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Samer Aljallad

Get a mortgage pre-approval before serious viewings

Viewing homes before you know what a bank may lend can lead you to fall for a property outside your range. A mortgage pre-approval gives you a realistic budget to search within, based on the bank's initial review of your income and commitments. It is not a final approval, and the bank will still assess the specific home, but it turns a hopeful figure into a working one. When you receive it, ask three questions: what income and existing loans it assumes, how long it remains valid, and which conditions must still be met. Then shortlist homes in Saadiyat, Yas or Khalifa City within that range. Your viewing time goes on homes you can realistically finance. Prepared by Masterpiece Property.

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