5 Things You Need To Be Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

Home shopping often starts in a lender’s office with a mortgage application and not at an open house. Most sellers expect buyers to obtain pre-approval for financing and are commonly willing to negotiate with those who prove that they can obtain a loan.

Pre-Qualification vs. Pre-Approval

A mortgage pre-qualification can be useful as an estimate of how much someone can afford to spend on a home, but a pre-approval, often valid for 60 to 90 days, is more valuable. It means the lender has checked the buyer’s credit, verified assets, and confirmed employment to approve a specific loan amount.

Buyers benefit by consulting with a lender, obtaining a pre-approval letter, and discussing loan options and budgeting. The lender will provide the maximum loan amount, which will help set the price range for the home shopper. A mortgage calculator can help buyers estimate costs.

Requirements for Pre-Approval

Mortgage pre-approval requires a buyer to complete a mortgage application and provide proof of assets, confirmation of income, good credit, employment verification, and important documentation.

Pre-approval is based on the buyer’s FICO credit score, debt-to-income ratio (DTI), and other factors, depending on the type of loan.

Except for jumbo loans, all loans conform to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines. Some loans are designed for low- to moderate-income homebuyers or first-time buyers. Others such as Veterans Affairs (VA) loans, which require no money down, are for U.S. veterans and service members.

1. Proof of Income

Potential homebuyers must provide W-2 wage statements and tax returns from the past two years, current pay stubs that show income and year-to-date income, and proof of additional income sources such as alimony or bonuses.

2. Proof of Assets

A borrower’s bank and investment account statements prove that they have funds for a required down payment, closing costs, and cash reserves. The down payment, expressed as a percentage of the selling price, varies by loan type. Many loans require the buyer to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI) if they are not putting down at least 20% of the purchase price.

3. Good Credit

Most lenders require a FICO score of 620 or higher to approve a conventional loan or 580 for a Federal Housing Administration loan. Lenders typically reserve the lowest interest rates for customers with a credit score of 760 or higher.

The chart below shows a monthly principal and interest payment on a 30-year fixed interest rate mortgage based on a range of FICO scores for three common loan amounts. An interest rate tool from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau lets buyers see how credit score, loan type, home price, and down payment amount can affect the interest rate.

On a $250,000 loan, an individual with a FICO score in the lowest (620–639) range would pay $1,288 per month, while a homeowner in the highest (760–850) range would pay just $1,062, a difference of $2,712 per year.

4. Employment Verification

Lenders not only verify employment through a buyer’s pay stubs but will likely call the employer to confirm a borrower’s employment and salary.

Self-employed buyers provide additional information such as the stability of the borrower’s income, the location and nature of the business, the financial strength of the business, and the ability of the business to continue generating and distributing sufficient income to enable the borrower to make the payments on the mortgage.

5. Other Documentation

Personal documents and identification required for pre-approval include the borrower’s driver’s license, Social Security number, and authorization to allow the lender to pull a credit report.

Pre-Approval vs. Approval

A lender is required to provide a document called a loan estimate within three business days of receiving a completed mortgage application. It outlines the pre-approved loan amount and maximum loan amount, terms and type of mortgage, interest rate, estimated interest and payments, estimated closing costs, an estimate of property taxes, and homeowner’s insurance.

The loan file will eventually transfer to a loan underwriter who will also ensure that the borrower meets the guidelines for the specific loan program to determine full approval. If nothing has changed in the buyer’s financial situation since preapproval, the buyer and lender can then move forward with the closing of the loan. Final loan approval occurs when the buyer has an appraisal completed for the home and the loan is applied to the property.

What If You Don’t Get Pre-Approved?

After reviewing a mortgage application, a lender will provide a decision to pre-approve, deny, or pre-approve with conditions. These conditions may require the borrower to provide extra documentation or reduce existing debt to meet the lending guidelines. If denied, the lender should explain and offer options to improve a borrower’s chances for pre-approval.

The Bottom Line

Mortgage pre-approval is an examination of a home buyer’s finances and lenders require five items to ensure borrowers will repay their loan. Potential borrowers complete a mortgage application and provide proof of assets, confirmation of income, credit report, employment verification, and important documentation to obtain pre-approval.