The Pre-Approval Process

Getting pre‑approved is the smartest first step you can take before shopping for a home. It tells you exactly what price range and payment you can comfortably afford, so you’re not guessing or stretching too far.

As your mortgage associate, I’ll review your income, debts, credit, and down payment to find out what lenders will actually lend you—not just what an online calculator suggests. A solid pre‑approval often includes a rate hold for up to 120 days, which can protect you if interest rates rise while you’re looking.

Just as important, we’ll talk through the “don’ts” after pre‑approval: no new car loans, no big new credit cards, and no missed payments. I’ll also walk you through closing costs, how your offer should be written from a financing standpoint, and what documents you’ll need later so there are no surprises.

The goal is simple: when you find the right home, your financing is already 90% done and you can write a strong, confident offer.

A mortgage pre‑approval is your lender’s written estimate of how much you may be able to borrow, based on a review of your income, credit history, debts, and overall financial profile.

You’ll usually be asked for recent pay stubs or tax returns, confirmation of your down payment, government‑issued ID, and your consent to pull a credit report.

Depending on how complex your application is and how quickly documents are provided, pre‑approval can be completed in as little as a few hours or may take a couple of business days.

Most pre‑approvals are good for roughly 90–120 days, giving you a window to shop for a home while holding a rate and maximum purchase amount.

Not quite—final approval still depends on the specific property you buy, your finances at the time of purchase, and any changes to lender guidelines or interest rates.

We’ll guide you through each step of pre‑approval so the process feels clear and stress‑free, and so you can shop with confidence.

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