mollyMarieMaguire

Ready to Buy Your First Home in Iowa? Here’s Why Getting Pre-Approved Matters

If you’re a first-time homebuyer in Iowa, you’ve probably heard you need to get “pre-approved” before house hunting. But what does that actually mean—and why does it matter?

What Pre-Approval Really Is

A pre-approval tells you exactly how much home you can afford. I review your income, assets, credit, and debts to determine your buying power. You’ll get a pre-approval letter that shows sellers you’re a serious, qualified buyer.

Why It’s Your Best First Step

Sellers take you seriously. In Iowa’s competitive markets—whether you’re looking in Des Moines, Ankeny, West Des Moines, or smaller towns—sellers want to know you can actually close. A pre-approval letter proves it.

You won’t waste time. You’ll know your budget before you fall in love with a house you can’t afford.

You can move fast. When you find the right home, you’re ready to make an offer immediately.

First-Time Homebuyer Programs in Iowa

Iowa offers solid programs for first-time buyers:

• FHA loans with as little as 3.5% down
• VA loans for veterans and active military (often 0% down)
• USDA loans for eligible rural and suburban areas (0% down)
• Conventional loans with down payment assistance options

I specialize in matching first-time buyers with the right loan program—and helping you understand every step.

What You’ll Need

Getting pre-approved is straightforward. You’ll need:

• Recent pay stubs
• W-2s or tax returns
• Bank statements
• ID and Social Security number

I’ll walk you through it and make the process clear and simple.

Let’s Get You Pre-Approved

If you’re ready to stop renting and start building equity in your own home, let’s talk. I’m Molly Maguire, a mortgage loan officer based in Urbandale, and I work with first-time homebuyers across Iowa every day.

Ready to start? Apply online at midwestfamilylending.com/pages/apply or visit my page at midwestfamilylending.com/mortgage-lenders/molly-maguire.

Connect with me:
📘 Facebook: mollymaguire
📸 Instagram: @magmolly
💼 LinkedIn: Molly Maguire

All loans subject to approval. Equal Housing Lender. Molly Maguire, NMLS #34702, Midwest Family Lending.