Do You Know Why Your Agent Wants You to Get Pre-Qualified?

Have you ever tried to visit a home for sale on the market only to be told by a real estate agent that they won’t show you the property until you are pre-qualified for a mortgage? You might see this as a time-consuming obstacle or an unnecessary intrusion into your finances; however, there are a number of good reasons to support this requirement.

First, many sellers do not want their house being shown to someone who is not serious about buying it. Look at it from the current homeowner’s perspective. The seller has to clean the house and clear their family out and on a Sunday for someone who might be “just looking”. Furthermore, there is a potential security risk in showing a home to someone whom the seller and, in reality, the buyer’s agent know little about. Many sellers are uncomfortable with this.

Even if someone does like the home and is ready to make an offer, a seller will not seriously consider any offer from a buyer who has not been pre-qualified. They simply cannot accept the risk of taking their home off the market while a buyer figures out if they can even qualify for a loan to buy that house.

Another good reason to get pre-qualified is to see how much of a home a buyer can qualify for and on what terms. The pre-qualification process involves taking some basic information, running a credit report, as well as determining the potential borrower’s debt ratios. Typically, a buyer can be pre-qualified within a couple of hours from the beginning of the process. This procedure will often uncover unknown credit report items that can be addressed in advance to enable the buyer to obtain a better rate and thus, more of a loan. It will also allow the buyer to shop around for a lender so that valuable time is not wasted while they are under contract. Lenders can also advise on what types of programs might be available in certain areas.

Lastly, there is the question of etiquette. Believe it or not, there are people out there who look at houses as a hobby, with no true intention of buying. It is important to remember that a real estate agent’s time is extremely valuable. Realtors work on straight commission and often give up many hours of personal family time on the weekends to show property; many times to people who will never buy a home. Very simply, it is disrespectful to monopolize an agent’s time if a buyer is not serious enough to answer a few questions for a lender a couple of hours before going to look at property.

Ultimately, getting pre-qualified benefits all parties involved and represents a small time investment given the magnitude of a home purchase. The pre-qualification indicates to the seller a serious intent to buy; the buyer and buyer’s agent know the buyer’s financial background and purchase limitations; and the buyer will already have “one foot in the door” with their home purchase. It is a win-win for everyone!