How to get pre-qualified for a home loan
When considering buying a home, you may choose to get pre-qualified for a mortgage to estimate how much you qualify to borrow before beginning the mortgage application or pre-approval process. Start by answering a few questions to tell us a little about your loan requirements and the home you want to buy. Your answers will help us find you a lender who can assist with the mortgage pre-qualification process. Here is how the process generally works:
1
Talk to a lender
The first step to get pre-qualified for a mortgage is to speak with a lender who offers great rates and customer service. Lenders on Zillow are licensed and have a history of positive customer ratings. Click the get started button to speak with a lender near you and begin the pre-qualification process.
2
Provide a financial overview
Once you have found a lender, they will likely ask for some basic information about your income, debts and assets. The financial information is typically self-reported, which means the lender doesn't verify it. However, some lenders may run a soft credit check. Be honest about the information you provide, so you receive a more accurate home loan estimate from the lender.
3
Receive a pre-qualification letter
If you meet the lender's guidelines, they will issue you a pre-qualification letter with the estimated home loan amount they're willing to let you borrow. Keep in mind, pre-qualification is not a guarantee of a loan, but it is a great way to see which types of loans are available to you and how much you may qualify for.
Explore mortgage calculators
- Affordability calculator
How much house can you afford? Use our affordability calculator to estimate what you can comfortably spend on your new home.
- Mortgage calculator
What will your new home cost? Estimate your monthly mortgage payment with our easy-to-use mortgage calculator.
- Debt-to-income calculator
Your debt-to-income ratio helps determine if you would qualify for a mortgage. Use our DTI calculator to see if you're in the right range.
- Amortization calculator
Curious how much you will pay to interest and principal each month? Use our amortization calculator to estimate your monthly principal and interest payments made over the life of a loan.
Frequently asked questions
What is mortgage pre-qualification?
Why should I get pre-qualified?
How long does it take to get pre-qualified for a home?
How long does pre-qualification last?
Does mortgage pre-qualification affect your credit score?
What if I don't pre-qualify for a mortgage?
Find a pre-qualifying lender
Participating lenders pay Zillow Group Marketplace, Inc. ("ZGMI") a fee to receive consumer contact information, like yours. ZGMI does not recommend or endorse any lender. We display lenders based on their location, customer reviews, and other data supplied by users. Questions you answer during the Home Journey questionnaire provide ZGMI with preliminary, personalized data about your circ*mstances and current interest in mortgage financing. ZGMI does not recommend or endorse any lender and ZGMI does not evaluate what participating lender(s) may be the best suited for your needs. Instead, we provide data to a lender(s) according to the lender's criteria, including based on the user-supplied data the lender believes may fit the particular mortgage products or services that it offers. ZGMI may display additional lenders based on their geographic location, customer reviews, and other data supplied by users. However, ZGMI makes no representation that advertised lenders have mortgage products or services that are suitable for your needs. You are free to shop around, including outside of options that we display, to assess your mortgage financing options. Click here to access our lender directory.For more information on our advertising practices, see our . ZGMI is a licensed mortgage broker, NMLS #1303160. A list of state licenses and disclosures is available here. Advertised historic low rates or claims of low raes are based upon the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, which analyzes residential mortgage rate averages offered since 1971. NMLS ID and license/registration information provided through NMLS B2B Access by agreement with State Regulatory Registry, LLC. Any use of this information that violates the NMLS B2B Access Terms of Use is strictly prohibited. For additional information, seehttp://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/.
