Pre-Approval Letter  Once you're pre-approved, your Licensed Mortgage Professional provides a pre-approval letter so you can quickly begin Step #2: Finding Your Home.  With your pre-approval letter, which can be sent to you in several ways, you are ready to confidently search for your new home.  And, since you consulted with a Licensed Mortgage Professional, you can put your pre-approval to good use to make offers, negotiate, and sign an agreement to buy. Offer, Negotiate then Sign Remember, you're pre-approved.  As you and your Real Estate Agent search for that perfect new home, when the right one comes along, you're already prepared to make the owner an offer, negotiate the terms, and sign a contract. Update Your Application Soon after you've agreed to a price and signed a contract, you will need to contact your Licensed Mortgage Professional.  Several new documents and disclosures must be exchanged.  You'll need to lock-in your interest rate.  And your Licensed Mortgage Professional will need to prepare your updated application for underwriting and closing, which includes ordering an appraisal of your new home. Your Closing Date Your contract sets a date you and the sellers agree to close the deal.  With mutual cooperation between you, your trusted legal advisor and your Licensed Mortgage Professional, not many reasons for delaying your closing come to mind.  Leading up to the big day you've been informed you need to bring a few items to closing - insurance, photo ID, the check (or wire), etc.  And, a day or two before closing you should be given a bottom-line amount you'll need to close.  Simple enough...