Four Steps to a Strong Mortgage Pre-Approval

A pre-approval tells a seller that a lender has reviewed your income, assets and credit and is prepared to fund your loan. In a competitive market, that letter is often the difference between a signed contract and a polite no.

Step one is documentation. Gather two years of W-2s or tax returns, your two most recent pay stubs, and two months of bank statements. Self-employed borrowers should add year-to-date profit and loss figures.

Step two is credit. We review your report together, identify anything reporting incorrectly, and map out quick wins — lowering utilization on a single card can move a score more than most people expect.

Step three is the payment conversation. We work backward from the monthly payment you are comfortable with, not just the maximum a computer will allow. Taxes, insurance and HOA dues all belong in that math.

Step four is the letter itself. Once your file is reviewed, you receive a pre-approval you can send with an offer the same day — and I am available to speak with your agent or the listing agent directly.