You can use our online prequalification form to connect with a loan officer and find out approximately how much you can borrow before you start shopping for a house.

Once you have that number, you can provide more information and allow your loan officer to run your credit report to verify your assets and income.

• Don’t suddenly pay off all your debts.
• Don’t apply for new credit cards.

Prequalification can be easy, but it’s after you get preapproved and the loan process progresses that your lender is required to pull a refreshed credit report before closing to check for any new debt. So, any major changes in your finances could delay your loan closing – or even result in a denial despite an earlier approval.

Having good credit helps to get a more competitive mortgage interest rate, but perfect credit isn’t required.

If you have a low credit score or have filed bankruptcy, you can work toward improving your credit.

Your credit score matters when you’re trying to buy a house. Your credit score has a direct impact on your mortgage interest rate. A great score could qualify you for the lowest available interest rates, compared to a poor score that might make it harder to get a loan.

Talking to your loan officer about how you can fix some blemishes in your credit score is well worth the time and effort to get a lower rate. Lowering even one percentage point on a mortgage could save you thousands over the long-term.

• Yes! Get in touch with your loan officer, and they can lock in the interest rate.
• You’ll be provided with a written Rate and Price Determination Agreement. Agreement, detailing interest rate, loan terms, and time period for the rate lock.
• You could use a rate shield to lock your rate for up to 270 days, with the option to float down to a lower rate if rates drop within 45 days of closing.

You’ll have access to your funds on the day you close on your loan — when you’ve officially bought a house.

Congratulations on closing: This is a big deal. And remember, moving to a new home because of a job transfer or change might qualify you for a moving expense deduction, in some states.