How to Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage
A pre-approval is a lender's written look at your income, assets and credit that tells you, and a seller, what you can likely borrow before you start touring homes. It is not a commitment to lend, but it is the step that turns house hunting from guessing into planning.
By Jodie Barber, NMLS #76185 · 5 min read · Updated October 2026
- ✦Pre-approval means documents were reviewed and credit was pulled; pre-qualification is only an estimate.
- ✦Start before you tour homes so your search matches what you can finance.
- ✦Expect to share ID, income documents, asset statements and a list of debts.
- ✦A pre-approval is not a commitment to lend and can change if your finances change.
Pre-approval or pre-qualification?
A pre-qualification is a quick estimate based on what you tell a lender. Nothing is checked, so it carries little weight with sellers.
A pre-approval means the lender has reviewed documents and pulled your credit. It is a stronger signal, and it surfaces problems, such as a credit error or a gap in income history, while there is still time to fix them.
What a lender usually asks for
Exact lists vary by loan program and by borrower, but most lenders start with the same core items.
- ✦Photo ID and Social Security number so the lender can verify who you are and pull credit.
- ✦Recent pay stubs and W-2s, or two years of tax returns if you are self-employed.
- ✦Recent bank and asset statements for the money you plan to use for the down payment and closing costs.
- ✦A list of your current debts, such as car loans, student loans and credit cards.
- ✦For VA loans, a Certificate of Eligibility, which a lender can often retrieve for you.
The steps, in order
First, talk to a loan officer before you tour homes, so the price range you search in is one you can actually finance. Second, share your documents. Third, the lender reviews them and pulls your credit, and tells you which loan programs fit and what to expect for down payment and monthly costs. Fourth, you receive a pre-approval letter you can include with an offer.
A pre-approval letter is typically good for a limited time, often around 60 to 90 days, and it can change if your income, debts or credit change before closing. Ask your lender how long theirs lasts.
What to avoid between pre-approval and closing
Do not open new credit, finance a car or furniture, change jobs, or move large sums of money without telling your loan officer first. Any of these can change the numbers the pre-approval was based on.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I get pre-approved for a mortgage?
- Contact a loan officer, share your ID, income documents, asset statements and debts, and let the lender review them and pull your credit. If everything checks out you receive a pre-approval letter.
- Does getting pre-approved hurt my credit score?
- A pre-approval involves a credit check, which can cause a small, temporary dip. Credit inquiries for the same kind of loan made within a short window are generally treated as a single inquiry for scoring.
- How long does a pre-approval last?
- It varies by lender, but often around 60 to 90 days. Ask your lender for their window and whether it can be refreshed.
- Is a pre-approval a guarantee of a loan?
- No. It is not a commitment to lend. The final approval depends on the property, an appraisal, and your finances staying the same through closing.
Keep reading
There's no single magic number. Here are the credit scores each loan program looks for in 2026 — FHA 580, conventional 620+, VA and USDA flexible — plus how to improve.
Your DTI ratio is one of the biggest factors in getting approved. Here's what it is, how front-end and back-end work, the 43–50% ranges, and how to lower it.
Talk to a mortgage broker before you tour — or the same week. Here is why pre-approval first keeps VA, FHA, and first-time offers alive, and how Jodie intros a trusted local buyer’s agent without being a real estate brokerage.