A pre-qualification is a conversation. A pre-approval with documents reviewed by an underwriter is a commitment, and sellers can tell the difference from the letter alone.
Get your credit pulled early enough to fix problems. A small collection or a maxed card can move your rate by a wide margin, and both take weeks to clear.
Ask your lender to quote the full payment including Texas property taxes and insurance. In North Texas, taxes and insurance often add a substantial amount over principal and interest, and buyers who budget on the loan payment alone shop above their comfort level.
Decide on your cash structure before you write: down payment, option fee, earnest money, and a repair reserve. Knowing those numbers lets you respond to a multiple-offer situation in hours instead of days.
