Most buyers think pre approval is something you do once. You get the letter, you feel good, and you start scrolling homes. But on Long Island, where rates and taxes shift quietly week to week, a pre approval is a living document. It needs to be refreshed.
This week, I watched multiple buyers lose their comfort payment because their pre approval was old. A small rate change adjusted monthly payments by seventy to one hundred fifty dollars. That small shift changed the homes they could comfortably consider.
Your comfort payment is not just about the rate. It is about taxes, insurance, utilities, and your personal life budget. An outdated pre approval means outdated numbers. Outdated numbers mean unclear decisions.
Long Island moves fast. Homes under eight hundred thousand in Smithtown, Nesconset, Ronkonkoma, Hauppauge, and Lake Grove get attention early. If your numbers are not updated, you either overreach or underreach.
Buyers, please refresh your pre-approval every sixty days.
It keeps your plan honest. It reduces stress when you find the right home. It helps you move forward with confidence instead of hesitation.
Sellers, remember to ask if the buyer’s pre approval is recent.
A fresh pre approval tells you the buyer is serious. A stale one invites delays.
Refreshing your pre approval is like clearing cache in your browser Old data slows down the system. Fresh data makes everything run smooth. If lenders had a refresh button like Safari, most buyers would hit it every morning.
