A mortgage prequalification is a good way to get an estimate of how much home you can afford, and a preapproval takes it one step further by verifying the financial information you submit to get a more accurate amount.
It can affect your credit score
If you get prequalified multiple times over a long period, such as once in January and again in June, your credit score will be impacted. This isn't ideal, since you're looking to apply for a loan with the most favorable rate and terms.
Having a pre-approval in hand is part of making a strong offer. The fact that you've taken the time to have a lender vet your finances shows the seller that you're a serious buyer. In competitive markets, sellers often won't even consider an offer without mortgage pre-approval unless it's all cash.
There's not a lot of difference between a prequalification letter and a preapproval letter. While there are some legal distinctions, in practice both terms refer to a letter from a lender that says the lender is generally willing to lend to you, up to a certain amount and based on certain assumptions.
When a credit card offer mentions that you're pre-qualified or pre-approved, it typically means you meet the initial criteria required to become a cardholder. But you still need to apply and get approved. Think of these offers as invitations to start the actual application process.
Just like other loans or credit cards, mortgage prequalification doesn't hurt your scores since it's also based on a soft inquiry. “Having your credit report evaluated is a mandatory and necessary part of the mortgage process,” Bey said.
Inquiries for pre-approved offers do not affect your credit score unless you follow through and apply for the credit. If you read the fine print on the offer, you'll find it's not really "pre-approved." Anyone who receives an offer still must fill out an application before being granted credit.
Well before you begin the homebuying process—ideally six months to a year before you seek mortgage preapproval or apply for a mortgage—it's wise to check your credit report and credit scores to know where you stand, and to give you time to clear up any credit issues that might prevent your credit scores from being the ...
The primary benefit to getting prequalified up to a certain amount for a loan is that you are indicating to real estate professionals and builders that you are serious about looking for a home in a certain range. Prequalification, however, does not mean that you are preapproved for a home loan.
Does a Preapproval Letter Expire? Once you have your preapproval letter, you may be wondering how long it lasts. Your income, credit history, interest rate — think about all the different ways your finances can change after you get your letter. For this reason, a mortgage preapproval typically lasts for 60 to 90 days.
Submitting a mortgage preapproval letter along with your bid on a home can give you an edge over rival buyers, but you don't have to have a preapproval to make a purchase offer.
Pre-approval means a lender has looked at your financial background and determined how much home you can afford. Getting pre-approved can also save you valuable time by identifying how much you can afford, so you can target your home search to your price level.
You can get preapproved for a home loan as often as you need. Every preapproval letter comes with an expiration date. And, once the preapproval has expired, you'll need a fresh one to continue house hunting and making offers.
A mortgage can be denied after pre-approval if a buyer no longer meets the requirements of the loan.
Pre-approval letters typically include the purchase price, loan program, interest rate, loan amount, down payment amount, expiration date, and property address.
Even if you use the letter as part of an offer, you are still free to get your loan elsewhere if you find a better deal. Use the pre-approval process to compare rates and lenders. And don't worry about multiple credit pulls damaging your credit score.
Pre-qualifying can nonetheless be helpful when it comes time to make an offer. "A pre-qualification letter is all but required with an offer in our market," said Kaderabek. "Sellers are savvy and don't want to enter into a contract with a buyer who can't perform on the contract.
FHA loans are excellent for first-time homebuyers because, in addition to lower up-front loan costs and less stringent credit requirements, you can make a down payment as low as 3.5%. 4 FHA loans cannot exceed the statutory limits described above.
Prequalification tends to refer to less rigorous assessments, while a preapproval can require you share more personal and financial information with a creditor. As a result, an offer based on a prequalification may be less accurate or certain than an offer based on a preapproval.
Pay Off Debts
When determining how much you can borrow, a lender will look at your monthly debt payments. If you have an extensive monthly debt burden, your preapproval amount will be lower. But if you can eliminate some of these debts from your books, then a lender may be willing to increase your preapproval amount.
Credit reporting companies recognize that many people shop around for a mortgage, so even if a lender uses a hard credit check for your pre-approval, there won't be any further impact to your credit score if you complete multiple mortgage pre-approvals within 45 days.
Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.
When you get preapproved with multiple lenders, you can choose the offer that's best for you. Many lenders offer the ability to apply for preapproval, including Bank of America, Better Mortgage and Rocket Mortgage. It's important to do your homework before choosing potential lenders.
Pros. No minimum credit score for approval. Most personal loan lenders require credit scores above 660 to apply, but OneMain Financial doesn't have a minimum.
What income is required for a 200k mortgage? To be approved for a $200,000 mortgage with a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent, you will need an approximate income of $62,000 annually. (This is an estimated example.)