Pre-Approval

A mortgage “pre-approval” is a lender’s conditional determination that a borrower qualifies for a home loan up to a specified amount, based on a detailed review of the borrower’s financial information and creditworthiness. During the pre-approval process, the lender...

Pre-Qualification

A mortgage “pre-qualification” is an initial evaluation by a lender of a prospective borrower’s financial profile to estimate how much the borrower may be eligible to borrow for a home purchase or refinance. The process is generally informal and is often based on...

Soft Pull (on credit)

A “soft pull” (also called a soft inquiry) on a credit report occurs when a person or organization reviews credit information without it being tied to a formal application for new credit. In the mortgage industry, soft pulls are commonly used during the...

Hard Pull (on credit)

A “hard pull” (also called a hard inquiry) on a credit report occurs when a lender reviews a borrower’s credit history as part of a formal application for credit, such as a mortgage loan. In the mortgage context, the lender obtains the borrower’s credit report from...
Dual Agency is Not What You Think

Dual Agency is Not What You Think

Do you think that dual agency has a clear and consistent definition, and do you believe the myth that dual agency is illegal in some states? If so, then you might not entirely understand how it works. I say this as someone who used to think I knew what dual agency...