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Mortgage pre-approval guide.
Get pre-approved before you tour. In Florida's competitive pockets, sellers routinely skip buyers who submit without one. Here's what to bring, what to ask, and which lenders close on time.
What to gather first
- Two years of W-2s + most recent 30 days of pay stubs. Self-employed: two years of personal + business tax returns and a YTD profit-and-loss.
- Two months of bank statements (every account). All pages, including the blank ones. Lenders need to verify the source of any large deposits.
- Government-issued photo ID. Driver's license or passport. If two borrowers, both IDs.
- Down payment + closing cost source documentation. Where the funds are coming from — savings, gift, sale of another property, retirement withdrawal.
- For VA buyers: Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Lender can pull this for you in most cases; have your service dates ready.
Questions to ask your lender
- Locked rate vs. floating — and what the lock fee is if you want to extend
- Discount points: cost vs. monthly payment savings (break-even math)
- Loan estimate (LE) — required by law within 3 business days of application
- Estimated underwriting timeline — and what could slow it (appraisal, condo approval)
- Whether they handle their own underwriting in-house or send it out
“Ask your lender for two numbers — the max you qualify for, and the max you're comfortable paying monthly. They're almost never the same.”
— Ben Laube
Need a lender intro?
I work with a handful of lenders who consistently close on time across Florida. Happy to share names — no kickbacks, no pressure.