Get pre-approved before you tour.
Sellers ignore offers without a pre-approval letter. I'll connect you with a local lender who can give you a real number in a day or two — bring your own if you already have one.
- Local lender who answers the phone
- Bring your own — no pressure either way
- No spam, no rate quotes, no surprise calls
Why pre-approval matters in Shasta County
In a slower local market, a seller weighing two offers will almost always take the one with a clean pre-approval letter — even if the dollar amount is the same. It tells them your financing won't fall through in week three. Without one, you're competing with one hand tied behind your back.
Pre-qualified vs pre-approved
Pre-qualified is a guess. Pre-approved is a lender pulling your credit and reviewing your income. Sellers want the second one.
How long it takes
A day or two if you have W2s and bank statements ready. Self-employed buyers should budget a week.
Use your own lender
If you already have one — credit union, online lender, family connection — that's fine. Send me their info and I'll work with them.
Common questions
Will this hurt my credit?
A pre-approval pulls a hard credit report, which dips your score 3–5 points temporarily. Multiple mortgage inquiries within 14 days count as one. A guess (pre-qual) doesn't pull credit at all.
Does using your lender lock me in?
No. You can shop other lenders after — you just get a real letter in hand fast. I don't take referral fees from lenders.
What if I already have a pre-approval?
Forward it to me — I'll check it covers what you'll likely offer on. If you're shopping above the letter amount, you'll want a new one before submitting.