Get pre-approved — before you tour a single home. Pre-approval isn’t just a budget check; it’s a competitive requirement. In the Denver metro, sellers routinely reject offers without a pre-approval letter from a reputable lender. The lender will review your income, employment history, credit score (aim for 620+ conventional, 580+ FHA), and debt-to-income ratio. The whole process takes 1-3 business days.
Once pre-approved, you’ll know your exact budget and can act the same day a listing goes live. Per DMAR, well-priced homes in popular Denver neighborhoods still go under contract in under a week — you can’t afford a 3-day delay to find a lender after you’ve found the home. Get 3 quotes: your bank, a local credit union, and an online lender. On a $500,000 loan, a 0.25% rate difference saves ~$25,000 over 30 years. Full buying guide for Denver.