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How to Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage in 2025
6 min read · 2025-03-03
A mortgage pre-approval is your golden ticket in today's competitive market. Here's exactly how to get one.
In a competitive housing market, a mortgage pre-approval letter is nearly mandatory. Without one, sellers won't take your offer seriously.
Pre-Qualification vs. Pre-Approval
Pre-qualification is an informal estimate based on self-reported information — no verification, no real weight. Pre-approval is a formal commitment based on verified documents and a credit check. Always pursue pre-approval.
Documents You'll Need
- Government-issued photo ID
- Last 2 years of W-2s or 1099s
- Last 2 years of federal tax returns
- Last 30 days of pay stubs
- Last 2–3 months of bank statements
- Social Security number for credit pull
A pre-approval is typically valid for 60–90 days. If still house-hunting after that, renew with updated pay stub and bank statement.
How to Strengthen Your Pre-Approval
- Pay down credit cards below 30% utilization
- Don't open new credit for 6 months before applying
- Avoid job changes in the 6–12 months before applying
- Have 2–3 months of mortgage payments in savings
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