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Lender never pulled my credit, is a pre-qual letter actually going to hold up here?

First-time buyers looking in Coral Springs around $575k. A lender sent us a "pre-qualification" letter after a 15 minute phone call, never pulled our credit, never asked for a single document. I just told him our score's around 740 and we make about $110k combined. Now we found a house we love and I'm hearing sellers down here basically ignore pre-quals and only take pre-approvals seriously once it gets competitive.nIs a pre-qual even enough to make an offer here, or do we need a full verified pre-approval first? And if our real pulled credit comes back lower than the 740 we're guessing from an app, does the whole deal blow up after we're already under contract?nAppreciate any honest takes.

11 Answers

Equity loan with late payments

Can I get a loan to take out equity with a couple of late payments. I also have low credit score.

8 Answers

Should I choose a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage?

I'm torn between a fixed-rate mortgage and an adjustable-rate mortgage for a property in Florida. I plan to live in the home for at least five years, but I'm unsure which option would be more beneficial in the long run.

12 Answers

What condo association rules should I review before buying in South Florida

My spouse and I are looking at buying a condo in South Florida because we like the amenities and lower maintenance compared to a single-family home. We found a building we really like, but our agent mentioned that we should pay close attention to the condo association documents before moving forward. I've heard stories about surprise special assessments, rental restrictions, and rules that limit what owners can do with their units, so I want to understand what I should be looking for before making an offer.

7 Answers

Replacing a 17-year-old roof. Is metal worth double the price of shingles?

Hey all, new here.nJust bought in Coral Springs and the shingle roof is about 17 years old, so a replacement is coming soon. My quotes: shingles $12k, tile $22k, metal $26k.nnA neighbor swears metal is a no-brainer because it lasts 50+ years and gets you a big insurance discount. But it's more than double the shingle price and we're already stretched.nnFor a family staying 10–15 years, is metal actually worth it, or does tile get me most of the benefit for less?nnappreciate any honest takes.

16 Answers

How Do You Choose the Right Insurance Agent in South Florida?

Hi all, quick question! nnClosing on a house in Delray Beach next month and my insurance agent quoted me through 3 companies. A friend told me good agents down here shop 20+ carriers. Is 3 a red flag, or am I overthinking it?nnAlso just noticed my quote has a $10,000 water damage cap but my dwelling coverage is $450k. Should I be worried about that?nThanks for any advice , kind of new to all this.

9 Answers

Buying a condo in South Florida, how scared should I actually be about special assessments?

Docs look clean but idk what I'm looking for. Under contract on a 2/2 in a mid-rise in Delray Beach. Seller sent over "the condo docs" which is like... two PDFs. My agent says it looks fine. But I've been reading horror stories about $50k–$100k assessments hitting owners out of nowhere. Is this actually common now or are people just doom-posting? What should I even be checking?

9 Answers

Does an insurance policy transfer when buying or selling a home?

I'm buying a home in Boca Raton and figured I'd just take over the seller's homeowners insuranc. is that how it works, or do I have to get my own policy? And I keep hearing flood insurance works differently. Does that transfer?

11 Answers

How do I choose the right time to sell my vacation property?

I have a vacation home that I’m thinking of selling, but I’m unsure about the timing. The property is in a tourist-heavy area, and I'm wondering if I should sell during peak tourist season or if it doesn’t really matter. What should I consider to maximize my sale?

14 Answers