What to Do (And Not To Do!) Once You Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage [VIDEO]

If you’re a first-time homebuyer, getting pre-approved for a mortgage is the first step to becoming a homeowner. But just because you’re pre-approved doesn’t mean you’re locked into that status.

Our Open Market Lending Manager, Jen LaCroix, explains exactly what you should and shouldn’t do after you’ve been pre-approved for a home mortgage. “There are some things that you’d do on an everyday basis, but we’re going to ask that once you’ve got that pre-approval in hand, you hold off on,” says Jen. 

Learn all about what to do—and what not to do—once you’re pre-approved for a home mortgage in our new YouTube video:

What Not To Do

When you’re buying a house, you need to keep your finances stable, so there are many things you should avoid.

Try to Avoid Changing Your Job

If, during your homebuying process, you get a job offer that’s bigger and better than the job you currently have, that’s great! However, should you choose to accept that job, tell your loan officer immediately, as that can impact your household income.

If you’re a typical W-2 employee getting paid regularly and you wish to become self-employed...wait to make that change until after you’ve purchased your house.

“We cannot take income that had once been W-2 and switch to self-employed income during the pre-approval process, or you’ll no longer be eligible for financing,” says Jen.

Watch for Tradelines in Your Credit Score

“We’re basing your pre-approval off of the credit report that’s in our hands,” says Jen. Loan officers continue to re-pull your credit score throughout the homebuying process to ensure everything is still within an acceptable range.

If your credit appears significantly different when it’s re-pulled, it could impact your loan eligibility. One such issue is called a “tradeline,” which is any open bank or credit card account that has a balance on it.

“If you’ve suddenly opened an account that wasn’t open before and there’s a minimum monthly payment on that account, we have to take that into consideration, and that could affect your pre-approval,” says Jen.

Avoid Moving Money Around Too Much

When you buy your first home, lenders ask for several months’ worth of bank statements. Lenders require those statements to prove you can pay for a house with your own money.

If you have multiple bank accounts (more than two), and you’re shifting money around a lot, you’ll need to explain the source of that money and prove that the money was yours to begin with. So, the more you shift money between accounts, the more you’ll need to explain and verify your actions

Find more tips on things to avoid between pre-approval and home closing.

What To Do

Try to prepare yourself as much as possible with these tips on what you should be doing once you receive a pre-approval for a mortgage.

Tell Your Lender Everything

There can always be unforeseen complications that arise during your home search, and that’s okay! Just don’t hide them from your lender.

“If you tell your loan officer right away, nine times out of ten, your loan officer can likely find a solution,” says Jen, “But they cannot help you fix what they don’t know.” After all, they’re going to be watching your financial records anyway, so if it’s something significant, they’re going to notice!

Be Prepared with Your Paperwork

If you want a smooth transition to closing, make sure you can verify everything you promised at the beginning of your pre-approval process. You’ll need your W-2s, bank statements, tax returns, and paycheck stubs. Make sure you have easy access to those documents. Remember, some of these documents may take extra time to access or pull, so “practice” tracking down these documents, and you’ll know how much time you’ll need to pull them together on your closing day.

Research Before Touring Homes. 

Searching for your new home is very exciting, but it also requires work and preparation. There are many things to consider before touring homes. 

• Determine if you’ll work with a realtor, and connect with them first before touring homes. Realtors can assist you with all the financial intricacies that come with this process. 
• Research the neighborhoods near your desired homes. Check the surroundings to make sure it is safe and suitable for your needs. 
• Lastly, differentiate between what is a necessity and what is on your wish list when looking for a new home.

Plan for Changes

In most markets, you’re paying for a house that costs several hundred thousand dollars. That’s a big purchase, and it requires a lot of checks and balances. So, be prepared for the unexpected, and know that you’ve got professionals on your side.

Have Fun!

You’re only going to be a first-time homebuyer once, so have fun and enjoy the search! Keeping in mind what to do and what not to do when buying a home will help you enjoy the search a little more.

If you liked this video and want some more first-time homebuyer tips, subscribe to our YouTube channel!