ALL ABOUT MORTGAGE PRE-APPROVALS
- johnathanmcquoid
- Jan 17
- 2 min read
Thinking about buying a home? That’s exciting — but if you’re not already pre-approved, stop what you’re doing and read this first.
A proper pre-approval is one of the most important steps in the home-buying process.
Here’s why 👇
🏡 Pre-approvals give you confidence
A real pre-approval tells you exactly how much you can qualify for — not a guess, not an estimate.
Knowing your true budget saves time, reduces stress, and helps you avoid surprises later.
💬 Pre-approvals strengthen your negotiating power
When sellers see that your financing is already verified, you instantly become a stronger buyer compared to others who haven’t done the work yet.
In competitive markets, this can make or break your offer.
🔥 But here’s the catch: not all pre-approvals are the same
There are 3 levels of pre-approvals — and only one of them actually protects you.
Let’s break them down 👇
❌ Level 1: “The Conversation Pre-Approval”
This is when a mortgage professional hears your income and says,
“Great — you’re pre-approved!”
No documents.
No credit check.
No verification.
This is not a real pre-approval — and it creates false confidence.
⚠️ Level 2: “The Credit Check Pre-Approval”
This version is slightly better.
The mortgage professional asks about your income and pulls your credit report. This allows them to:
✔️ estimate your borrowing power
✔️ hold a rate for 90–120 days
But…
They still haven’t reviewed your documents.
They haven’t confirmed your income in detail.
They haven’t checked your down payment sources.
So this still isn’t a guaranteed approval.
✅ Level 3: “The Full Document Pre-Approval” — the one we do
This is the only version that protects you.
We collect and review the real documents up front:
✔️ income documents
✔️ employment verification
✔️ down payment proof
✔️ bank statements
✔️ credit report
✔️ ID
By doing everything properly at the beginning, we can eliminate surprises and identify issues before you shop for a home.
Yes, it’s more work up front — for us and for you.
But it prevents failed offers, financing collapses, and last-minute stress.
And most importantly… it’s the right way to do it.
💡 Final Thought
A proper pre-approval is your foundation.
It protects you, strengthens your buying power, and ensures there are no financing surprises later.
If you want a real, fully verified pre-approval — the kind that actually means something — The Frontline Mortgage Group.
We’ll review everything up front and set you up with confidence before you start shopping. 💬