APM BLOG

Low interest rates, even lower housing inventory, and tons of competition. That’s today’s housing market in many areas around the country, and that can be frustrating for buyers.

Having been in business for over 25 years and witnessed many real estate cycles, we know how you feel. That’s why APM has focused all its energy on making sure you are in the best possible position to have your offer accepted.

That’s why we developed our Keys on Time™ program. Here’s how it works: You get your loan approved before you shop for a home. That’s right. We will give you full approval of your financing before you ever find a home . . . this is not your average pre-approval!  Once approved, you go shop for your home, secure in the knowledge that your financing is in place. 

We’ll give you our commitment and a certificate you can include with your offer, giving your seller confidence that you’re ready to go! Once accepted, you submit the contract to your loan advisor, then we get the last few things finished up (like the appraisal and title report), and you’re ready! What’s better is that the Keys on Time™ program gives you a commitment to close on time or we’ll pay you (or your seller—you get to choose) up to $2,000.*  Before you choose your next lender, you may want to consider the following to ensure you’ll stand out in a competitive market.

Our commitment to you doesn’t extend to just the loan application. We consider ourselves a full-service, one-stop shop for your housing needs because we know getting approved for a loan is important, but so is working with a company you can trust and depend on. Here are a few more things to consider when choosing your lender. 

Reputation

Company websites are great. They’re shiny, they’re flashy, and they have lots of promises on them. All that’s fabulous, but what matters is whether a lender can follow through on its promises.

You’re smart enough to know you can’t just take their word for it. This is where reviews come in. Social media, review sites, and the lender’s website should supply you with all the information you need on a company and even a specific loan officer.

Honestly, every company’s motto should be “Don’t trust us. Talk to the people we’ve worked with.” Okay, that’s not super catchy and maybe needs some polishing, but you get the point. Go to the horse’s mouth—and see what actual customers have to say.

And yes, that applies to us as well. We can tell you how much we value you and your loan and your financial aspirations ‘til we’re blue in the face. And we mean it! But we’d much rather have you hear from people just like you. They can give you the real insight on a company, and they can tell you whether or not those lenders came through when they were in the middle of the bidding process.

APM has over 73,000 reviews with an average rating of 4.96 out of 5. We’re happy to share those with you anytime!

Convenience

Customer service is our top priority, which is why we value transparency, honesty, diligence, and fast communication. We’re open and upfront about our loan process and what we’ll need from you, and we make ourselves available for any questions or concerns you may have. Mortgage lenders might make this process seem easy, but we know it can be overwhelming and intimidating when you’re not used to dealing with this type of paperwork day in and day out.

As your trusted advisor, APM is here to listen to all your financial goals, lifestyle habits, and challenges or concerns you may have. Then our job is to turn those goals into reality. If we think something is going to stand between you and your dream home—say, your debt-to-income ratio or credit score—we want you to know about it now, not after you’ve fallen in love with a home you can’t purchase.

Our proactive approach also means APM will always provide you with solutions. It’s great to point out problems, but it’s even better to be a problem-solving partner. We want to get you where you need to be so you can move on with the homebuying experience.

Connection

We may not sell houses, but we mean it when we say we’re here for all your housing needs. At APM, our connection is our currency, which is why we have a vast network of real estate agents who can assist you on your journey.

Already have an agent? That’s great! We’re always happy to work with your trusted real estate advisor. This ensures everyone is on the same page as we all progress toward the common goal of getting you into your new home.

While we may be a large company, our loan advisors are community-oriented, meaning they live and work in the neighborhoods they serve. Chances are high they can not only tell you all about the neighborhoods you’re interested in, but many can also recommend additional home-related service providers, such as landscapers, interior designers, contractors, and more.

Our loan advisors take a keen interest in their communities because they’re members of those communities—something you won’t find with an online-only lender.

Technology

Speaking of online, APM knows the value of your time, especially nowadays. Our APM mobile app can help you stay connected to your loan advisor 24/7, but it does so much more than that.

You can receive your pre-approval, search for (and save) homes, compare various loan scenarios, safely and securely upload documents, apply for a loan, and receive live status updates, all through the app. Just tell the app what you want to do, upload any required documents, and let APM get to work while you move on with your day.

In a competitive market like this one, we know speed is of the essence, which is why this tool is available to you at your convenience, whenever you have time.

Commitment

So you’ve gotten your TBD conditional approval (a fancy term for an approval with the property still To Be Determined). You and your loan officer have gone through all your goals and financials, and you’re ready to pick out your home. There’s nothing standing between you and those keys but . . . oh, that’s right, all that competition.

That’s why APM gives you the option to provide the seller the commitment to close on time. . The Keys on Time™ (KOT) program we talked about earlier provides the seller a commitment that you will close on time or APM will issue a credit to the seller of up to $2,000.* You hold the power on this one—you choose whether that credit goes to you . . . or you can assign it to the seller and make your offer even sweeter. 

When you can back your offer up with a lender approval from APM and our commitment that you can close on time, you’re far ahead of the game. In fact, you’re out of the gate before the others even realize the race has started. An APM loan advisor will be happy to go over all the details, terms, and conditions of our Keys on Time™ and TBD Loan Approval. All you have to do is ask!

It’s become more important than ever to make sure you align with the people who can see you through to the end. In a market like this one, speed, effective communication, rock-solid commitments and flawless loan processes will make all the difference between who gets the home and who’s left searching for months on end.

Don’t get stuck in an endless cycle of searching, bidding, and losing. Contact APM today to make sure you enter the housing market as the strongest buyer you can possibly be.

*Program not available in Oregon. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.apmortgage.com/kot for full details, or you may ask for a printed copy from your loan officer. ©American Pacific Mortgage Corporation, equal housing opportunity, NMLS #1850 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).