Apply for a Mortgage
Get pre-approved before you tour. It changes everything.
This page is the straight path to financing: today's publicly reported mortgage rates, a plain-English walk through how pre-approval works, and one click to start a real application with a licensed mortgage partner. Sharon Yeary and the Sharcom Realty Group team have guided buyers through financing for 27 years, and pre-approval is always the first step they recommend.
Current Rate Snapshot
Where mortgage rates stand right now.
As of September 3, 2026, from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, a widely cited public source. Rates change every week, so use these as a snapshot, not a quote.
30-Year Fixed
6.71%
Average conventional rate, up from 6.66% the prior week and 6.50% a year earlier, per the Freddie Mac survey dated September 3, 2026.
15-Year Fixed
6.04%
Average conventional rate in the same September 3, 2026 survey for buyers who want to pay the loan off faster.
Your Rate
Depends on you
Credit score, loan size, down payment, and property type all move your personal rate. A licensed lender quotes your real number.
Source: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey , September 3, 2026. The survey tracks conventional, conforming, fully amortizing purchase loans with a 20% down payment and excellent credit. Your rate will vary; confirm current pricing with your lender before making decisions.
Pre-Approval, Explained
How pre-approval works, start to letter.
Pre-approval is not a guess and it is not a prequalification phone call. It is a lender's written commitment based on your verified income and credit, and it is what separates a casual looker from a serious buyer in competitive Texas markets.
01
Check your credit and your story
Lenders look at credit score, income, debts, and assets. A quick look at your credit report before you apply helps you catch surprises, and a lender can tell you which loan programs fit your profile.
02
Get a pre-approval letter
A lender verifies your income, assets, and credit and issues a written pre-approval stating the loan amount you qualify for. That letter is what sellers and listing agents take seriously when you tour and offer.
03
Shop with a real budget
With a pre-approval amount in hand, you know your ceiling. Your broker pairs that number with property taxes, insurance, and HOA dues in the neighborhoods you like, so the monthly payment is the real one.
04
Lock your rate at the right time
Rates move constantly. Your lender can lock your rate for a set window, typically 30 to 60 days, so the rate you budgeted with is the rate you close with, as long as closing stays on schedule.
What to Prepare
Six things to have handy before you apply.
The faster your paperwork is ready, the faster your lender can underwrite and issue a pre-approval letter. Most borrowers have everything below already in a folder or an inbox.
The Typical Checklist
- Two years of W-2s or tax returns, and recent pay stubs
- Bank statements showing your down payment funds
- Gift letters if part of your down payment is gifted
- Proof of any other income: bonus, self-employment, rental, or retirement
- A list of your debts, including car loans, student loans, and credit cards
- Your photo ID and, for refinancing, your current mortgage statement
Self-employed borrowers should add two years of business returns and a profit-and-loss statement, and a lender should confirm exactly what their program requires.
Request pre-approval help
Tell Sharon's team where you are in the process and what you are shopping for. They will connect you with a licensed mortgage partner, or start your application with a click below.
The application opens in a new tab through our licensed mortgage partner and takes about fifteen minutes. Or use the form below and a Sharcom broker will call you back.
Message received
Thank you for reaching out to Sharcom Realty Group. A broker will get back to you shortly at the phone or email you provided.
Talk to Sharon
Financing questions? Ask a broker who has closed hundreds of loans.
Sharon Yeary has spent 27 years in Texas real estate guiding buyers through pre-approval, rate locks, and closings across Houston, Katy, and Dallas-Fort Worth. Tell her team your timeline and your target price range, and they will connect you with the right lender and the right plan.
Sharon Yeary
Associate Broker with eXp Realty
27 years of experience in Texas real estate, including guiding buyers through financing from first pre-approval to final closing.
Ask about mortgage and pre-approval steps.
Share where you are in your search: pre-tour, pre-approval, or under contract. Sharon's team will reply with the exact next step for your situation.
Message received
Thank you for reaching out to Sharcom Realty Group. A broker will get back to you shortly at the phone or email you provided.