Preapproval: An Important Step in the Loan Process

There are several steps before you purchase a home or buy your next vehicle. One of the first steps in these processes is to be preapproved for a loan. While a preapproval may seem unnecessary at first, the truth is that it’s a critical step in the loan process which can help make your end goal of buying a home or finding your next car easier.
What is a Preapproval?
A preapproval is an evaluation by a lender of a potential borrower prior to approving a loan. Your credit score, financial history, and other factors will be looked at for this process. In other words, it’s an estimation of the risk of approving a borrower for a form of lending, whether it be for a mortgage, an auto loan, or a credit card.
Preapprovals are an important step in the lending process for a variety of reasons. It’s proof to a lender that you’re serious about the loan you’re interested in. Your budget will also become clearer. You’ll be aware of how much you’re approved to borrow and at what terms, and from there can plan accordingly. Preapprovals also make the lending process faster, ensuring everyone is on the same page and aware of where they stand with regards to the loan.
Preapproval for Mortgages
A mortgage preapproval is one of the first steps you’ll take in the homebuying process. Like other preapprovals, a mortgage preapproval defines the interest rate and amount of money you’re approved to borrow. A variety of financial factors are assessed by the lender to see the mortgage terms you’ll be approved for.
Mortgage Preapproval - What is Needed
For a mortgage preapproval, the following items will be evaluated:
- Proof of Employment: This would include paystubs from the last month, as well as contact information from any employers within the last two years. Workplaces often have employment verification phone numbers which can be provided. If you're self-employed, you'll need to supply additional business documents.
- Tax Returns: You'll need to supply your tax return documents from the past two years. This includes your W2 forms.
- Bank Statements: The lender will need statements across your accounts from the last two months. This includes checking, savings, and money market accounts. You will also need to provide statements for any 401(k), IRA, or certificate accounts.
- Additional Income Sources: You'll need to report additional income sources if they apply, such as Social Security, bonuses, or child support.
- Loan Statements: The lender will need to look at statements from the previous two months for any loans you currently possess.
- A form of ID: You will also need to supply a form of ID, which could be a driver's license, Social Security card, or state ID.
The lender will also need to see your credit history. Specifically, they'll look at your report and score when considering your preapproval. They will not do this without your authorization.
Is a Mortgage Preapproval Required?
While a mortgage preapproval is not technically required to purchase a home, it’s to your advantage to complete one. A preapproval is a signal to a mortgage lender, as well as a seller, that you are ready to buy a home. In a difficult homebuying market, this step can help relieve some of the stress that accompanies seeking out a home.
Other Types of Preapprovals
Outside of homes, what kind of other loans benefit from preapprovals? Various auto and personal loans, as well as credit cards, may require them. Like other preapprovals, these types tell a lender the story of your financial history and define the amount of money and interest rate that you’ll be approved for. These decisions are made to ensure you’ll be able to make your payments and continue to live within your means.
For these preapproval processes, you’ll need many of the same documents that you would need to supply in a mortgage preapproval. This includes a state-issued form of ID, pay stubs, tax returns, and bank statements. The type of loan you’re seeking, as well as your current stage in the loan process, may require additional documents. For instance, if you’re applying for an auto loan preapproval and know the type of car you want to purchase, you’ll need to provide documentation on that vehicle.
Preapproval vs. Prequalification
You may often see the terms preapproval and prequalification used interchangeably when it comes to loans. However, the two terms are very different. A prequalification is the process of seeing if you meet a lender’s requirements for a specific loan. A preapproval, on the other hand, is the process of verifying your financial information and details to follow through on the loan.
Another major difference between a prequalification and a preapproval applies to the credit check. A preapproval often uses a hard credit pull, which may affect your credit score, while a prequalification is more likely to use a soft credit pull and not impact your credit score. If you’re hesitant to follow through on a mortgage or other loan, a prequalification may be the better option for your current financial situation.
Prequalification is initiated by the financial institution to present an offer with a range of terms based on incomplete data. Preapproval is a response by a lender, initiated by an application, for a potential borrower to learn the specific terms they are qualified for based on their detailed data.
Credit Card Preapprovals
A preapproval for a credit card works in a lot of the same ways as for mortgages and auto loans. However, credit cards will carry different requirements which you’ll need to meet to be approved. Common requirements include specific credit score, income, and your debt-to-income ratio, which is your monthly income relative to your monthly debt.
Remember to not be discouraged if you aren’t preapproved for a credit card you’re interested in. There are plenty of credit card options out there, including student credit cards and secured secured credit-building cards cards, which are designed for you to build credit and improve your credit score.
Preapprovals with American Heritage
Depending on the loan you are interested in, we’re proud to allow our borrowers to seek preapproval online. If you want to apply for preapproval for a mortgage, auto loan, or other types of loan, click here.
If you’re not yet ready to obtain a preapproval, consider exploring other resources on our website. We’re proud to offer several mortgage, auto, and other loan calculators, auto, and other loan calculators which can help determine what you can reasonably afford when it comes to a home, a new vehicle, or otherwise. Our Learning Center Center also hosts several other resources which may benefit you in this process.