Pre-Approval vs. Pre-Qualified

Get pre-approved, not just pre-qualified—sellers and agents know the difference and a true pre-approval gives you serious negotiating power. Pre-qualification is just an estimate based on what you tell them, while pre-approval means the lender has verified your credit, income, and assets. In competitive markets, sellers often won’t even consider offers from buyers who only have pre-qualification letters because they represent too much risk.