What Is Pre-approval?

Getting approved for a loan prior to your home search is a smart move that offers several advantages. It gives you a benchmark for how much you can afford, helping you narrow down your home search from the start. It also allows you to be taken more seriously in the bidding stage, which can help tremendously in your negotiations, especially when dealing with distressed properties.

Getting preapproved is simply a matter of your lender checking your financial situation and writing a letter stating that it would be willing to lend you a certain amount of money.

You'll need to assemble several documents to start the preapproval process:



• Federal tax returns for the last two years.
• W2s (or 1099 statements) for the last two years.
• Bank statements for the last two months.
• Recent pay stubs and proof of any other income.
• Proof of assets (stocks, mutual funds).
• Information about your current debts.
• Information about the source of your down payment, including gifts.

TIP
Don't open new credit card accounts or take on any new debt for at least six months (and even up to a year) before shopping for a mortgage

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Local Expert Updates

Aaron Jones

Cell: 712.320.9442

Will Kretsinger

Cell: 712.301.4040

Community Updates

Arnolds Park Greenspace Concert Calendar

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Real Estate and MLS Homes For Sale in Arnolds Park

The Three Sons

The Three Sons in Milford

Founded in 1960, the Three Sons has been a staple of Milford, IA retail. From Herman and Emil Richter, owners, was born the University of Okoboji, a ficticious university that calls the entire Iowa Great Lakes the campus of the U of O. Part of the experience of shopping the three sons, if walking the old battered floors, and taking a trip upstairs for half price, plus a buck. Brands you would expect in Milford Iowa are abundant, such as Patagonia, Oakley, Under Armour, Tommy Bahama, and more. There are currently 2 other stores; one at the amusement park, and another near the Regal Beagle called the bridge store. No self-respecting visitor to Okoboji leaves without visiting one of their stores.

Real Estate and MLS Homes For Sale in Milford

"Turn-Over" Thermocline

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Real Estate and MLS Homes For Sale in West Lake Okoboji

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