gardens
224-33 Kingsbury Avenue
$389,000
2 |
1
Bay Terrace (Queens)
212-30 23rd Avenue
$395,000
2 |
1.5
How Long Does It Take to Be Preapproved or Prequalified?
It depends on the brokerage, but both processes are typically quick. Both Niyazov and Leibowitz say a borrower should hear back about a preapproval within a few days. Prequalifications are usually instantaneous since there’s not any paperwork to fill out.
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Saint George
80 Bay Street Landing
$475,000
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1.5
New Springville
65 Elmwood Park Drive
$429,800
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Mariners Harbor
30 Andrea Place
$599,000
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2
Grasmere
29 Winfield Avenue
$599,000
3 |
2
New Springville
85 Elmwood Park Drive
$439,000
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Saint George
155 Bay Street
$489,000
2 |
2
Saint George
145 Winter Avenue
$589,000
3 |
3
Grymes Hill
16 Pleasant Valley Avenue
$550,000
3 |
1
Great Kills
9 Russell Street
$524,000
3 |
2
Oakwood
85 Guyon Avenue
$599,000
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1
Mariners Harbor
62 Regal Walk
$548,000
3 |
1
Tompkinsville
105 Clark Lane
$480,000
3 |
2.5
Preapproval vs. Prequalification: Tips to Keep in Mind
Just because you know your credit score doesn’t mean you know your mortgage score, especially if you’ve never had a mortgage before. That’s why mortgage brokers must pull your actual credit report to see where you stand. Leibowitz says many clients protest because they believe their credit score will go down, but checking your credit is a vital part of the process.
Often, problems with your credit score don’t appear until you’ve pulled it. For example, Leibowitz found out about a collection when he refinanced his home.
“You really need somebody to look at it just to make sure there are no skeletons in the closet,” he says. “My skeleton was with Spectrum regarding my cable box, and it tanked my credit score. It was a mistake on their part, but it took a while to correct and remove from my credit report.”
Additionally, preapprovals and prequalifications have “expiration dates,” primarily because bank statements and credit statements are only viable for a certain amount of days. Typically, a preapproval is only valid for about three months, Niyazov says. However, you can renew it if you allow your broker to pull your credit every 90 days.
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