Pre-qualification is an estimate based on self-reported information. Pre-approval involves verification of your income, assets, and credit—making it a stronger signal to sellers that you can actually close the deal. We provide full pre-approval letters that carry weight with listing agents.

The initial eligibility check does not impact your credit. When we proceed to full pre-approval with document verification, a credit inquiry is performed. Multiple mortgage inquiries within a 14-45 day window (depending on the scoring model) typically count as a single inquiry.

Many applicants receive pre-approval within 24 hours once documents are submitted. Our online eligibility check takes about 60 seconds. The full timeline depends on how quickly you can provide pay stubs, W-2s, bank statements, and identification.

Typical documents include: recent pay stubs (last 30 days), W-2s or tax returns (last 2 years), bank statements (last 2 months), and a valid ID. Self-employed borrowers may need additional business documentation. Your loan officer will provide a personalized checklist.

Pre-approval letters are typically valid for 60-90 days. If your letter expires before you find a home, we can quickly re-verify your information and issue a new letter. Reach out to your loan officer when you're ready to renew.

Most conventional loans require a minimum credit score of 620. Higher scores typically qualify for better rates and terms. If your score is below 620, we can discuss other options like FHA loans (which may accept scores as low as 580 with 3.5% down), or help you create a plan to improve your score.