06/15/2026
đź“‹ A real pre-approval starts with documents, not guesses.
Every buyer’s situation is different, which means every pre-approval should be, too. Pay stubs, W-2s, tax returns, rental properties, HOA fees, self-employment income—every detail matters when determining what a buyer truly qualifies for.
One thing many people don't realize: under certain conventional loan guidelines, a self-employed borrower with a strong history may only need one year of tax returns instead of two. Understanding the guidelines—and how to apply them correctly—can be the difference between a deal getting approved or denied.
The more complex the buyer, the more important it is to have a lender who knows where to look and which questions to ask.