Your Next Step
Getting pre-approved, start to finish
You are here because we are about to start your file, 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.
First, the basics
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 file 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.
How it works
Four steps to your letter
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.
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.
I run your file
Income, assets, and credit reviewed against the programs actually available to you. If something is close, you hear it from me before it becomes a problem, not after.
Get your letter within 24 hours
Once every document and piece of information we need is submitted and collected, your pre-approval letter is ready within 24 hours.
What you'll need
The general shape of it
The exact list depends on your situation, self-employed and W-2 files need different things, and I will tell you precisely what applies once I see your file. 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
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.
Everything else on this site
Worth a look during the loan process
Mortgage Glossary
Any term in this process that is not plain English, defined in plain English.
Read moreLoan Programs
Every program I work with, compared side by side.
Read moreCalculators
Run your own numbers before or after we talk.
Read moreService Areas
See the Central Texas communities I work in most.
Read more
The Big Picture
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.
Get pre-approved
A lender verifies your income, assets, and credit, and gives you a real number to shop with, not a guess.
Find the right house
You tour homes with your realtor, backed by a pre-approval a seller can trust.
Offer accepted
Your offer is signed by both sides, and the property goes under contract.
Loan process starts
Your full application, the appraisal, and title work all move forward at once, right after your contract is signed.
Underwriting review
Your file is checked against the loan program's actual guidelines. This is usually where a couple more documents get requested.
Conditions cleared
You send back whatever the underwriter needs, quickly, since a fast turnaround here is what keeps your closing date on schedule.
Clear to close
Every condition is satisfied and your loan is fully approved. Your closing gets scheduled for real.
Get the keys
You sign at the title company, the loan funds, and the house is yours.
The question everyone asks
Common questions about pulling credit for a pre-approval
No. Credit scoring models are built specifically for this. Every mortgage inquiry pulled within a set shopping window, generally 14 to 45 days depending on the scoring model, counts as a single inquiry for scoring purposes, not one hit per lender. A single 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.
Tell me what you are trying to do
Send me the situation in your own words. I will tell you honestly what it can do and what it cannot, before anybody pulls your credit.