Get pre-qualified
Tell us what you are trying to do. A loan officer licensed in your state looks at your income, debts and assets and tells you what you can afford — and if something needs fixing first, how to fix it.
Two quick steps
What you are looking to do, then how to reach you. No documents yet, and no impact to your credit.
A pre-qualification gives you
- Your number — a realistic price range before you shop
- A pre-qualification letter that makes your offer stronger
- Anything that could hold you back, flagged early with a plan to fix it
Pre-qualification vs. pre-approval
Both tell you how much you might borrow. One is a quick first look, the other is the lender’s conditional commitment.
Pre-qualification
- A basic review of your income, debts and assets
- Minimal documentation — based on what you tell us
- Usually no detailed credit check
- An estimate of what you might qualify for and the price range to shop in
Pre-approval
- A thorough review of income, assets, debts and credit
- Documents such as tax returns, pay stubs and bank statements
- A hard credit inquiry
- A specific loan amount, pending final approval and appraisal — and more weight with sellers
Start with the pre-qualification. When you are ready to make offers, your advisor moves you to a pre-approval.
Five reasons to do this before you shop
Know where you stand
An overview of your income, debts and assets gives you an estimate of how much you can borrow, so you only look at homes in your range.
Strengthen your offer
A pre-qualification letter shows sellers you are a serious buyer who has already taken steps to secure financing.
Catch issues early
Anything in your credit or finances that could affect approval surfaces now, while there is still time to fix it.
Plan the real costs
Down payment, closing costs and the monthly payment come into focus, so your budget is not stretched too thin.
Close faster
With much of your financial information already in hand, your lender can verify and finalize your loan more quickly once you find the home.
Two minutes now saves weeks later.
Answer a few questions and a local advisor takes it from there.
Get pre-qualified or call 800-778-9044Ready to see what you qualify for?
Talk to a local advisor or start your application online — it only takes a few minutes.