When Should Buyers Pull their Credit (when buying a home)?

When should buyers let their lender pull their credit?

Regardless of when a buyer wants to purchase, if they are serious about building wealth and creating a home, buyers should let a lender soft pull credit after initial conversation.   A soft pull will provide most of what a lender needs for the credit calculation.

Will a soft pull affect their credit score?

A soft pull neither affects score nor is reported as an inquiry. It is the perfect use of credit with an unknown purchase date.

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September 2025 Charlottesville Real Estate Market Commentary

There is no "real estate market." There are infinite micro-markets within the Charlottesville - Albemarle region. Just recently, I've been in bidding wars and I've successfully ratified contracts after weeks -- weeks! -- of negotiations. Anyone who says, "The market is doing X" is either not listening, understanding or is misleading. The percentage of homes under contract in 30 days or less is a huge...

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Jim’s Note – August 2025 – Navigating Charlottesville’s Changing Market, Answering the Phone & Infrastructure Choices

August is upon us. Schools are restarting, fall is near, and we’re putting our helmet lights back on for the fall and winter morning rides.

This month: navigating a changing market, pulling comps for unrepresented buyers, the value of answering the phone, and disclosing AirBnBs.

They say that as you age, time moves faster. I guess I’ll find out.

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