USDA Rural Housing

Pre-Qualification vs. Pre-Approval know the difference

Confusion often arises over the difference between pre-qualifying and pre-approving.

A buyer has been pre-qualified when he or she has spoken at length with someone who has questioned them on credit history, employment, upfront cash, etc. That person then usually calculates debt ratios and comes up with a maximum loan amount under one or more scenarios. It is an informal process that can be accomplished over the telephone.

One step better is getting pre-approved. With a pre-approval, we will take an actual application for a mortgage and send it to an underwriter for approval (subject to an appraisal when you find a house). The only upfont cost is $35, for a credit report, which is subtracted from the cost to you at closing.

Here are some of the advantages in being a pre-approved buyer:

1. In most cases you can close within 2-4 weeks after signing a purchase agreement.

2. Sellers are usually easier to work with because an offer from a pre-approved buyer carries more weight.

In effect, it is almost like a cash offer. When you are approved, you will be given a certificate to verify your approval with Grand Oak Mortgage Company.

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"Our Loan Officer and Loan Processor were great to work with, they were pleasant and helpful" - Mr. & Mrs. Pulliam

"The staff went up and above any of our expectations. Explaining everything step by step, very professional and helpful" - Dale Gohn & Kristie Tickle

"As a first time home buyer I was very unclear on what was involved in applying for a mortgage and what points and closing costs really were. Grand Oak Mortgage Company took the time to explain and educate me and my wife on the entire mortgage process" - Mr. & Mrs. Zlotnik

"Thank You Grand Oak Mortgage, my loan experience was all that you said it would be, fast and hassle-free" - Mr. & Mrs. Babcock

"Grand Oak Mortgage was great to deal with. Everytime, I spoke with them they were very upbeat and happy. It was a real pleasure dealing with such a great staff. They were very patient with me even when they had to explain things to me twice" - Mr. Passalacqua

"My Loan Officer was very helpful and all for us, she gave us insight into the ins and outs of the business" - Mr. & Mrs. Gonzalez

"Grand Oak Mortgage was very helpful, we want to thank them for getting us in our house. Very good company, who cares about their clients" - Mr. Zak

"With all the different loans programs available I didn't know the best program for me. With the help of my Grand Oak Mortgage Company Loan Officer I ended up with a loan program that saved me nearly $100/month on my house payment" - Mr. & Mrs. Wink

*We are proud to announce that all of our Loan Officers are S.A.F.E. act compliant.