I’m Travis Buis, a loan officer with Elite Home Lending in Myrtle Beach. Getting pre-qualified is the cheapest hour you’ll spend on a home purchase, and on the Grand Strand it does more for you than it does in most markets.

Here’s what happens when you do it, so nothing about the process is a surprise.

Determine how your credit looks.

Lenders will look at your payment history, income, and current debts to determine how likely you are to pay your loan each month. The number value assigned to your “reliability” is known as your credit score and is one of the biggest factors in getting approved for a mortgage.

There are many websites that allow you to quickly check your credit & credit score for free. Two of our favorites are www.freecreditreport.com and www.creditkarma.com.

If you have a credit score below 640, consider delving deeper into your report to make sure it is accurate. Stay current with all monthly payments and reduce debt where possible to boost your score.

What does it mean to get pre-qualified in Myrtle Beach?

Why does it matter more here?

Because a lot of the competition is paying cash. The Grand Strand draws second-home and investment buyers who don’t need financing at all, and a listing agent choosing between offers treats a financed one very differently depending on whether you’ve been vetted.

Walking in without it puts you behind buyers who look more certain than you on paper, even when you aren’t.

What do I actually look at?

Your income and how it’s documented, what you owe each month, your credit, and the cash you have available. Then the property itself, because on this coast the address changes the math. Insurance, HOA dues and whether a condo building is financeable all move what you can afford.

That last part is why I’d rather talk than have you use a calculator alone. Two houses at the same price on the Grand Strand can carry very different monthly costs.

What should I bring, and how long does it take?

Recent pay stubs, the last couple of years of tax returns, and recent bank statements. If you’re self-employed or your income is seasonal, bring more months of statements, because a bank statement program may fit you better than standard documentation.

The conversation itself is short. What takes time is gathering documents, so start pulling them now rather than when you’ve found a house.

Want to run your own numbers first? Use the mortgage calculator and start on the Affordability tab, then bring me the figure and we’ll pressure-test it.