Get pre-approved for a loan

Decide how you'd like to work with us — in person, by phone or online. Then start by having us pre-approve you for a loan.* A Countrywide UpFront Approval Certificate demonstrates to real estate agents and home sellers your ability to buy homes within a certain price range. *UpFront approval subject to satisfactory appraisal and title review and no change in financial condition.

A real estate agent can help you throughout the buying process. What's more, since an agent's services are usually paid through a commission from the seller, they don't cost you anything. A good agent will help you decide exactly what you want in a home, what's essential and what's less important, learn your likes and dislikes, and save you hours of fruitless searching. Agents are the first to know when new homes come on the market and can advise you throughout the home-buying process.

• Look beyond the cosmetics. Make sure the most expensive things to repair or renovate, things like the structure, plumbing, wiring, and heating and cooling system are all in good shape
• Think about how the home suits your needs
• Do you like how the home feels? Is it you?
• Drive around the neighborhood — is this an area you want to live? (Research businesses and other features of the neighborhood with Map Blast . And get school reports at theschoolreport.com .*)
• Are other homes around the one you're considering comparable in value? Avoid buying a home considerably more valuable than neighboring homes — you may have trouble with the appraisal. You may also have trouble getting your value out of the home when you want to sell.

• Use a standard form real estate purchase contract (your agent will provide this). The agreement will have important clauses protecting you and the transaction
• In choosing a price, consider recent selling prices for comparable homes in the same area, how long the house has been on the market, how hot or slow the market is, and whether the home needs any major repairs. (Your real estate agent can help assess all these.
• Show your Countrywide UpFront Approval Certificate — it positions you as a highly qualified buyer.**
• See what closing costs the seller might be willing to pay. An eager seller may share more of them.
• Be sure the purchase contract releases you without penalty if a home inspection turns up major problems or the home doesn't appraise for the sales price.
• Write a realistic closing date into the agreement. While our loan process can be very fast (see our 10 Day Close Program ), you'll need time for the home inspection and negotiations resulting from that.
• If you need to sell your current home, try to make your contract conditional upon the sale of your house. If this request is rejected, give yourself a later closing date.

Once your offer has been accepted, you'll need to provide earnest money. This is a cash deposit (several hundred dollars to several thousand depending on the value of the home and the market) towards the down payment that shows your commitment to buying the home.

*Countrywide provides this link for your convenience and is not responsible for content of or services provided by this Web site. ** UpFront Approval subject to satisfactory appraisal and title review and no change in financial condition.