Lendwise READY mortgage pre-approval
Strengthen your offer. Compete with cash buyers.
Get an underwriter-reviewed mortgage pre-approval before you find your home.
- Credit
- Income
- Assets
- Supporting documents
- The home you chooseReviewed after you find it
READY is a conditional credit approval. Property review, updated financial information and outstanding conditions still apply.
Show sellers you’re prepared to buy
Reviewed by an actual underwriter
Your credit, income, assets and supporting documents are reviewed upfront, before you choose a home.
A letter to support your offer
Once conditionally approved, you receive a pre-approval letter to share with your agent and sellers.
Typically 15 minutes to apply
With your information ready, our online application typically takes 15 minutes or less.*
How much gets reviewed
- Pre-qualification
Information you provide
- Pre-approval
Credit, income, assets and debts
- Lendwise READY
Reviewed by an actual underwriter before you choose a home
What’s the difference between pre-qualification and pre-approval?
Pre-qualification
Mortgage pre-qualification uses the income, debts and savings you share to estimate how much you may be able to borrow. It gives you a starting point for your home search and a conversation about loan options. This initial estimate is not a loan approval.
Pre-approval
Mortgage pre-approval takes a closer look at your credit, income, assets and debts. If the review supports it, you receive a pre-approval letter stating a conditional borrowing amount and the requirements that remain. Include the letter with your offer to show sellers the financing review already completed. Getting this work done early can help you move forward when you find the right home.
Your letter states the amount and conditions reviewed. Any estimated interest rate is subject to change unless separately locked. Pre-approval is not a guarantee of financing.
Lendwise READY includes an actual underwriter’s review of your credit, income, assets and supporting documents before you choose a home.
READY is a conditional credit approval. Property review, updated financial information and outstanding conditions still apply.
Mortgage pre-approval checklist
Review 4 topics for a conversation with a loan officer. The dial counts topics answered, not creditworthiness or approval likelihood. Your answers stay in this page’s memory and are not submitted.
Your credit report and monthly payments
Have a copy of your credit report, or be ready to tell us which accounts you have and what you pay each month: installment or personal loans, auto loans or leases, credit cards, student loans, mortgages and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs). No score or ratio calculation needed.
Where to get a free credit report
- AnnualCreditReport.com — Free reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion in one place.
- Experian — A free Experian report through its free account option.
- TransUnion — Free TransUnion report options.
Choose the free report option; paid monitoring is not necessary. These sites verify your identity. A report or consumer score does not replace the lender's credit review. Do not upload your report to this guide or send it by ordinary email.
Cash on hand
Consider down payment, closing costs and reserves separately. Required amounts depend on the program and property.
Employed or self-employed?
How you earn your income helps us explain which documents to gather. You do not need to upload anything here.
Employed: Recent pay stubs and W-2s.
Self-employed: Personal and business tax returns, a current profit-and-loss statement (P&L), and a balance sheet, as requested.
These are examples, not a required list for every borrower. Your loan officer will confirm what applies. Some loan programs use different income documents, such as bank statement loans.
Have you found a property?
You can start the conversation while you are still looking. If you have a home in mind, have the address and expected price ready.
How does Lendwise READY work?
Online application
15 minutes or less*
Tell us about yourself and the home you want to buy.
Gather documents
Gather the records that fit your situation.
Underwriter review
An actual underwriter reviews your credit, income, assets and supporting documents before you choose a home.
Pre-approval letter
The letter you can share when making an offer.
Remaining conditions
Finish the remaining requirements before closing.
See each step in detail
- 1. Online application
Tell us about yourself and the home you want to buy.
With your information ready, our online application typically takes 15 minutes or less. Take the time you need to check your answers. Gathering documents and reviewing your loan are separate steps; finishing the application is not an approval.
Have these details ready
- Your contact details, current and previous addresses, and employment and income information.
- Your bank balances and monthly loan, lease and credit-card payments. If another person is applying with you, have their information ready too.
- The home address and price, if you have found one. If not, tell us you are still looking.
- Enter Social Security numbers and other sensitive details only in our secure application—not on this guide or by ordinary email.
- 2. Gather documents
Gather the records that fit your situation.
How long this takes depends on what you already have and when you can provide it. We will give you a checklist for your income type and loan program, and a secure way to send it. You do not need to gather every possible document before speaking with us.
What to gather
- Employed: recent pay stubs and W-2s, as requested.
- Self-employed: personal and business tax returns, a current profit-and-loss statement (P&L), and a balance sheet, as requested.
- Bank statements for your down payment and closing funds, plus any other records on your checklist.
- Use the secure upload instructions from your loan officer. Some loan programs use different income documents.
- 3. Underwriter review
We check your information and explain the next steps.
For Lendwise READY, an actual underwriter reviews your credit, income, assets and supporting documents before you choose a home. Once conditionally approved, you receive a pre-approval letter to support your offer. After you find a property, we complete the remaining property and loan requirements.
Your loan officer reviews your application, credit and supporting documents. Depending on the program, the review may include automated underwriting, an underwriter, or both. We will tell you what has been reviewed and what is still needed. An automated result is not final loan approval.
What we review
- Income, monthly payments and the funds you plan to use for closing.
- The loan programs that may fit the information you have provided.
- Any missing details or documents, and the next review needed for your file.
- 4. Pre-approval letter
The letter you can share when making an offer.
When your review supports approval, you receive a pre-approval letter to share with your agent and sellers. It states your conditional borrowing amount, expiration date and remaining requirements. The letter is not a guarantee of a loan, a rate lock or final approval to close.
What the letter tells you
- Review the borrowing amount and loan assumptions with your loan officer.
- Confirm what was reviewed. With Lendwise READY, an actual underwriter has reviewed your credit, income, assets and supporting documents.
- Check the expiration date and remaining conditions. The property and updated financial information may still need review.
- Ask your loan officer for a version that matches the offer you are making.
- 5. Remaining conditions
Finish the remaining requirements before closing.
Conditions are the items still needed to complete your loan review. After you find a property, these may include property checks and updated documents. Your loan officer helps track what is outstanding; the lender must review and accept the required items before final approval. Some conditions may need to be addressed earlier, before a pre-approval letter is issued.
Before final approval and closing
- Provide requested updates, missing pages or explanations through the secure process.
- Property, appraisal, title and insurance requirements depend on your loan.
- Sending a document is not the same as getting the condition signed off. Ask what has been accepted and what remains.
*15 minutes or less is a typical online application estimate with your information ready. Your pace may vary. It excludes gathering documents, credit review, underwriting and approval.
Need more help? Follow the home buying guide
It walks through the whole process, from preparation and house hunting through application, underwriting and closing. Buying for the first time? Read the first-time homebuyer guide, estimate what you can afford or compare FHA and conventional loans.
Mortgage pre-approval FAQs
What makes Lendwise READY different from regular pre-approval?
Regular pre-approval involves a closer review of your finances; the review can vary by lender and program. Lendwise READY includes an actual underwriter’s review of your credit, income, assets and supporting documents before you choose a home. It gives you a conditional credit approval to support your offer, with property and other requirements still to complete.
Can I get pre-approved before finding a home?
Yes. You can start while you are still looking. Tell your loan officer the area and price range you are considering, along with your expected down payment. Lendwise READY allows the underwriter to review your financials before a specific property is chosen.
What happens after I find a property?
Share the address, purchase price and any signed contract with your loan officer. We review the property and complete the remaining loan requirements, which may include appraisal, title, insurance and updated financial documents. Your loan officer will explain what is still needed before final approval and closing.
How do I renew my pre-approval letter?
Check the expiration date on your letter and contact your loan officer before it expires. Tell us about any changes to your income, employment, debts or funds for closing. We may need updated documents, credit information or another review before issuing an updated letter; renewal is not automatic.
What should I tell my loan officer before closing?
Tell your loan officer about anything that could change your income, debts, credit, closing funds or property before closing. These are examples, not a complete list. A change does not automatically mean a denial—we will help you understand what it means for your loan.
- Late or missed paymentsTell us about a late or missed payment on any debt, or a new collection account. A change in your credit history may affect the loan review.
- New debt or higher balancesCheck with your loan officer before taking a loan, leasing a car, opening a credit card or HELOC, co-signing, or making a large purchase on credit.
- Employment or income changesTell us about a job loss, reduced hours or pay, a new job, or a change between being employed and self-employed—even if you expect to earn more.
- Lawsuits or other financial issuesLet us know about a lawsuit, judgment, bankruptcy, tax lien or new payment obligation that could affect your finances. These do not automatically mean you cannot get a loan; the details matter.
- Changes to money or the propertyDiscuss large deposits, gifts or transfers, and changes to the property, purchase price or down payment. Keep records showing where closing funds come from.
- An expiring letterCheck the date on your pre-approval letter. Ask your loan officer about an update before it expires; current documents or another review may be needed.
Sources and notes
Educational guidance only; this page does not determine eligibility or provide an approval. Requirements and timelines vary. Sources checked September 14, 2026: