
Securing pre-approval for a home loan is as good as money in the bank. It makes it possible for our real estate agents to help focus your home search, and it gives you an advantage at the negotiation table. However, your pre-approved status doesn't last forever, and you'll want to carefully read the lender's terms and conditions so that you don't get pre-approved too early.
It can take anywhere from three days to a week for a lender to review your pre-approval application. Once approved, most mortgage pre-approvals are valid for between 60 to 90 days. In limited cases this window may extend out to 180 days. This is a short window so you want to maximize your efforts during this period. It's a short period because there is a possibility your credit score will change the more time elapses.