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Buying a Home? Get Pre-Approved and Compare 30+ Lenders

Whether it is your first home or your next one, the path is the same: know your real budget, get a pre-approval that holds up, and shop the loan as hard as you shop the house. One application and one credit pull puts your file in front of 30+ lenders.

One applicationOne credit pull30+ lenders compared38 years in mortgage lending

Ready to Get Pre-Approved?

One application, one credit pull, 30+ lenders compared.

Start My Pre-ApprovalBook a Free Call
See your real rate right nowLive pricing across 30+ lenders, not an estimate. No credit pull and no application to look.
1. Check live rates
Enter your scenario and see what 30+ lenders are actually pricing at this moment.
See Live Rates →
2. Like the number? Move on it
Pull your own credit, complete the application and submit a lock request. My office reviews it immediately before anything locks.
Start My Application →

Pricing shown in the rate tool reflects lender pricing at the time you run it and is not a commitment to lend or a locked rate. Your final rate, APR and fees depend on your credit profile, property, loan program and market conditions at the time of lock. Pulling your credit in step two is a hard inquiry and may carry a fee. Not all borrowers will qualify. Dan Frio | NMLS #246527 | The Rate Update / PBT Bancorp | NMLS #257781 | Equal Housing Lender.

Before you apply, check your credit and your budget. Lenders can now use VantageScore 4.0 or Classic FICO. See the credit score you need to buy a house and how to budget for your first home, free guides from Credit Scores & More.

Watch: First Time Home Buyer Guide

First time home buyer guide video with Dan Frio

What lenders look at, how much you really need down, and the mistakes that cost buyers the house. More videos on YouTube →

What You Need to Get Pre-Approved

  • Two years of W-2s, or tax returns if you are self-employed
  • Your most recent pay stubs
  • Two months of bank statements
  • A government-issued photo ID
  • Your down payment amount and where it is coming from
  • Authorization to pull your credit
Open the Mortgage Buyer Qualifier →

The qualifier is a preliminary estimate only. Not a pre-approval, not an offer to lend, and not a commitment to lend.

How to Buy a Home in 5 Steps

1
Set your real budgetStart from the payment you are comfortable with, including taxes, insurance and any HOA, not the maximum you can be approved for. Mortgage calculators
2
Get pre-approved before you shopDocuments reviewed and credit pulled, so your offer carries real weight with a seller. Start with a pre-qualification
3
Pick the right loan programConventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo and down payment assistance all work differently. The right one depends on your credit, savings, service history and where you are buying.
4
Make your offerI coordinate directly with your agent so your offer goes out with the right documentation attached.
5
Lock, close and get your keysMost purchases close in roughly 30 to 45 days from an accepted offer, depending on the appraisal, title work and how quickly documents come in.

Home Buying Questions

How much do I need for a down payment?
As little as 3% on some conventional programs and 3.5% on FHA. VA and USDA allow 0% down for eligible buyers, and down payment assistance can cover part of what you need.
How long does a mortgage pre-approval last?
Most pre-approvals are good for 60 to 90 days because credit and income documents age. An expired pre-approval can usually be updated with fresh pay stubs and bank statements.
Will comparing lenders hurt my credit score?
Mortgage credit checks made within a short shopping window are generally counted as a single inquiry. With our process, one credit pull is used to compare 30+ lenders.
How long does it take to close on a home?
Typically 30 to 45 days from an accepted offer, depending on the appraisal, title work and how quickly documents come in.
What credit score do I need to buy a house?
It depends on the loan. FHA allows scores as low as 580 with 3.5% down, conventional loans generally start around 620, and each lender sets its own minimums, which is why comparing lenders matters.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer to get down payment assistance?
No. Many assistance programs allow first-time buyers but do not require it. If you have owned a home before, you may still be eligible depending on the program and county.
What is the difference between pre-qualification and pre-approval?
A pre-qualification is an estimate based on what you tell a lender. A pre-approval means your documents were reviewed and your credit was pulled, so it carries far more weight with a seller.