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Mortgage pre-approval in Texas, start to finish

You are here because we are about to start your loan, or because you are getting ready to look.

Either way, this is everything in one place: what a pre-approval actually is, what I need from you, how long it takes, and the resources on this site that make the rest of the process make sense.

Start Your Pre-Approval
Application takes about 15 minutesLetter within 48 hours of a fully complete file

Reviewed by Jennifer Ferrara, NMLS #2781982Last updated

On this page
  1. First, the basics
  2. How it works
  3. The Big Picture
  4. What you’ll need
  5. The question everyone asks
  6. Your letter
  7. Everything else on this site

What a pre-approval actually is

A pre-approval means I have reviewed your income, assets, and credit, and a lender has agreed in writing to fund a loan up to a specific amount, assuming the property and the rest of your application check out the way you told me. It is the difference between “I think I can afford this” and a number a seller actually takes seriously. It is underwritten, not just a conversation.

Four steps to your letter

  1. About 15 minutes

    Start your application

    The secure application takes about 15 minutes. It walks you through the basics, your contact information, current address, employer and income, and a general picture of your assets, nothing complicated.

    Apply now

    Heads up: the application opens on MPA Home Loans' secure site. That’s still me. Nook Lending is powered by MPA Home Loans, so their name on the portal is expected.

  2. Your secure portal

    Upload your documents

    Pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, and ID, uploaded directly into your secure portal profile. I will tell you exactly which ones apply to your situation before you start hunting for paperwork.

  3. Flagged early

    I run your loan

    Income, assets, and credit reviewed against the programs actually available to you. If something is close, my team flags it early, and you hear it from me before it becomes a problem, not after.

  4. Within 48 hours

    Get your letter within 48 hours

    Once your file is fully complete, with every document and piece of information we need submitted and collected, your pre-approval letter is ready within 48 hours.

What to expect when you buy a home

Pre-approval is step one. Here is the whole path from there to the day you get your keys.

  1. Get pre-approvedYou are here

    A lender verifies your income, assets, and credit, and gives you a real number to shop with, not a guess.

  2. Find the right house

    You tour homes with your realtor, backed by a pre-approval a seller can trust.

  3. Offer accepted

    Your offer is signed by both sides, and the property goes under contract.

  4. Loan process starts

    Your full application, the appraisal, and title work all move forward at once, right after your contract is signed.

  5. Underwriting review

    Your application is checked against the loan program’s actual guidelines. This is usually where a couple more documents get requested.

  6. Conditions cleared

    You send back whatever the underwriter needs, quickly, since a fast turnaround here is what keeps your closing date on schedule.

  7. Clear to close

    Every condition is satisfied and your loan is fully approved. Your closing gets scheduled for real.

  8. Get the keys

    You sign at the title company, the loan funds, and the house is yours.

Jennifer Ferrara, loan officer and owner of Nook Lending

Jennifer Ferrara

Loan Officer · NMLS #2781982

Fourteen years navigating real estate deals taught me to listen before I recommend anything. Tell me what you’re working with, and let’s talk it through.

Text meCall (512) 994-8080

The general shape of it

The exact list depends on your situation, self-employed and W-2 loans need different things, and I will tell you precisely what applies once I see your situation. This covers most of it.

  • Last 2 years of W-2s or tax returns
  • Last 2 pay stubs
  • Last 2 months of bank statements, every page
  • Photo ID
  • Self-employed: 2 years of business and personal tax returns

Common questions about pulling credit for a pre-approval

Will getting pre-approved hurt my credit score in Texas?

< 5 points
what a mortgage inquiry typically costs
12 months
until it stops affecting your score
2 years
until it drops off your report entirely

Only a little, and not for long. A mortgage inquiry typically costs fewer than 5 points, it stops affecting your score after 12 months, and it drops off your report entirely after 2 years. A pre-approval needs a real credit review, because that is what makes your letter something a seller takes seriously.

Your letter

Your letter and a specific address

A pre-approval letter is not tied to one property until you have one under contract. Once you are ready to make an offer, I reissue the letter with that property’s address on it the same day, so your offer looks ready the moment your realtor sends it.

And once you are under contract

The same discipline carries through to your closing date. I build the timeline backward from your contract date on day one and stay ahead of underwriting and appraisal, so we close on schedule.

This is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit approval, income and property verification. Rates, terms, and programs are subject to change without notice. Nook Lending is powered by MPA Home Loans. Jennifer Ferrara, Loan Officer, NMLS #2781982. MPA Home Loans NMLS #2778343. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Worth a look during the loan process

When you’re ready, start here

About 15 minutes now, and your letter within 48 hours once your file is fully complete. If anything feels unclear, text me first.

Start Your Pre-ApprovalText me

Call (512) 994-8080

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