Get a pre-approval letter
Sellers and listing agents want to see a pre-approval letter with your offer. I review your documents, check your credit with your permission, and give you a letter you can make offers with, for homes in Georgia or California.
- Shows sellers you can close, so your offer competes
- Tells you your real budget at today’s rates, before you tour
- Finds credit, income or down-payment issues early, while there is time to fix them
Prequalification vs. pre-approval
Prequalification
A quick estimate based on the income and debts you tell me. Fast, but nothing is verified, so sellers give it less weight.
Pre-approval
Issued after I review your income and asset documents and your credit report. It names the loan type and amount, and sellers take it seriously.
Four steps to your letter
- 1A 5-minute callYour goals, budget, timeline and income. No credit check yet.
- 2Your documentsGather the list below. After our call I will tell you how to upload them securely. Please do not email your Social Security number.
- 3Credit checkWith your permission, I pull your credit and walk you through the results.
- 4Your letterShop and make offers. When rates or prices move, I update the letter for each offer.
What to bring
Download the checklist (PDF) →W-2 employees
- Government ID (driver’s license, passport or green card)
- Last 2 years of W-2s and recent pay stubs
- Last 2 years of personal tax returns
- 2 months of bank statements
Self-employed
- Last 2 years of personal and business tax returns
- Or: 12–24 months of bank statements
- Or: a CPA-prepared profit and loss statement
- 2 months of bank statements
Investors and foreign nationals
- DSCR: a lease or market rent estimate, no tax returns
- Foreign nationals: passport and visa, or ITIN letter
- Proof of funds for the down payment and reserves
- If you own property: mortgage statements, insurance and tax bills
Start your pre-approval
Share a few details and I will call you within one business day. This form is not a loan application and does not affect your credit. Please do not include your Social Security number or any documents here.
Common questions
Does the call affect my credit?
No. The 5-minute call does not involve a credit check. I only pull credit with your permission.
How long is a pre-approval letter good for?
Letters are dated. If your offer comes weeks after the letter, or rates have moved, I update it, and I can issue a letter for each offer.
Is a pre-approval the same as a loan approval?
No. After pre-approval comes the appraisal, full underwriting and final approval. A pre-approval letter is not a commitment to lend.
I don’t work in the US or don’t have a Social Security number. Can I get pre-approved?
Look at foreign national and ITIN loans, or a DSCR loan for an investment property. Call me and I will tell you which fits.
Not a W-2 borrower? You can get pre-approved with these too
Long (Zion) Chen, NMLS #2869394, licensed mortgage loan originator in Georgia (MLO License #2869394) and California (DFPI MLO License CA-DFPI2869394), sponsored by OrangePath Financial Inc., NMLS #2070941. This is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit approval and underwriting; terms, programs and eligibility are subject to lender approval, and not all programs are available in every state. OrangePath Financial Inc., NMLS #2070941, 3635 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Ste 250, Duluth, GA 30096, is an Equal Housing Lender. Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee #2070941. Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act, #60DBO-149772. NMLS Consumer Access