It’s  petty simple – Get pre approved for your mortgage bofore you start making offers.  I don’t mean a letter from Countrywide saying it looks like you could probably get a mortgage – I mean select a mortgage provider, give him or her all of the documents needed to approve you for a loan.  Get an actual approval letter that states you have been pre-approved for a loan pending only the contract and appraisal of the property.  NOTE:  Do not put the amount you are pre-approved for on the letter – just make sure you stay at or below your price range with all offers.  Consumer advocate Clark Howard recommends keeping your mortgage at 25% of gross pay.  We used to hear 33% – but that is so 2002. Keep it lower and hhave some money left for other things.  

Once you have this letter, you are armed and dangerous.  You are able to swing the big bat and make a great purchase because you definitely can close – and fast.   Most sellers will be very moved by your ability to act so quickly.  No one – especially the financial institutions – will want you to get away from them. You will become golden and will get a great deal on a property. Hopefully you will get an aggressive agent to assist you with your offers.