03/11/2026
The point of this post is to show you what a bad realtor looks like, as well as highlight the difference between a homebuyer that is ready versus one that is absolutely not.
This is a fact. Just because you want to own a homebuyer does not mean you are ready. Home ownership is expensive. And regardless of the fact your parents likely got rich from homeownership over the last 40 years, it does not mean You will too. Owning the home you live in is Lifestyle Design 1st and Wealth Generation 2nd.
Now, for the lessons in this post. And added context, this loan officer, in the comments, pointed out that he told the realtor and borrower that the clients are financially and situationally not ready, and had not uploaded any supporting documentation yet anyhow.
1. What makes a realtor a “bad” realtor? One who, regardless of being told a client has no savings, and an “okay” credit score, hasn’t uploaded supporting documentation still pushes a loan officer to pre approve a client. Can it be done? Legally? No. If they upload supporting documentation? Possibly. Not every time. But possibly. Comes down to debt/income ratios, can we get seller concessions to pay closing costs, can we use a down payment assistance program to cover the down payment and/or gift from family. And of course, they’ll usually need “asset reserves” of their own funds after down payment / closing costs. Again. If this is you, a realtor that asks for the illegal/impossible, or if it’s YOUR realtor, then you need to check yourself.
2. A home buyer that is ready is one who understands the process of pre approval and doesn’t just ignore the document requests because “the customer is always right” or something logically similar. You are asking for hundreds of thousands of dollars. You should be asking for direction, and then completing those steps dutifully. Not the other way around.
Bonus: loan officers. Those of you who send out pre approvals without doing even the bare minimum to pre approve someone are not only breaking the law, but you’re setting people up for failure which costs them money, pain, and your own reputation is at stake. Stop being a pushover and do your job as a fiduciary.
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