Buying a house in today's market can feel a little bit like wading into the Colosseum. It's a fight to the finish with very few victors - and they all seem to be carrying cash.

How do you compete with these cash-laden opponents? You get a Fairway Advantage Pre-Approval.

Ready to buy a home? Get started here

What makes the Fairway Advantage Pre-Approval different?

A Fairway Advantage Pre-Approval is underwritten except for certain property details (contract, title search, and appraisal), which means when you make an offer, sellers know the home is as good as sold. Not many other buyers can say that.

Here are the highlights:

• Competes with cash
• Tells you how much you can borrow
• Backed by our commitment to fast closings

When you get an Advantage Pre-approval from Fairway, you can breathe easy knowing that we've already looked at your finances: income, credit score and history, debt-to-income ratio. We don't miss a thing.

The Fairway Advantage Pre-Approval is as close to a guarantee as you can get. And sellers love a guarantee.

They also love a fast closing, and speed just happens to be one of Fairway's core values.

Of course, every borrower's situation is different, and there are a lot of factors that affect closing times. Some loans take longer than others to close.

But we can promise that we'll do everything we can to close your loan Fairway fast so you can start living the dream in your new home as quickly as possible.

Do I really need to get pre-approved to get a mortgage?

Technically? No. But in today's market, pretty much, yes.

A pre-approval - especially a Fairway Advantage Pre-Approval - tells real estate agents and sellers that you're qualified to buy.

Sellers don't want to waste time when there are so many eager homebuyers, many offering all cash.

Having a Fairway Advantage Pre-Approval can help you beat out those buyers because agents and sellers will know that if they accept your offer, the odds that this loan will close are about as good as it gets.

How long does it take to get a Fairway Advantage Pre-Approval?

Receiving your Fairway Advantage Pre-Approval is fast. We understand how quickly things need to happen in this market and can accommodate rush situations in many cases.

Maybe your ideal home just hit the market or there's an open house that you need to be at because something's telling you this is The One.

It's all good. Just let your Fairway loan officer know. Remember, speed is one of our core values. And personalized service for getting you into a home? That's kind of our superpower.

Show up to that open house this weekend ready to knock out the competition with your Fairway Advantage Pre-Approval.

Alright, I'm sold. Where do I apply?

Great decision! We can't wait to work with you.

Start your Fairway Advantage Pre-Approval application here.

*Fairway Advantage pre-approval is based on a full review of the borrower's creditworthiness and is contingent upon there being no material changes in the borrower's financial condition or creditworthiness at the time of final loan approval. Final loan approval is subject to the following conditions: (1) borrower has identified a suitable property, and a valid appraisal supports the proposed loan amount; (2) a valid title insurance binder has been issued; and (3) borrower selects a mortgage program and locks in an interest rate that will support the pre-approved monthly payment amount. Loan must close before the expiration date provided in the pre-approval. Please note that submitting verifying documentation is not a requirement to receive an estimate of closing costs associated with a mortgage loan.

Some references sourced within this article have not been prepared by Fairway and are distributed for educational purposes only. The information is not guaranteed to be accurate and may not entirely represent the opinions of Fairway.