Homebuyer Workshop: From Prequalification to Making an Offer


Our homebuyer workshop series continues next month since we have the holidays upon us. This workshop will take you from getting prequalified to preapproved and pre-underwritten stages of the home buying process.

Learn what it takes to move from thinking about buying a home to making an offer with confidence. In this workshop, we’ll break down the early stages of the homebuying process — including how to get pre-qualified and pre-approved, what lenders are looking for, and how to choose the right lender and real estate agent.

This class is perfect for first-time buyers who want to understand the process and feel fully prepared to start their home search.

  • When: Wednesday, December 3, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm
  • Where: Zoom Webinar – Watch from the comfort of your computer! Since this is a webinar, your camera will be off so you can enjoy lunch while you learn!
  • RSVP: Link provided after you sign up for the workshop here.

Attendees will receive an online dashboard that includes recordings from the previous homebuying workshops.

If you’re thinking about buying a home, you don’t have to wait for the next workshop! Let’s talk!

How to Buy This West Seattle Home? Let Me Count the Ways!

UPDATE 5/26/2023: It’s no surprise to me…this home went immediately pending. If you are considering buying a home, it is so important to be fully approved and perhaps better yet, consider using a program that allows you to present an extra competitive cash offer. PS: I can help you with that!

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Don’t be naughty to your preapproval status over the holidays

iStock_000004639657XSmall[1]If you are currently preappoved for a mortgage to buy a home or are considering getting a mortgage in the New Year, what you do now with regards to your credit and income may impact your preapproval status.

A mortgage preapproval is based on information provided at the time of the pre-application. It is only valid assuming that the information provided at that time has not changed. You may not be aware that you’ve done something that may have jeopardized your preapproval until a month or two later when you’re getting ready to make an offer on a home and then learn you’ve been Scrooged.

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Seattle Real Estate Chat [Video] on Preapproval and Commitment Letters

In this episode, Jim Reppond and I discuss Commitment Letters.  A commitment letter is kind of like a preapproval letter on steroids. And in this hot sellers market that the greater Seattle area is currently experiencing – many buyers can use a little extra help to stand out from a similar competing offer.  A Loan Commitment Letter may be the extra boost that could help some home buyers.

Check out our last episode!

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Steps in the Mortgage Process

iStock_000003709509SmallEDITORS NOTE 10/23/2015: This post has been updated to include the new disclosures and wait periods required per the Dodd Frank Act effective on loan applications dated October 3, 2015 and later. Click here to read the updated post.

The process of getting a mortgage consists of several stages and typically takes anywhere from 20 – 40 days (or more) depending on how prepared you are, what mortgage program you have selected and if it’s a purchase, the closing date may dictate how long the process will take. The steps below may not take place in the exact order I have listed and some steps may happen simultaneously.

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Protect your Preapproval Status over the Holidays

santawalletTis the Season for holiday shopping. The aggressive sales push this year started BEFORE Thanksgiving with more mega-stores even remaining open on a day when employees should have had the day off (or at least had working on Thanksgiving as being “optional”).Cyber Monday is now cyber week…anyhow, my point is, stores are competing for your dollars. If you are considering buying a home or are currently pre-approved to buy a home, I thought I’d share some tips for you on how to make sure your “pre-approved” status is not jeopardized during the holiday season.

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Don’t let these things HAUNT your Preapproval

mortgageporter skeletonI encourage anyone who is considering buying a home to start the preapproval process as soon as possible. Regardless of if you’re not planning on buying for a year or you think your credit, income and assets are prefect – you never know what underwriters may find lurking in your application.

[Read more…]

How to Leverage your Lender when Making an Offer [Video] #SeattleREchat

In our most recent Seattle Real Estate Chat, Jim Reppond and I discuss how to leverage our lender when making an offer.

Tune in for our next Seattle Real Estate Chat on Tuesday, 10:00 am Seattle time where we talk about lenders or agents who wear two hats – such as agents who represent both the buyer and seller (dual agency) or an agent who’s also the loan originator.

Seattle Real Estate Chat is a weekly show that Jim Reppond and I host on a Google/YouTube – join us!  We are also on Twitter @SeattleREchat or search #SeattleREchat.