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24-Hour Pre-Approval

Mortgage Pre-Approval That Actually Wins Offers

Get a verified, underwriter-reviewed mortgage pre-approval letter — typically issued within ~24 hours of a complete file* — the kind of pre-approval listing agents and sellers actually trust when your offer hits the table.

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Quick answerSummary
  • ✓Verified pre-approval letter typically within ~24 hours of a complete file*
  • ✓Reviewed by a licensed underwriter and run through Fannie Mae DU / Freddie Mac LPA
  • ✓Soft-pull option for early shopping — hard pull only when you are ready
  • ✓Letter updated to match your accepted purchase price when applicable, typically* the same business day
  • ✓Valid 60–90 days; simple refresh when it expires
  • ✓No fees, no obligation to use us for your final loan
SA

Written by

Simply Approved Mortgages Team

Licensed Loan Officers · NMLS# 2620881

14 min read·Independently researched · No paid product placement

Start your verified mortgage pre-approval — typically ~24 hours*

A Simply Approved Mortgages Loan Officer verifies income, assets, and credit and runs your file through Fannie Mae DU / Freddie Mac LPA. Not a quote, lock, offer, or commitment to lend.

Start My ApprovalSee Today's Rates

Mortgage pre-approval by the numbers

Why a verified mortgage pre-approval matters in today's housing market

74%

of buyers financed their purchase

NAR 2024 Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers — 26% paid all-cash (a then-record high, surpassed again in the 2025 report).

Why this matters to you: roughly 3 out of 4 buyers you'll be bidding against are also using a mortgage — so the strength of your mortgage pre-approval letter is what actually decides which financed offer the seller picks.

<5 pts

typical FICO drop from a mortgage inquiry

Per FICO; multiple mortgage inquiries within 45 days count as one for scoring.

Why this matters to you: the credit hit from getting pre-approved is smaller than most buyers fear, and FICO's 45-day rate-shopping window means you can compare a couple of lenders without stacking extra damage on your score before closing.

1

verified pre-approval is all you need

One underwriter-reviewed pre-approval letter lets you write offers immediately. We can update the letter to match your accepted purchase price when applicable.*

Why this matters to you: you don't have to re-apply for every home you tour. One verified mortgage pre-approval letter — refreshed to your accepted price when applicable — is what your agent uses to write every offer until you're under contract.

Sources: NAR 2024 & 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers; myFICO.com credit-education content. Statistics are for educational context, not a quote or commitment to lend.

Why a mortgage pre-approval is non-negotiable in 2026

In every competitive market in America, listing agents stack offers in three piles: cash, financed-with-mortgage-pre-approval, and financed-without-pre-approval. The third pile gets ignored. A real mortgage pre-approval — not a 30-second online estimate, not a pre-qualification — is your ticket to compete. The CFPB defines a mortgage pre-approval as a conditional commitment based on verified financial information, and specifically distinguishes it from a pre-qualification. Ready to start your mortgage pre-approval now?

Simply Approved Mortgages issues verified mortgage pre-approvals: we pull credit, verify income with pay stubs, W-2s, and (when applicable) tax transcripts obtained through IRS Form 4506-C, verify assets with bank statements, and run the file through Fannie Mae's Desktop Underwriter (DU) or Freddie Mac's Loan Product Advisor (LPA). The result is a mortgage pre-approval letter a listing agent can actually trust — get pre-approved today.

Mortgage pre-qualification vs mortgage pre-approval vs underwritten (TBD) pre-approval

Pre-qualifiedPre-approvedUnderwritten (TBD)
Credit pulledNo (or soft)Yes (hard)Yes (hard)
Income verifiedStated onlyDocuments reviewedDocuments reviewed by an underwriter
AUS run (DU/LPA)NoYesYes + manual review
Sellers trust it?RarelyYesOften treated like a cash offer
Typical time to issueMinutes~24 hours*~3–5 business days*

For most purchases, a standard mortgage pre-approval is enough. In multiple-offer markets we recommend an underwritten mortgage pre-approval (TBD underwriting) — read more in our purchase mortgage guide.

Mortgage pre-approval requirements: what underwriters actually check

  • Credit. A tri-merge report (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) with the middle score used for qualifying. Program minimums: FHA 580 (3.5% down), Conventional 620, VA typically 580–620, USDA 640, Jumbo 680–720+.
  • Income & DTI. Debt-to-income ratio is calculated under CFPB Regulation Z / Qualified Mortgage rules. The current General QM rule uses a price-based test (APR vs APOR) rather than a hard 43% DTI cap; in practice, most conforming files target a back-end DTI around 43–45%, with room up to ~50% for strong compensating factors and AUS approval.
  • Assets & reserves. Two months of statements — all pages — verified against the down payment and closing costs on the Loan Estimate.
  • Employment. Verbal or written Verification of Employment (VOE) within 10 business days of closing per Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-3.1-07.
  • Property (once identified). Appraisal, title, insurance, HOA docs (if applicable), and flood zone determination.

Mortgage pre-approval process: how most files close in ~24 hours*

  1. 1

    Apply online (15 min)

    You complete a secure online mortgage pre-approval application. Why it matters: getting the data straight into our LOS (loan origination system) means an underwriter — not a call-center rep — is the first person to touch your file, which is what makes the letter actually credible to a listing agent. We never sell your data (GLBA / CCPA privacy notice on file).
  2. 2

    Upload documents (10 min)

    W-2s and pay stubs (employed) or tax returns and P&Ls (self-employed), 2 months of bank statements, and a photo ID. Why it matters: this is the difference between a real pre-approval and a pre-qualification. Verified documents let underwriting say "yes, this income and down payment are real," which is exactly what sellers want to see before accepting your offer.
  3. 3

    Soft or hard credit pull

    Soft for early shopping (no credit-score impact), hard for a binding pre-approval letter. Why it matters: you get to control when the hard pull happens. When we do pull, FICO groups all mortgage inquiries inside a 45-day window as a single inquiry — so if you compare a couple of lenders, your score does not typically take extra damage.
  4. 4

    Underwriter review + AUS

    A Simply Approved Mortgages Loan Officer plus a licensed underwriter review the file and run Fannie Mae DU or Freddie Mac LPA. Why it matters: AUS (automated underwriting) is the same engine every conforming lender in the country uses. Getting an "Approve/Eligible" recommendation on your file up front is what turns your letter into a serious offer instead of a wish list.
  5. 5

    Pre-approval letter issued

    Emailed to you and your agent, ready to attach to every offer. Why it matters: you can request an updated letter for your accepted purchase price simply by replying to the email — most letters are refreshed the same business day, so your offer is always tailored to the exact home and price you're writing on.
Expert Insight
We see it every week: a buyer loses the home they love because their "pre-approval" was a 30-second online form. A real pre-approval takes a day, costs nothing, and turns a $750K offer into a credible one. Don't skip the step — get pre-approved with a Simply Approved Mortgages Loan Officer.
Simply Approved Mortgages Team
Licensed Loan Officers • NMLS# 2620881

Mortgage pre-approval document checklist: what to bring

✓

Income

Last 2 W-2s and last 30 days of pay stubs. Self-employed: last 2 years of federal tax returns + year-to-date profit & loss. Why it matters: underwriting qualifies you on stable, provable income — accurate income docs upfront prevent a pre-approval from being pulled back later for "income not supported."

✓

Assets

Last 2 months of all bank, brokerage, and retirement statements. All pages, even blanks — required by Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac. Why it matters: every dollar of down payment and reserves has to be sourced and seasoned. Missing pages force an underwriting condition that can delay your mortgage pre-approval letter by days.

✓

ID

Government-issued photo ID + Social Security number. Permanent residents: green card. ITIN borrowers: ITIN letter and passport. Why it matters: identity verification is a federal Patriot Act / BSA requirement — no ID, no pre-approval, no exceptions.

✓

Property (if known)

Address, purchase price, HOA dues, estimated taxes, and homeowners insurance quote. Why it matters: property taxes, insurance, and HOA all count toward your DTI. Real numbers here mean your mortgage pre-approval amount reflects the actual monthly payment on that home, not a guess.

✓

Debts

No need to send statements — we pull them from your credit report. Be ready to explain disputes or authorized-user accounts. Why it matters: disputed and authorized-user tradelines get flagged by AUS and can lower your qualifying score or DTI. Clearing these up front protects your pre-approval amount.

✓

Gifts

If family is gifting funds, a signed gift letter and proof of donor ability to give, per HUD Handbook 4000.1 and Fannie Mae B3-4.3-04. Why it matters: unsourced gift funds are the #1 reason files stall late. Properly documented gifts count fully toward down payment and can be the difference between qualifying and not.

Credit Documentation & Monitoring

Credit Reports and Credit Monitoring for mortgage pre-approval

Credit is one of the four underwriting buckets every lender reviews — and one of the few you can actively improve before you apply. Monitoring your credit throughout the process helps you catch errors, fraud, and score changes early, which protects your approval timeline and your rate.

Step 1 · Lender Pull

Ordering Credit for Your Pre-Approval File

Once you sign your loan application (Form 1003) and disclosures, your Simply Approved Mortgages Loan Officer orders a tri-merge residential mortgage credit report (RMCR) from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This is a hard inquiry, but FICO's model treats mortgage inquiries within a 45-day window as a single event, so shopping lenders during that window will not stack on your score.

  • What we need from you: signed borrower authorization, government-issued photo ID, Social Security number (or ITIN), and current address.
  • What the report shows underwriters: middle FICO score, open tradelines, minimum payments, late history, collections, public records, and recent inquiries.
  • How long it's valid: 120 days for conventional loans and for FHA/VA/USDA (HUD guidelines, VA Lender's Handbook Ch. 4). Older reports must be re-pulled before closing.
  • Rapid rescore: if a legitimate error is on your report, we can request a rapid rescore in 3–7 business days after you supply documentation from the creditor.
Pay for Your Credit Report →

This link redirects to our third-party credit vendor's payment portal. You pay the report fee directly so we can pull your tri-merge credit report for your pre-approval file. A credit pull is required for underwriting; this is not a commitment to lend.

Step 2 · Self-Check

Review and Monitor Your Credit at MyITINCredit.com

Before we pull your file, review and monitor your credit at MyITINCredit.com. Their $1 promotional trial gives you tri-bureau visibility plus ongoing credit monitoring so you can catch changes, disputes, or new accounts as they appear — not after they've already delayed your loan.

  • Verify accuracy: confirm names, addresses, SSN/ITIN, and every open account belong to you.
  • Dispute errors: the Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to dispute inaccurate items directly with the bureau — no charge.
  • Address collections and charge-offs: a settled or paid collection can be documented in advance so it does not stall underwriting.
  • Pay down utilization: credit-card balances reported below 30% of the limit typically produce the strongest scores.
  • Avoid new credit: do not open new cards, finance a car, or co-sign for anyone from now through closing.
  • Monitor continuously: credit monitoring alerts you to new inquiries, balance changes, and potential identity theft while your loan is in process.
Check & Monitor Your Credit at MyITINCredit.com →

MyITINCredit.com is a service operated by Simply Approved Corporation (a DBA of that entity), which is the parent company of Simply Approved Mortgages LLC. Simply Approved Mortgages may receive subscription revenue if you choose to enroll. Credit monitoring through MyITINCredit.com is optional and is not required to apply for or obtain a mortgage with us. Promotional pricing, trial terms, and monitoring features are set by MyITINCredit.com and subject to change.

Why credit monitoring matters during a mortgage — A single new collection, missed payment, or unauthorized inquiry can change your qualifying score or trigger additional underwriting conditions. Typical minimum scores* — Conventional 620, FHA 580 (3.5% down) or 500 (10% down), VA no HUD minimum (most lenders 580–620), USDA typically 640, Jumbo 680–740, Doctor Mortgage 680–700+, Non-QM/DSCR varies by program, ITIN 620–680 alternative credit. Investor and lender overlays apply; individual results vary. Not a commitment to lend.

How long a mortgage pre-approval letter lasts — and how to keep it fresh

Most mortgage pre-approval letters are valid 60–90 days from the credit-pull date. When your mortgage pre-approval expires, we refresh three things: a re-pull of credit (which uses the 45-day FICO rate-shopping window so it does not typically stack additional score damage), the two most recent pay stubs, and the two most recent bank statements. Self-employed borrowers may also need an updated year-to-date P&L.

What can invalidate a mortgage pre-approval before closing

  • Financing a car, furniture, or opening new credit cards during the mortgage pre-approval process.
  • Job changes, especially moving from W-2 to 1099, or taking a base + commission role with less than the required commission history.
  • Large, unsourced deposits into your bank account — every deposit above about 25–50% of monthly gross income must be sourced per Fannie Mae B3-4.2-02.
  • Missed payments on any tradeline, including student loans, medical debt, or a landlord reference.
  • Changes to marital status or a co-borrower's credit or employment.

Underwritten (TBD) mortgage pre-approval — when it's worth it

In hot markets (median days-on-market under 30 per NAR research), a fully underwritten mortgage pre-approval can be the difference between winning and losing a bid. A human underwriter reviews credit, income, and assets up front; the only remaining conditions are property-specific (appraisal, title, insurance). Some listing agents treat these underwritten mortgage pre-approval letters as functionally equivalent to a cash offer, since the financing contingency is largely cleared before the offer is written. Request a TBD pre-approval and we'll flag your file for full underwriter review.

Mortgage pre-approval for first-time home buyers

First-time home buyer mortgage pre-approvals follow the same underwriting playbook but can be paired with down-payment assistance (DPA), FHA 3.5%-down loans, and conventional 3%-down programs like HomeReady and Home Possible. Bring your ID, last 30 days of pay stubs, last 2 years of W-2s, and 2 months of bank statements — most first-time buyer mortgage pre-approval letters are issued the same business day. Start your pre-approval below, or review the full document checklist and affordability calculator first.

The honest trade-off

Mortgage pre-approval pros and cons

A verified mortgage pre-approval is one of the strongest tools a buyer can have — but it is not a blank check. Here is the straight read on both sides.

Pros

  • +

    Sellers and agents take your offer seriously.

    Listing agents sort offers by financing strength; a verified pre-approval puts you in the top pile.

  • +

    You know your real budget before you shop.

    Avoid falling in love with homes above the amount you can actually qualify to borrow.

  • +

    Faster path from contract to close.

    Credit, income, and assets are already reviewed; only property conditions remain.

  • +

    Catch problems before you are under contract.

    Errors, collection accounts, or employment issues surface early, when they are fixable.

  • +

    Updated to match your accepted purchase price when applicable.

    Once approved, we can usually send a new letter the same business day for a different property or price.

  • +

    Rate-shopping protection.

    FICO groups mortgage credit pulls within a 45-day window as one inquiry.

Cons

  • !

    A hard credit pull is required.

    The FICO impact is typically fewer than 5 points, but it is a real inquiry.

  • !

    You must gather documents up front.

    W-2s, pay stubs, bank statements, and ID are required for verification — not just stated.

  • !

    It is not a guarantee to lend.

    Final approval still depends on appraisal, title, insurance, and no material adverse changes.

  • !

    It expires in 60–90 days.

    Credit, pay stubs, and bank statements must be refreshed if your search takes longer.

  • !

    Changes can invalidate it.

    New debt, job changes, or unsourced deposits can void the pre-approval before closing.

  • !

    Property must still qualify.

    Condo, co-op, manufactured, or unique properties may have additional underwriting requirements.

Illustrative scenarios

Mortgage pre-approval examples — real-world situations

Six illustrative borrower profiles that show how a verified mortgage pre-approval plays out in practice. Results are not guaranteed.

Illustrative example

Profile

First-time buyer, 620 FICO, $350K purchase

Best fit

FHA Pre-Approval

Verified letter issued in ~24 hours; buyer wrote an offer the next weekend and beat a competing pre-qualified buyer.

Illustrative example

Profile

Move-up buyer with a home to sell

Best fit

Contingent Conventional Pre-Approval

Underwriter reviewed current mortgage, equity, and listed contract; new offer was accepted with a 30-day close contingency.

Illustrative example

Profile

Self-employed, 2 years tax returns, 680 FICO

Best fit

Conventional Pre-Approval

Avg. income over 24 months was documented; AUS approved with 10% down and six months of reserves.

Illustrative example

Profile

VA buyer, 0% down, 600 FICO

Best fit

VA Pre-Approval

Certificate of Eligibility confirmed, residual income passed, and the seller accepted the offer over a higher conventional bid.

Illustrative example

Profile

Buyer in a 12-offer multiple-bid market

Best fit

Underwritten (TBD) Pre-Approval

Human underwriter signed off on credit, income, and assets before house-hunting; listing agent treated it like cash.

Illustrative example

Profile

Buyer 2 years post Chapter 7 discharge

Best fit

FHA Pre-Approval

Met HUD’s 2-year waiting period with re-established credit; closed 45 days after going under contract.

Illustrative borrower profiles for educational purposes only — not a quote, offer, approval, rate lock, or commitment to lend. Actual eligibility, pricing, and cash-to-close depend on full underwriting.

Wholesale advantage

Compare loan officer compensation on your mortgage quote

Loan officer compensation is part of the cost of a mortgage. On eligible residential loans, Simply Approved Mortgages generally uses 1.5% lender-paid compensation. Enter the compensation shown on another lender's Loan Estimate to see the difference in dollars.

Simply Approved Mortgages compensation (1.5%)$4,500
Quote you entered (2.75%)$8,250

Compensation difference on this illustration: $3,750.

How lower compensation can help you

Room for a lower rate

When less compensation is built into pricing, there can be room for a lower interest rate, which may lower your monthly payment.

Possible credits toward closing

Depending on the rate you choose, pricing can sometimes include a lender credit toward third-party closing costs, so you may bring less cash to closing.

More purchasing power

A lower rate means a lower monthly payment, which can lower your debt-to-income ratio and may help you qualify for more home on the same income.

Wholesale, not retail

As a mortgage broker we compare pricing from wholesale lenders instead of offering a single bank’s retail pricing.

Tip: On page 2 of your Loan Estimate, look at Section A, "Origination Charges." If the lender pays the loan officer, that compensation usually does not appear there as its own line; it is built into the interest rate. That is why comparing the rate and any lender credits side by side matters.

Get a second opinion on your Loan Estimate

Already have a Loan Estimate from another bank or broker? Share it with a Simply Approved Mortgages Loan Officer, who will compare the rate, fees and credits side by side with options we can arrange. No cost to request a review.

Illustration only — not a quote, lock, offer, or commitment to lend; binding figures appear on your Loan Estimate. Lender-paid compensation is paid by the lender, not directly by you, and is part of the loan's pricing, so the loan is not free of costs. A lower compensation figure does not by itself guarantee a lower rate or lower closing costs; individual results vary by credit, loan type, property and market conditions. Residential lending in FL and CO only. Simply Approved Mortgages LLC · NMLS #2620881 · Equal Housing Opportunity.

Mortgage Pre-Approval — Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common mortgage pre-approval questions, written by licensed loan officers.

A mortgage pre-approval is a written commitment from a lender, based on verified income, assets, credit, and automated underwriting (Fannie Mae Desktop Underwriter or Freddie Mac Loan Product Advisor), stating you can borrow a specific loan amount. The CFPB describes a mortgage pre-approval as substantially stronger than pre-qualification, which is only an unverified estimate.

People also ask

More mortgage pre-approval questions we hear every week

Can I get pre-approved for a mortgage with no job?+
Yes, if you can document repayment ability from other sources. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA all allow retirement income, Social Security, VA disability, pension, alimony/child support, rental income, and (for asset-depletion loans) documented liquid assets. Underwriters require the income source to be verifiable and expected to continue at least three years.
Does a mortgage pre-approval affect closing?+
A pre-approval starts the underwriting timeline early, which typically shortens the contract-to-close window. But conditions cleared at pre-approval can re-open at closing if credit, income, or assets change materially — always avoid new debt, job changes, or large unsourced deposits between pre-approval and closing.
What is the difference between a mortgage pre-approval and a commitment letter?+
A pre-approval is issued before you find a property and is conditioned on property-level items (appraisal, title, insurance). A commitment letter (also called a "clear to close") is issued after the underwriter clears all conditions on a specific property. The commitment letter is what enables the lender to fund the loan at closing.
Can I get pre-approved with a co-signer or non-occupying co-borrower?+
Yes. FHA and Fannie Mae both allow non-occupying co-borrowers (with FHA requiring a family relationship in most cases). The co-borrower's income helps qualify, but their debts also count toward DTI. Both borrowers' credit is pulled and the lower middle FICO is typically used for pricing.
How many mortgage pre-approvals can I get?+
There is no legal limit. FICO groups all mortgage-related credit inquiries within a 45-day window into a single inquiry for scoring, so shopping a few lenders will not stack additional score damage. That said, one verified underwriter-reviewed pre-approval from Simply Approved Mortgages is usually enough to write competitive offers.
Can I use a mortgage pre-approval letter for a different price than the one on it?+
You can only make offers at or below the amount on your pre-approval letter. We routinely update letters to reflect your accepted purchase price when applicable — typically* the same business day — so buyers can present a letter tailored to the specific home and price they are writing on.

Before you get pre-approved

See how much house you can actually afford

Run your income, debts, down payment, and target rate through our affordability calculator. It uses the same DTI, MI, tax, and insurance math a Simply Approved Mortgages Loan Officer runs on your file — so the number you see is the number underwriting will use.

Illustrative only — not a quote, lock, offer, or commitment to lend.

Open Affordability Calculator →Start My Approval

Market context for your pre-approval

Today's mortgage rates — the numbers behind your pre-approval math

Your pre-approval amount is driven by DTI at today's rate. The Freddie Mac PMMS survey below is the industry-standard weekly national rate benchmark — useful for context, not a quote or lock.

Today's rates

Live ratesLive pricing. Rates are retrieved from our pricing provider when you run a scenario.

Real rates — your scenario, not a guess

Today's rate options below refresh twice each business day from our wholesale pricing engine; run your own scenario in the pricing tool. National survey averages below give you market context — they're not Simply Approved's pricing.

Our live pricing engine

See your real rate — for your scenario, in our pricing tool

Pull live, scenario-specific pricing from our wholesale pricing engine. Your binding rate and APR are confirmed on your Loan Estimate after a quick file review.

See My Live Rate →

Pricing snapshot

Live ratesLive pricing. Rates are retrieved from our pricing provider when you run a scenario.

Today's Mortgage Rate Options at a Glance

Four real options from today's wholesale pricing for one documented sample scenario per program — no form needed. Updated twice each business day, about 10 AM and 2 PM Eastern. Your own rate depends on your credit, down payment, property, state and lock date.

National market context

Freddie Mac PMMS — weekly U.S. averages

Source: Freddie Mac PMMS (PMMS_history.csv)

Loading latest PMMS averages…

PMMS figures shown above are Freddie Mac's national survey averages, published weekly by Freddie Mac (PMMS_history.csv) — they are not Simply Approved Mortgages' rates, not a quote, not a lock, and not an offer or commitment to lend. Your actual rate, APR, and payment depend on credit profile, loan program, occupancy, LTV, DTI, property type, lock period, and current market pricing at the time of lock. Your binding figures appear on your Loan Estimate. Simply Approved Mortgages LLC · NMLS# 2620881 · Equal Housing Opportunity.

Do you qualify for income-based programs?

2026 HUD Area Median Income limits

HomeReady, Home Possible, and most state DPA programs cap eligibility at a percentage of Area Median Income (AMI). If your household income is at or below the thresholds below, ask your Simply Approved Mortgages Loan Officer to check you for the reduced-MI, low-down-payment programs during pre-approval.

2026 HUD Income Limits · Area Median Income (AMI)

Do you qualify for down-payment or low-income mortgage programs?

Many affordability programs — HomeReady, Home Possible, most state and local down-payment assistance, USDA, and HUD Section 8 — use HUD's published Area Median Income (AMI) to set eligibility. Compare your household income to the AMI for your area below. Figures are the 4-person household values published by HUD for 2026.

HomeReady and Home Possible cap qualifying income at 80% of AMI for most census tracts. USDA Guaranteed uses moderate-income limits (typically 115% of AMI, published separately). Down-payment assistance programs vary by state and program. Values above are HUD's published 2026 4-person figures; household-size adjustments apply. Not a commitment to lend; eligibility is confirmed at underwriting. Source: HUD USER Income Limits 2026 .

Local guides

Mortgage pre-approval by state

State-specific mortgage pre-approval guides for the states Simply Approved Mortgages LLC (NMLS# 2620881) is licensed in — county loan limits, state DPA overlays, closing-cost norms, and the exact document set a Simply Approved Mortgages Loan Officer will ask for.

Pre-Approval

Colorado

Pre-Approval

Florida

Pre-Approval Request

Ready to take the next step?

Pick your loan type and complete a short, tailored request on our secure application page. Your Simply Approved Mortgages Loan Officer follows up within one business day.

Start My Approval →See Today's RatesOr call 877-813-7219

No obligation. Soft-pull options may be available.*

Trusted government resources

These independent government resources can help you research mortgage programs, rates, and your rights before you apply.

Simply Approved Mortgages is not affiliated with HUD, the CFPB, the FTC, the VA, or any other government agency. Links are provided for your independent verification.

Explore the full guide

Keep reading — the rest of the buying playbook

Each of these is a deep-dive on one piece of the purchase mortgage process. Bookmark whichever you need next.

Guide

Pre-Qualification vs Pre-Approval

Which one you actually need — and why listing agents only trust one.

Read the guide →

Guide

How Much Home Can I Afford?

Real DTI, taxes, insurance, and reserves against your income.

Read the guide →

Guide

First-Time Home Buyer Guide

Programs, grants, and the exact playbook for buying your first home.

Read the guide →

Guide

Purchase Mortgage Programs

FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional, Jumbo, Doctor, 1%-Down, DSCR — compared.

Read the guide →

Guide

Closing Costs Explained

Every closing cost line item — and how to lower it.

Read the guide →

Guide

FHA Loans

The 580-score, 3.5%-down path to homeownership.

Read the guide →

Guide

Document Checklist

Everything an underwriter will ask for — pulled into one list.

Read the guide →
From the Blog

Mortgage insights & guides

Plain-language articles to help you understand the home loan process, save on closing costs, and make confident decisions.

View all articles→
First-Time Buyers

7 things every first-time homebuyer should know before applying

From credit prep to down payment assistance, here’s how to walk into your first mortgage application with confidence.

May 28, 20266 min read
Veterans

Using your VA loan benefit: a step-by-step guide

Eligibility, the Certificate of Eligibility, funding fees, and how to maximize zero-down purchasing power.

May 14, 20268 min read
Closing Costs

Where your closing costs actually go (and where you can save)

A line-by-line breakdown of the Loan Estimate and the fees that are negotiable versus fixed.

Apr 30, 20265 min read

Simplify Your Mortgage Journey with These Resources

Home Value Report
Check Your Credit
Mortgage Calculator
Home Affordability Calculator
Pay for my Credit Report
Mortgage Document Checklist
Down Payment Assistance
Native American Home Loans
FHA Loan Limits
See Today's Rates
Refinance Guide
Pre-Approval Request

Start My Approval

Complete this short request and a Simply Approved Mortgages Loan Officer will personally review your scenario. The form only asks what your program actually needs. Submitting it is not an application for credit and is not a commitment to lend.

What are you looking to do?

Pick one — the form adapts.

Pick a loan type

Programs for buying a home.
Government & conventional
Specialty credit
Build & renovate

Conventional loan — 3–20% down · 620+ FICO

Tell us about your scenario

The form below is tailored to Conventional loan — only the questions and documents your program needs.

Step 1 of 2 · about 90 seconds
See your options — one short screen
Encrypted connection (HTTPS) NMLS# 2620881 Equal Housing Opportunity

Simply Approved Mortgages LLC is licensed to arrange residential mortgage loans in Florida and Colorado only. We ask first so we never collect a mortgage inquiry we are not licensed to act on.

Purchase price and down payment help us size the conforming loan.

What's your goal?
Purchase price$450,000
$
Down payment (10.0%)$45,000
$

A range is enough here — no credit report is pulled and your credit is not affected.

Estimated monthly payment at these numbers
$3,431

Illustrative estimate only — not a quote, rate lock, offer of credit, or commitment to lend.

Submitting this form is not an application for credit and is not a commitment to lend. No credit report is pulled at this step.

No obligation to apply Encrypted connection Verify NMLS# 2620881
Equal Housing OpportunityEqual Housing OpportunityMortgage Broker — Not a LenderNMLS ID# 2620881NMLS Consumer AccessFlorida Mortgage Broker License #MBR7685Colorado Mortgage Company Registration

Licensing & Disclosures

Simply Approved Mortgages LLC | NMLS #2620881

Florida Branch Office (Miami, FL) | Branch NMLS #2688012

Florida Mortgage Broker License #MBR7685 | Colorado Mortgage Company Registration

Business Phone: (877) 813-7219

Equal Housing Opportunity

Broker identification. Simply Approved Mortgages LLC is a mortgage broker and is not a direct lender. We arrange residential mortgage loans with third-party wholesale lenders and do not make the lender's final credit decision or fund the loan. We arrange residential mortgage loans in Florida and Colorado. Business-purpose mortgage products may be arranged in additional states only where permitted by applicable law and pursuant to applicable licensing requirements or exemptions.

Credit and program terms. All loans are subject to lender credit approval, underwriting, acceptable appraisal or valuation when required, title review, insurance, and supporting documentation. Eligibility, programs, rates, APRs, points, lender credits, fees, payments, terms, loan amounts, down-payment requirements, mortgage insurance, and availability may vary based on borrower, property, occupancy, credit profile, loan-to-value ratio, debt-to-income ratio, lender, loan program, and state and may change without notice. Not all applicants, properties, products, or programs will qualify or be available in every state. Nothing on this site constitutes a loan approval, rate lock, offer, commitment to lend, guarantee of approval, or guarantee of terms or closing.

Rates, payments and calculators. Rates, APRs, payments, down payments, loan amounts, home values, estimated equity, savings, affordability estimates, closing costs, and other calculator or scenario results displayed on this site are estimates or illustrations unless expressly stated otherwise. Actual loan terms may differ. Taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance, association dues, lender charges, broker compensation, discount points, third-party charges, and other costs may apply. Advertised rates, payments, APRs, down payments, and other credit terms are subject to the assumptions and disclosures presented with the applicable advertisement. Applicable loan terms and disclosures will be provided as required for the particular transaction.

Mortgage products. FHA, VA, USDA, conventional, jumbo, non-QM, HELOC, reverse mortgage, down-payment-assistance, investment-property, DSCR, and other mortgage products referenced on this site are subject to their individual eligibility, underwriting, property, occupancy, and program requirements. Product availability varies by lender and jurisdiction. References to a mortgage product or program do not constitute a determination that a borrower or property qualifies.

Government-backed programs. Government-backed or government-insured mortgage programs referenced on this site may be subject to requirements established by the applicable government agency in addition to lender requirements. Government insurance or guaranties generally protect participating lenders against certain losses and do not constitute a guarantee of borrower approval.

Business-purpose products. DSCR, investment-property, and other business-purpose mortgage products referenced on this site are intended for qualifying business-purpose transactions. Business-purpose loans may be subject to different requirements and protections than consumer-purpose residential mortgage loans. Borrowers are responsible for accurately disclosing property occupancy and intended use.

Down payment assistance. Down payment or closing-cost assistance programs referenced on this site may be administered by governmental entities, housing finance agencies, nonprofit organizations, lenders, or other third parties. Program availability, funding, assistance amounts, eligibility requirements, repayment or forgiveness provisions, and other terms vary and may change or become unavailable without notice. Listing or referencing a program does not guarantee funding, eligibility, or mortgage approval.

Government affiliation. Simply Approved Mortgages LLC is not a government agency and is not affiliated with, acting on behalf of, sponsored by, or endorsed by HUD, FHA, VA, USDA, or any other federal, state, or local government agency. References to government agencies, programs, benefits, data, forms, or resources are provided for informational purposes and do not imply government sponsorship or endorsement of Simply Approved Mortgages LLC.

Fair lending. Equal Housing Opportunity. Simply Approved Mortgages LLC conducts business in accordance with applicable federal and state fair-housing and equal-credit-opportunity laws and does not discriminate on any prohibited basis.

No professional advice. Content on this site is educational and general in nature and is not legal, tax, accounting, financial, investment, estate-planning, or individualized government-benefits advice. Consumers should consult appropriate qualified professionals regarding their individual circumstances.

Third-party content. References or links to government agencies, lenders, assistance programs, products, services, or other third-party websites are provided for informational purposes or convenience. Simply Approved Mortgages LLC does not control and is not responsible for third-party content, availability, accuracy, or privacy practices.

NMLS Consumer Access: Verify Simply Approved Mortgages LLC, NMLS #2620881.

Simply Approved Mortgages LLC, 633 W 5th St, Ste 2600, Los Angeles, CA 90071 · 877-813-7219 · support@simplyapprovedmortgages.com. State licensing details available at the NMLS Consumer Access link above. © 2026 Simply Approved Mortgages LLC.

How this page connects

Where this fits in the buying a home library

This page sits inside our Buying a home coverage.

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Ask Sam AI

Ask SAM anything about mortgages

SAM is the Simply Approved Mortgages AI assistant. It answers general questions using the reviewed guides published on this site and links you to the primary government source. It is educational only — it does not quote a rate, payment, APR, approval or commitment to lend. A Simply Approved Mortgages Loan Officer reviews every scenario before any terms are confirmed.

Hi, I'm SAM — an AI assistant for Simply Approved Mortgages. I can explain loan programs, closing costs, DTI, down payments and which calculator or guide to use. I'm not a licensed loan officer, and nothing here is a quote, approval or commitment to lend.

SAM is an AI assistant — not a licensed loan officer, attorney, CPA or financial adviser. Answers are educational only, are not a quote, lock, offer or commitment to lend, and material loan terms must be reviewed by a Simply Approved Mortgages Loan Officer. Never share SSN/ITIN, date of birth, account numbers or passwords in chat. Residential mortgage loans are arranged in Florida and Colorado. Start My Approval.

Ask Sam AI provides general educational information only. It is an automated assistant, may be incomplete or out of date, and does not provide legal, tax or financial advice. Nothing it produces is a rate quote, APR, pre-approval, offer or commitment to lend. Never share a Social Security number, ITIN, date of birth, account number or password in chat. Simply Approved Mortgages LLC (NMLS #2620881) arranges residential mortgage loans in Florida and Colorado. Eligibility, terms, conditions and availability vary by borrower, property, lender, loan program and state, and all loans are subject to lender underwriting and approval. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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Add Simply Approved Mortgages as a preferred source on Google

We update these guides as HUD, FHFA, VA, USDA and CFPB publish new figures. If you want our updates to show up more often when you search Google, you can mark us as a preferred source from the Top Stories carousel:

  1. 1Sign in to your Google account and search a mortgage topic such as "mortgage rates".
  2. 2Select the icon next to "Top stories" to open the preferred sources panel.
  3. 3Search for Simply Approved Mortgages, tick the box, and save.
Google's preferred sources help

Preferred sources is a Google Search feature controlled entirely by you and by Google. Simply Approved Mortgages LLC (NMLS #2620881) does not control search results and makes no representation about how or whether our content will appear. Educational content only — not a quote, lock, offer, or commitment to lend.

Purchase market update

What buyers should know this month

November 2026

30-Yr Fixed · national avg

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15-Yr Fixed · national avg

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2026 buying power

Conforming baseline: $832,750
FHA floor / ceiling: $541,287 – $1,249,125

What it means for purchase buyers in November 2026: Conventional fixed rates move weekly with the bond market, so the number you see today is the national average — not your locked rate. Federal loan limits for 2026 are published by FHFA and HUD; high-cost counties carry higher caps. Page reviewed November 2026 (2026 program year). Sources: Freddie Mac PMMS, FHFA, HUD. Individual results vary.
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