Mortgages & Financing
How long does a mortgage pre-approval stay valid?
By Steve Lockhart
The short answer
A pre-approval letter typically stays valid for 60 to 90 days, because it is a snapshot of your file and the rate on the day it was issued, and snapshots age.
Full answer
A pre-approval letter typically stays valid for 60 to 90 days, because it is a snapshot of your file and the rate on the day it was issued, and snapshots age. When the window passes, the lender simply refreshes the file, re-pulls the credit, checks the income and asset documentation, and issues a new letter, a process that usually takes a few days. So the practical answer is that the pre-approval is a living document: valid for a few months, then renewed. Waiting between the search sessions is normal, and the refresh costs little more than the time. If your income, debts, or credit improved, the refresh can also improve the number. What hurts is showing up with a letter older than the market, when a seller or a competing agent quietly wonders whether the file supports the offer. We keep your pre-approval current on the calendar, so the document you hand across the table is always the fresh one.
Go a little deeper
Frequently asked
Questions people often follow up on
Can I use a pre-approval older than 90 days?
You can hand it in, but sellers and their agents understand the date: an old letter does not prove the file today. The refresh is cheap and fast, one credit pull and current documents, and it makes the offer real. We advise refreshing before the offer goes in, not waiting for someone to ask.
Can a refreshed pre-approval change my number?
Yes, in either direction. A raise and lower balances can push the ceiling up, and a new car payment or a missed remittance pulls it down. That is the truth of a living document. Refreshing before the offer tells you the current number you can count on, never a surprise later.
Does a pre-approval hurt my credit each time?
Each refresh includes a hard pull, which usually costs a few points temporarily, and mortgage inquiries in a shopping window are counted together by the scoring model. The trade is worth it: the fresh letter is your strength at the table, and several refreshes across a 90-day search are normal.
The Lockhart Method
The Lockhart Method
Your Home | My Strategy | Proven Results
My strategy: put the pre-approval date on the calendar next to the search timeline, and refresh the file before the offer, not at the deadline. The fresh letter is the card you actually play at the table, and an old one is just paper that raises questions.
Schedule a Consultation