Underwriter-Approved Pre-Approval. Compete Like a Cash Buyer.
Your credit, income, and assets are reviewed and approved by a real underwriter before you start shopping. When you find the right home, the financing review is already done. Get your letter in as little as 24 to 48 hours.
Today's Pre-Approval Rates
Today's Pre-Approval Rates
Live purchase rates updated daily. Your actual rate depends on credit, loan type, and down payment.
Today’s Purchase Mortgage Rates
Live pricing from the same daily rate feed shown on our Today’s Rates page. These update automatically each day.
Conventional 30-Year Fixed
Conventional – Primary Residence
FHA 30-Year Fixed
FHA – Primary Residence
VA 30-Year Fixed
VA – Primary Residence
Rate Assumptions
30 year fixed, $300k loan amount, $400k value, purchase, FICO Credit Score 759, Zipcode 95111
APR & Disclosures
The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) shown reflects the cost of credit over the loan term, including applicable fees, and is based on the assumptions above. Your actual rate and APR depend on your credit profile, loan amount, property, occupancy, and other factors. For information purposes only and does not constitute a loan approval or commitment to lend. Rates are subject to change without notice.
What Makes This Pre-Approval Different
Most lenders issue pre-approvals generated by a loan officer or an automated system. They check a credit score and run some numbers, but nobody with underwriting authority has actually signed off on your file.
With Emmett, a real human underwriter reviews and approves your credit, income, and assets up front, before you have a property. That means the hardest part of the financing review is already done and verified when you write an offer. If you are still weighing your first step, our guide on pre-qualification versus pre-approval explains how the two stages work together.
The result: you can compete with the confidence of a buyer whose financing is already vetted. Sellers see an underwriter-approved letter and know the deal is less likely to fall apart over borrower qualifications. Because the review starts with your credit, it helps to know the credit score each loan type requires before you apply.
The underwriter has approved your borrower qualifications. The loan remains conditional on the property (appraisal, title, insurance) and on your financial situation holding steady through closing.
Get Pre-Approved Now
Pre-Approval vs. Pre-Qualification
Don't settle for a meaningless pre-qualification. Here's why pre-approval matters.
Pre-Qualification
- ✗Based on self-reported information
- ✗No document verification
- ✗No credit check (soft or hard)
- ✗Sellers don't take it seriously
- ✗Can be done online in 5 minutes
Pre-Approval
- ✓Underwriter-approved before you shop
- ✓Full document verification
- ✓Credit pulled and analyzed
- ✓Sellers trust it
- ✓Conditional lender commitment
Why Get Pre-Approved?
Understanding how mortgage pre-approval works shows why it is your strongest tool in a competitive market. If you are just getting started, a pre-qualification call is a quick, no-credit-check first step.
Know Your Budget
Shop with confidence knowing exactly how much home you can afford.
Win More Offers
An underwriter-approved letter tells sellers your financing is already vetted, not just estimated.
Faster Closing
The borrower review is done up front, so once you are in contract, only the property review remains.
Lock Your Rate
Some programs let you lock rates during pre-approval, protecting against increases.
The Pre-Approval Process
From application to approval in 5 simple steps
Apply Online
Complete our simple application in under 10 minutes
Document Upload
Upload pay stubs, W-2s, and bank statements securely
Credit Review
We pull your credit and analyze your full financial picture
Underwriter Review
A real underwriter approves your credit, income, and assets. This is the step most lenders skip until you are in contract.
Get Your Letter
Receive your pre-approval letter—usually within 24-48 hours
How Much Home Can You Afford?
Use our calculator to estimate your buying power before you apply for pre-approval. Lenders weigh what you owe against what you earn, so it helps to understand what counts as a good debt-to-income ratio and how much of your income should go toward a mortgage.
Home Affordability Calculator
Discover how much house you can afford based on your income and debts
Car loans, credit cards, student loans, etc.
Lenders typically prefer ratios below 45%/45%
Ready to make it official? Get your actual pre-approval amount.
Get My Pre-Approval LetterDocuments You'll Need
Having these ready speeds up your pre-approval. Don't worry if you're missing something—we'll guide you through it.
Pre-Approval for Any Loan Type
We'll find the best program for your situation
Pre-Approval FAQs
Everything you need to know about getting pre-approved
What is mortgage pre-approval?
Pre-approval is a lender's conditional commitment to loan you a specific amount based on a thorough review of your finances. Unlike pre-qualification (which is just an estimate), pre-approval involves verifying your income, assets, credit, and employment. It shows sellers you're a serious, qualified buyer.
How long does pre-approval take?
With LoansByEmmett, most pre-approvals are completed within 24-48 hours. If you have all your documents ready (pay stubs, W-2s, bank statements), we can often issue a pre-approval letter the same day. The faster you provide documents, the faster you get approved.
Does pre-approval hurt my credit score?
Yes, a pre-approval requires a "hard" credit inquiry, which may temporarily lower your score by 5-10 points. However, if you're rate shopping, multiple mortgage inquiries within a 14-45 day window count as a single inquiry. The small dip is worth the competitive advantage in the housing market.
How long is a pre-approval letter valid?
Most pre-approval letters are valid for 60-90 days. After that, your financial situation needs to be re-verified. If you haven't found a home within that window, don't worry—we can quickly renew your pre-approval with updated documents.
What's the difference between pre-approval and pre-qualification?
Pre-qualification is a quick estimate based on self-reported information with no document verification or credit pull. Pre-approval is a full review of your credit, income, and assets. With Emmett, that review is done by a real underwriter up front, so your borrower qualifications are already approved before you have a property. That is the difference sellers notice.
Can I get pre-approved for multiple loan types?
Absolutely! We can pre-approve you for conventional, FHA, VA (if eligible), and USDA loans simultaneously. This gives you flexibility to make offers on different types of properties and choose the best program when you find your home.
What happens after I'm pre-approved?
Once pre-approved, you'll receive a letter stating your approved loan amount. You can then confidently shop for homes within your budget. When you find the right home and go under contract, we move to full underwriting, which involves a property appraisal and final loan approval.
Do I have to use the lender who pre-approved me?
No, you're not obligated to use any lender. However, switching lenders mid-process can cause delays. We recommend getting pre-approved with a lender you trust and plan to work with. At LoansByEmmett, we build relationships—80% of our clients return for their next loan.
Ready to Get Pre-Approved?
Fill out this quick form and we'll reach out within 24 hours to start your pre-approval. No obligation, no pressure.
Not ready for pre-approval yet? Start with a question →
Pre-approval guides
Guides & articles on getting pre-approved
What Is a Good Debt-to-Income Ratio for a Mortgage?
A good debt-to-income ratio for a mortgage is generally 36% or below, but most loan programs approve well above that, up to 50% through automated underwriting on conventional loans. "Good" depends on whether you mean comfortable or qualifying, and those are two different numbers.
Read more
How Much of My Income Should Go Toward My Mortgage?
A common guideline is to keep your housing payment under 28% of your gross monthly income. On a $100,000 salary, that's about $2,333 a month. But the right number for you depends on your other debts, your lifestyle, and how much financial cushion you want.
Read more
What Actually Happens in Underwriting?
Underwriting is where a lender verifies everything in your application and decides whether to approve your loan. An underwriter reviews your income, assets, credit, and the property itself, then issues an approval, a denial, or (most commonly) an approval with conditions. It usually takes a few days to a couple of weeks.
Read more
Pre-Qualification vs Pre-Approval: What's the Difference?
Pre-qualification is a quick, informal estimate based on information you report yourself. Pre-approval is a verified decision based on the lender pulling your credit and reviewing your actual documents. Sellers take pre-approval far more seriously, and it's the one that matters when you're ready to make an offer.
Read more
What Credit Score Do You Need for Each Loan Type?
The minimum credit score depends entirely on the loan program: FHA goes as low as 500-580, VA and USDA have no federal minimum (lenders typically want 580-640), conventional generally starts around 620, and jumbo loans want 700 or higher. Here's the breakdown by program.
Read more
Common Mortgage Pre-Approval Mistakes First-Time Buyers Make
Pre-approval is one of the smartest moves a first-time buyer can make, but a handful of common mistakes trip people up again and again. Here are the ones to avoid and how to keep your home purchase on track.
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Emmett Clark
Licensed Mortgage Loan Officer · NMLS #233747 · 20+ Years Experience
Pre-Approval by State
Emmett is licensed across 18 states. Explore pre-approval details, limits, and local programs for your state.