Both pre-qualification and pre-approval help you see what your mortgage could look like and estimate how much house you can afford, but they have some important differences.
Pre-qualification
Pre-qualification uses self-reported information (like your stated income) to provide a rate quote. Because the lender doesn’t verify whether the numbers you provide are accurate, prequalified rates are rough estimates only. Prequalifying only involves a soft credit check, so it does not affect your credit report and won’t show up on your credit history.
Pre-approval
Pre-approval, on the other hand, is like a “dress rehearsal” for your mortgage application. You’ll provide financial documents like pay stubs and bank statements, and the bank or lender does a hard credit check to verify your credit history. As a result, pre-approvals do affect your credit score, although usually by just a few points. Don’t let that deter you, though. A pre-approval letter shows you’re a committed buyer with sufficient purchasing power to close the deal.
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