54. Where to Start to Buy a House: Step 3 - How to Get Pre-approved

Once you've had your planning meeting and found your realtor, the next step is getting pre-approved. But there's a real difference between pre-qualified and pre-approved, and most first-time buyers don't know it until it costs them the house. I'm walking through how to choose a trustworthy lender, exactly what documents they'll ask for, and the difference between a quick pre-qualification and a full pre-approval, so you're ready the moment the right home hits the market.

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN TODAY:

Why getting pre-approved is step three, not step one, and why the order actually matters

How to find a trustworthy lender

The real difference between a pre-qualification and a full pre-approval

Exactly what documents your lender will ask for: bank statements, pay stubs, W-2s, and more

How gift funds from family work in the pre-approval process

Why you should tell your lender your actual monthly budget, not just take the number they approve you for

How long your pre-approval lasts and how rate shopping with multiple lenders actually works

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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