How to get pre-approved for a home loan
When you're serious about buying a home (or you've already found a home you love), you may choose to skip the pre-qualification process and go straight to the pre-approval step. Mortgage pre-approval is often seen as the start of a mortgage application process, which is why getting pre-approved for a home loan can sometimes speed up the loan approval process if you continue to meet qualifications. Here is one way to start the mortgage pre-approval process online:
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Answer a few questions
Click the get started button to answer a few questions about your loan requirements and tell us a little about the home you want to buy. The information you provide to Zillow Group Marketplace, Inc. (ZGMI) is kept safe and secure, using the same encryption and security used by major banking institutions.
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Talk to a lender
We'll send the information you provide to a lender who can walk you through the mortgage pre-approval process. Lenders on Zillow are licensed and have a history of positive customer ratings — so you can shop around for great rates and customer service. You may choose to be contacted by a single lender or multiple. A mortgage pre-approval from one lender does not lock you into using the same lender to finance your home.
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See AlsoHow to Get Pre-Approved for a MortgageGet a preapproval letter | Consumer Financial Protection BureauHow To Get Preapproved For A Mortgage | BankrateMortgage Preapproval Guide For Home Buyers | Quicken LoansReceive a pre-approval letter
Once you are pre-approved for a mortgage, the lender will provide you with a pre-approval letter that acts as a conditional commitment to loan you a specific amount of money for a home purchase. The pre-approval letter will typically inform you of the loan amount, loan program, loan term and the interest rate you qualify for if certain conditions are met. Pair this letter with your offer to let sellers know you are a serious and qualified buyer.
Explore mortgage calculators
- Affordability calculator
How much house can you afford? Use our affordability calculator to estimate what you can comfortably spend on your new home.
- Mortgage calculator
What will your new home cost? Estimate your monthly mortgage payment with our easy-to-use mortgage calculator.
- Debt-to-income calculator
Your debt-to-income ratio helps determine if you would qualify for a mortgage. Use our DTI calculator to see if you're in the right range.
- Amortization calculator
Curious how much you will pay to interest and principal each month? Use our amortization calculator to estimate your monthly principal and interest payments made over the life of a loan.
Frequently asked questions
What is a mortgage pre-approval?
How far in advance should I get pre-approved for a mortgage?
How long does pre-approval take?
What do I need to get pre-approved for a mortgage?
Does getting pre-approved hurt your credit?
How long is a pre-approval good for?
Can you get pre-approved for a mortgage from multiple lenders?
How much will I get pre-approved for?
What if I don't get pre-approved for a mortgage?
Find a pre-approval lender
Participating lenders pay Zillow Group Marketplace, Inc. ("ZGMI") a fee to receive consumer contact information, like yours. ZGMI does not recommend or endorse any lender. We display lenders based on their location, customer reviews, and other data supplied by users. Questions you answer during the Home Journey questionnaire provide ZGMI with preliminary, personalized data about your circ*mstances and current interest in mortgage financing. ZGMI does not recommend or endorse any lender and ZGMI does not evaluate what participating lender(s) may be the best suited for your needs. Instead, we provide data to a lender(s) according to the lender's criteria, including based on the user-supplied data the lender believes may fit the particular mortgage products or services that it offers. ZGMI may display additional lenders based on their geographic location, customer reviews, and other data supplied by users. However, ZGMI makes no representation that advertised lenders have mortgage products or services that are suitable for your needs. You are free to shop around, including outside of options that we display, to assess your mortgage financing options. Click here to access our lender directory.For more information on our advertising practices, see our . ZGMI is a licensed mortgage broker, NMLS #1303160. A list of state licenses and disclosures is available here. Advertised historic low rates or claims of low raes are based upon the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, which analyzes residential mortgage rate averages offered since 1971. NMLS ID and license/registration information provided through NMLS B2B Access by agreement with State Regulatory Registry, LLC. Any use of this information that violates the NMLS B2B Access Terms of Use is strictly prohibited. For additional information, seehttp://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/.
