The 5-Step Mortgage Plan Every Homebuyer Should Know

Buying a Home? Here’s Your Step-by-Step Mortgage Game Plan

Each month, we send out a printed flyer with practical, bite-sized real estate insights—and this month’s topic is all about getting mortgage-ready. If you're thinking about buying a home, understanding the financing process upfront can save you stress, time, and money. Here’s a simple five-step breakdown to help you move from “just browsing” to “just closed.”

1. Get Your Finances in Shape

Before you look at homes or talk to a lender, take a good look under the hood. Review your credit score, income, debt load, and savings. Lenders will want to know you have a handle on your finances—and so should you.

This is also the time to clean up any credit issues, pay down high-interest debt, and determine how much you can realistically put toward a down payment and closing costs. A little prep here goes a long way when it’s time to apply.

2. Talk to a Mortgage Pro (and Get Pre-approved)

Next, you’ll want to sit down with a trusted mortgage advisor to explore your loan options. This is where the heavy lifting happens behind the scenes—running credit checks, reviewing income documentation, and verifying assets.

The goal? Get pre-approved—not just prequalified. Pre-approval shows sellers (and agents like me) that you’re a serious buyer. It also gives you a clear price range to work with and can speed things up once you’re ready to make an offer.

3. Start the Home Search

With pre-approval in hand, we can hit the ground running. I’ll help you identify homes that meet your needs and fall within your approved price range. We’ll look at location, layout, lifestyle fit—and keep an eye on any red flags along the way.

This part is exciting, but also strategic. With low inventory and competitive offers in many SoCal markets, having a broker who knows how to position your offer (and when to walk away) is key.

4. Submit an Offer and Apply for the Loan

Once you’ve found the one and your offer is accepted, the next phase kicks off: your full loan application heads to underwriting.

This is where the lender’s team verifies every detail—from your employment to your bank accounts—and makes the final call on approving your mortgage. I’ll guide you through exactly what to expect and help you respond quickly to any documentation requests so we stay on track.

5. Close With Confidence

From offer to keys, I’ll be with you every step of the way—coordinating with escrow, staying in touch with your lender, and making sure your paperwork is clean and complete.

We’ll work through inspections, appraisals, negotiations, and final walk-throughs. My goal is to keep you calm, informed, and protected from any surprises between acceptance and close.

Prequalified vs. Pre-approved—What’s the Real Difference?

It’s a common question, and here’s the breakdown:

• Prequalified: An informal estimate based on self-reported info. Good for early-stage planning, but not enough to submit with an offer.

• Pre-approved: A lender has reviewed your credit, income, and assets and has conditionally approved you for a loan. This shows sellers you're serious and ready to act.
  
  

We send flyers like this out every month to help clients stay sharp and ahead of the game. If you'd like to start receiving them in the mail, reach out to us at [email protected]—we’ll gladly add you to the list.