What is the difference between "pre-qualified" and "pre-approved"?

When one is pre-qualified, a mortgage professional has rendered an opinion regarding the home price the potential buyer can afford. Their opinion considered the potential buyer's down payment, debts, income, credit rating, and a lender's underwriting guidelines. Being pre-qualified is only an opinion from a person who will not actually lend the money to purchase your home. If one is pre-approved, however, a lender has verified all the above and more. The lender's opinion is more valuable since it is the lender who will lend the money. When a potential buyer is pre-approved, the seller can be more confident the buyer can close the deal. A seller should always ask potential buyers to provide a pre-approval letter.

What closing costs might a buyer pay?

Closing costs are various charges paid to different entities associated with facilitating real estate transactions. Some of the closing costs a buyer might encounter include: application fee, appraisal fee, credit report, transfer tax, discount points, notary fee, documentation fee, title and escrow fees, loan fees, mortgage insurance, origination fee, title insurance premium and others. Closing costs are negotiable between the parties.

What is a point?

One point is equal to 1 percent of the loan amount. Depending on the context, it can have different interpretations. A discount point provides the borrower with a reduced, "discounted" note rate. An origination point is a fee for services rendered in connection for originating the loan. An FHA or VA offer may ask the seller to pay points.

When a buyer makes an offer to purchase your property, they will need to provide an earnest money deposit as a sign of good faith. The earnest money deposit becomes a part of the purchase price and is held, or deposited into a trust or escrow account until there is full acceptance of the offer and the transaction closes. Typically, the earnest money deposit is 3 to 5 percent of the offer amount. In a FSBO transaction, the buyer should make their earnest money check payable to the escrow company.

What is title insurance?

Title insurance protects the buyer and seller. It is and insurance policy issued by a title insurance company and specifies, among other things, what liens are recorded against the subject property. Public records can be incomplete and contain errors regarding the history of ownership of a property (chain of title). It's critical that an owner receive undisputed, marketable title to the property. Title insurance was developed to attest to the reliability of the chain of title, and compensate people in the event problems arise and someone contests the sale transaction. There are different levels of protection offered by different types of title insurance.

Is VA or FHA financing unfair to sellers?

FHA and VA loans provide purchasers the opportunity to buy homes with minimal cash investment and at lower interest rates. These loans require the lender or seller to pay for certain closing costs and loan fees that a buyer would normally pay with a conventional loan. VA and FHA also have stricter appraisal and home inspection requirements. All repair work must be done prior to closing the sale. Offering your home and allowing VA/FHA financing increases the number of buyers that may make an offer on your home. You always have the right to compare these offers to other offers with conventional financing.