Get Pre-Approved
PRE-APPROVAL 101: WHAT FIRST-TIMERS NEED TO KNOW
If you're thinking about buying your first home, getting pre-approved for a mortgage should be the first item on your to-do list. So, what does that mean and why do you need it?
Pre-approval means that a mortgage lender has gone over your financials and can state, in writing, how much you're qualified to borrow. This is crucial information because it helps you define your price range, the amount of the down payment you'll need in that price range, and even the neighborhoods that are within your financial reach. There's nothing more heartbreaking for hopeful buyers than realizing the home they've set their hearts on is priced too high for their borrowing power.
But these aren't the only advantages of pre-approval. Having that lender "seal of approval" makes you a more solid candidate in the eyes of sellers. And that can make the difference between moving into and saying goodbye to a home you love.
In most cases, unless you are planning to purchase a property in cash, you need to have a pre-approval to even send in an offer.
So take that important first step toward homeownership by getting pre-approved. Contact a local RE/MAX agent who can help you navigate the whole process.
Pre-Approval Prep:
To get ready for pre-approval, know what's in your credit reports, pay off as many outstanding debts as possible, and get your financial papers in order. You'll be asked to provide several types of documents, including:
- Photo ID (usually a driver's license or passport)
- Social security number
- Recent pay stubs - usually for the previous two months
- W-2 tax forms for the past two years
- Two years of federal tax returns
- Two months of recent bank statements
- The lender may also ask for any other investment and savings statements, as well as contact information for your landlord (if you're renting).
- After your paperwork is complete, the lender can often respond in as quickly as 48 hours.
Need a Trusted Lender? We have one!
Testimonials
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If you are buying or selling in South Jersey, you NEED Connie Curci in your corner! She is the best of the best. She makes each client feel like they are the most important, regardless of the size of the transaction. She is knowledgeable, honest, attentive and readily accessible to answer any and all questions. She worked with us for 2 purchases and 1 sale. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
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- Charlotte Perez
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connie was a pleasure and very easy to work with. i highly recommend her to anyone looking to buy or sell a home
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- Jack B.
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Connie was amazing
Connie made selling your home as painless as possible, she guided us through every step of the way with her expertise. I would highly recommend her.
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- Gary Schempp
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The Curci team did an excellent job on the sale of our home. We live out of state, and were kept in the loop every step of the way. The communication was timely and efficient. I highly recommend Connie and her staff to provide first rate service!
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- Corrie Valenti
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Curci and her team are amazing. She will make sure that you find the right house that fits you bought, she is patience, has a lot of knowledge, and she will not stop looking until you find the perfect house.
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- Jennifer Gonzalez
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Amazing realtor. Highly knowledgeable and experienced. I've used many realtors ( owning 7 properties ) and Connie was by far the most prompt and professional. Ever since meeting her, I only use her and closed on 3 properties, working on 4th within a 6 month time frame.
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- Tuan Pham
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Connie was absolutely wonderful, my fiancée and I just bought our first ever home and we couldn’t have worked with anyone better! The process was quick, simple, and as stress free as buying a home can be. Beyond her professional abilities, Connie was so kind, understanding, and available to us for all of our questions and concerns. It was clear to us that she was looking out for our well being every step of the way. We are so happy to have worked with Connie and to be living in our first home, we would definitely recommend her to anyone looking to buy a home, especially if it’s your first!
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- Keven Fuertes
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Connie is the best. She keeps me informed during the entire sales process. You won't go wrong with Connie.
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- Bernie White
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Connie was great helping us sell our house! She was knowledgeable with the process and very helpful on what to fix up and how we should expect to see that affect the sale price of our house. I would thoroughly recommend her and her team when buying or selling a house!
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- Tommy Avery
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Connie continuously helped me over the last few months in finding my first home. She constantly kept me updated along the process whether it be finding new listings or information I may have needed from sellers. Even in a difficult real estate market for buyers these days, Connie was able to help me find a home I am more than happy with. If you want someone that will hustle for you, you've come to the right place.
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- Michael McLaughlin
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Connie has been in the business for 20 years and has truly mastered the craft. Her clients are top priority and she will go above and beyond for every single person she works with. Her biggest priority is making sure her clients are educated on the current market and every step of the process to ensure her clients are comfortable and informed to make the best possible decision for themselves and their situation. While I highly recommend her to anybody looking to Sell or Purchase, we recommend her to our agents as well for help and education purposes. Connie leads our office Training programs and is the first person to offer a helping hand to anybody who needs it. We are grateful for the opportunity to have Connie with our office and can’t recommend her enough.
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- Randel Jones
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Our team worked with Connie on a real estate transaction recently and she was a great colleague. She was very organized and thorough throughout the transaction. Thank you for a smooth transaction. We look forward to working with you in the future.
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- Erika Tucker
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Connie is a very knowledgeable, sweet, and friendly agent with wonderful personality! Highly recommended! She’ll help you from A-Z (even after the deal is close) to make sure you’re good to go! She also has good connection with service providers. I’ll keep her as my agent for future transaction as well.
Please Talk to Connie NOW if you need to buy/sell your house and you’ll be happy!
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- Jenny Nguyen
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I cannot express how easy / fast it was to sell our house. I could have not done it without Connie Curci. She made every step of the process super easy and continued her great support along the way. I couldn’t ask for a better realtor. Thank you again Connie.
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- Benjamin Baez III
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Cape May County MLS program, a voluntary cooperative exchange of property
listing data between licensed real estate brokerage firms in which we participate,
and is provided by Cape May County MLS through a licensing agreement.
Disclaimer: All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified.
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