Understanding pre-approval
If this is your first time buying, pre-approval might be a new concept to you. Here’s how it works.
The vast majority of buyers will (at some stage) approach a bank or lender for a home loan. As a buyer, you’ll be asked to provide certain information about your income, etc to prove you can comfortably repay your loan over time. Once your loan is approved, the deal on the house is done and money is exchanged.
In a nutshell, pre-approval means that you’ve spoken to a bank or lender and have provided all the required information, and you’ve been approved to borrow a set amount, if and when you find a property you’re ready to buy.
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Will you need pre-approval?
What are the advantages to securing pre-approval for a home loan?
1. FOMO
Fear of missing out is never felt so acutely as the moment you lay eyes on the perfect property to suit your needs. Pre-approval lets you take action and lock it down on the spot.
2. Obligation-free
Once you secure pre-approval, you may not find exactly what you’re after in a property for some time. No worries – you can easily renew your pre-approval and continue your search.
3. Pick Me!
If you enter into negotiations with a seller, and they’re weighing up their options between two identical offers, knowing you’re pre-approved may tip the balance in your favour.
How the approval process works
Get in touch with us
When you are ready to start searching, contact your local branch or apply online and a lender will contact you. Our lending experts will be able to let you know how much you can borrow, after assessing your income and commitments.
A “Conditional Loan Approval” (subject to valuation) will be issued, and this is a great real estate negotiating tool, as you have already checked your borrowing capacity. It’s worthwhile before you start searching for properties to organise a conveyancer/solicitor.
Start your search
Start looking! Once a home is found, simply contact your lender who will confirm your income/commitment details and organise for a valuation to be undertaken on the property.
Once a favourable valuation is received, your loan is sent for approval. Once your loan is approved, the exchange can take place. Settlement is normally around 6 weeks (although can be sooner or later if both parties agree).
Your questions answered
How long does pre-approval for a home loan take?
Everyone's circumstances will be different, but for simple applications, it can be as quick as 2 business days. Between 3-5 business days is fairly standard in terms of time-frame.
For more complex applications, it can take up to two weeks before you may receive pre-approval. Check with your lender when having your initial conversation to get a guideline and avoid disappointment.
Does pre-approval guarantee a home loan?
No, unfortunately getting pre-approval doesn't 100% guarantee you a home loan. There are factors that may come into play that may mean you get declined for a loan, even if you previously gained pre-approval.
For example, since getting pre-approval, there may have been a change in your circumstances that impacts your financial position and favourability as a loan candidate.
How does a pre-approval home loan work?
Home loan pre-approval in a nutshell is an initial assessment from a lender where they agree, in principle only, to lend you a certain amount of money to buy a property.
A mortgage pre-approval essentially serves two purposes:
- It establishes your financial position with the lender and yourself
- It indicates just how much a lender will lend you, and what type of house you can afford to buy.
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Terms, conditions, fees, charges and credit criteria apply.
^Comparison rate is based on $150,000 over 25 years. WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for the examples given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate.
#Discounted rates available for new home loans $150k+, with LVR of 80% or less.
~At the end of the fixed rate period customers can chose to re-fix their loan for another fixed rate period or let the loan revert to the applicable variable interest rate based on the loan and repayment type.
‡A prepayment fee applies to fixed rate loans if you make more than 5% in extra payments. Contact us before making additional repayments to get an estimate of the prepayment fee.
Interest Only home loans attract a 0.10% p.a. margin above the applicable Principal and Interest interest rate. Your interest rate which includes any margins, will be set out in your loan contract.
◊Cashback offers:
*Online Cashback of $2,500 for eligible home loans $250-$499k or $3,000 for loans ≥$500k available for applications submitted via the Greater Bank Digital Home Loan application channel (online application) with 80% LVR or below. Excludes refinances from Greater Bank or Newcastle Permanent. If eligible, cashback payment will be made within 60 days of the loan settlement date (loan must still be open at time of payment). Only one (1) cashback payment per eligible loan and for first eligible loan only. Not available in conjunction with any other cashback or promotional payment (except any interest rate discount offered). Offer may be varied or withdrawn at any time. See the full Online Cashback Offer Terms and Conditions.
+Cashback of $2,000 for eligible home loans $250-$499k or $2,500 cashback for loans ≥$500k available for refinance applications submitted via Greater Bank lenders (not online), with 80% LVR or below. Only one (1) cashback payment per eligible loan, and for first eligible loan only. Not available in conjunction with any other promotional payment. Offer may be varied or withdrawn at any time. See the full Cashback Offer Terms and Conditions.
**$2,500 cashback for loans ≥$250,000 with LVR less than or equal to 95%. Only one (1) Cashback Payment per eligible loan, and for first eligible loan only. All borrowers must be a first home buyer, which means they have never owned or co-owned a residential property. Not available in conjunction with any other promotional payment. Offer may be varied or withdrawn at any time. See the full First Home Buyer Cashback Offer Terms and Conditions here.
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