Down Payment
In the purchase offer, if you are going to make a down payment, we will include the down payment amount you will apply toward the purchase price. This will give the seller further evidence of your qualifications to secure a mortgage because of the downpayment you are going to make. The downpayment decreases the loan-to-value (LTV) ration, which is a positive thing from the sellers' prospective.  If you are wanting to obtain 100% financing with no downpayment, then you espacially need a pre-approval or pre-qualification letter from a lender, so the seller knows everthing will be "OK" with regard to you obatining a mortgage loan to close the sale.

Interest Rate & Lock-in Period
This is another reason to meet with a lender prior to making an offer on a house. Determining and locking in an interst rate will let you know your approximate monthly payment, should you get the house. It should also provide a safeguard against any dramatic change in interest rates between when the offer is made and when the loan is closed. The interst rate can vary depending on your credit score, downpayment and employment history, in addition to other factors. 

Seller Assistance
If the house you select is at the top-end of your budget range, we may want to include a request for seller assistance to pay a portion of the closing costs traditionally paid by the buyer or to help "buy-down" your interest rate. Other seller assistance may include having the seller "carry back" a second mortgage to cover your down payment or even 100% seller financing.

With any of these seller assistance options, you can expect to pay a higher purchase price than if you had handled the financing through a traditional mortgage lender.