A pre-approved mortgage is a must in a competitive housing market. It also gives you an idea of what you can afford to buy as you look at houses. Online home loan lenders allow you to compare rates and quickly complete the process.

Before You Apply

Before you apply for a pre-approved mortgage, you will want to make sure all your financial records are in order. This is a good time to get a copy of your credit report and check it for any errors.

You should also determine how much of a down payment you plan on putting down. If you have good credit, you can get away with 0% down. However, in order to avoid private mortgage insurance, you will need to put down at least 20%.

Look For A Lender

Online mortgage lenders provide more options for financing the purchase of a home. You can quickly scan rates and fees by providing basic information about the loan amount and your income level. These general quotes will not be your final rate since there are many more factors that determine a mortgage financing package, but it is a quick way to find competitive lenders.

Apply For A Home Loan

A pre-approved mortgage is basically just having the application of a home loan completed. With a completed application, your mortgage lender will tell you the maximum amount you qualify to borrow. When you actually purchase your home, you will finalize the paperwork and lock in your rates.

You can fill out your home loan application online, saving you time. Over a secure connection, you provide detailed information about yourself. To quickly find your financial information, use last year's IRS forms or your bank statements.

Find Your Home

Once your application is approved, you can make serious offers on homes you would like to buy. Take a copy of your pre-approved loan with you when you look at homes. An offer with a pre-approved mortgage will sometimes be snapped up over just a regular offer.

With your offer on the table, you can finish the mortgage loan paperwork and lock in your rate.

To view our list of recommended sources for mortgage refinance loans online, visit this page:? Recommended Mortgage Companies Online.

Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans.