Mortgage Pre Approval
Things You Should Not Do After Getting Pre Approved
New credit, job changes, moved money and large purchases are the four things that most often break a pre approval. Here is what to avoid until you close.
Updated 2026-08-21| Applies to: Anyone with an active pre approval or a loan in process.
The short answer
Until your loan funds, do not open new credit, finance a car or furniture, change jobs, move money between accounts without a paper trail, or make large cash deposits. Every one of those changes can reduce your approval or delay closing, and lenders recheck credit and employment shortly before you sign.
A pre approval is a snapshot of your credit, income and assets on one specific day. The loan is underwritten again against that snapshot right before closing, so the goal between now and then is simple: stay boring.
The four things that break files
| Change | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| New credit or a new loan | Adds a monthly payment to your debt to income ratio and can lower your score |
| Job or pay structure change | Income has to be re verified and re calculated; some structures need history |
| Unsourced deposits | Money that cannot be traced usually cannot be used for closing |
| Large purchases | Reduces the reserves and cash to close the underwriter already documented |
Safe versus risky between now and closing
- Safe: paying your bills on time from the same accounts you documented
- Safe: continuing normal payroll deposits
- Risky: a car loan, a store card at checkout, or a 'no interest' furniture plan
- Risky: paying off a collection without telling your loan officer first
- Risky: transferring savings to a new bank or a new brokerage account
If something already happened
Tell your loan officer the same day. Almost everything on this list is manageable when it is disclosed early, because there is time to document it or restructure the file. The same item found by underwriting three days before closing is what moves a closing date.
What lenders recheck at the end
- 1.A refreshed credit report or a debt monitoring report
- 2.A verbal or written re verification of employment
- 3.Updated bank statements if the file has aged
- 4.A final check that the cash to close is in an account you documented
General education, not a commitment to lend. Guidelines vary by loan program and lender.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying a vehicle after pre approval because the payment 'felt affordable'
- Depositing cash from a side job with no record of where it came from
- Starting a new job the week of closing without telling the lender
- Closing an old credit card to 'clean up' credit during the process
Frequently Asked Questions
People also ask
Is it normal to ask a mortgage broker for a written estimate of costs?
Yes. Requesting a written estimate, such as a Loan Estimate, is a standard part of the process and helps you compare offers.
Read: Questions to Ask Your Mortgage BrokerHow long does it take to get pre-approved?
Timing varies by lender and how quickly documents are provided, but many pre-approvals can be completed within a few business days once paperwork is submitted.
Read: Pre-Approval vs Pre-Qualification: What's the Difference?How long is a pre-approval letter valid?
Validity periods vary by lender, often somewhere in the range of 60 to 90 days, after which updated documentation is typically needed to reissue it.
Read: Understanding Your Pre-Approval LetterHow long does underwriting take?
Initial underwriting review commonly takes a few business days after a complete file is submitted, and condition reviews are usually faster. Timelines vary by lender workload and file complexity.
Read: What an Underwriter Actually Checks on Your LoanCan I close on a mortgage before starting a new job?
Sometimes. Certain programs allow closing with an offer letter and a start date shortly after closing, with conditions. It depends on the program, the pay structure and the lender.
Read: Changing Jobs During the Mortgage ProcessHow large is a large deposit?
Thresholds vary by program and lender, and many use a percentage of the purchase price or compare the deposit against your monthly income. Anything unusual for your pattern can be questioned.
Read: Large Deposits and Sourcing Your Down PaymentTerms used in this guide
- Pre Approval
- A lender's written statement of how much you can likely borrow after reviewing your credit, income and assets. It is based on documentation, not just a conversation.
- Debt to Income Ratio
- Your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income, expressed as a percentage. Lenders use it to judge whether a new mortgage payment fits your budget.
- Clear to Close
- Underwriting has signed off on the file and the lender is ready to prepare closing documents.
- Reserves
- Verified funds left after closing, usually measured in months of the housing payment. Requirements are higher for investment properties and some jumbo loans.
Written by
Manny Oloyede, Mortgage Broker
NMLS #1824463 | Ultimate Mortgage Brokers LLC NMLS #2619461 | Licensed in OH | KY | NC | PA | SC | TN | TX
I have worked in mortgage lending since 2018 out of the Akron / Cuyahoga Falls Branch, helping buyers, homeowners and investors across Northeast Ohio and every state where I am licensed. These guides reflect the questions I answer most often, written the way I would explain them on a call.
Keep reading
Understanding Your Pre-Approval Letter
Learn what's in a mortgage pre-approval letter — purchase price, loan amount, down payment, property type, expiration, and conditions.
Underwriting & ApprovalWhat an Underwriter Actually Checks on Your Loan
A plain English walkthrough of what a mortgage underwriter reviews in your credit, income, assets and property, and why files get conditions.
Assets & Cash to CloseLarge Deposits and Sourcing Your Down Payment
Why lenders ask about deposits in your bank statements, which ones need documentation, and how to keep your funds easy to verify.
Income & EmploymentChanging Jobs During the Mortgage Process
How a new job, promotion, or move to 1099 work affects a mortgage in process, and what documentation lenders need to keep the file alive.
Questions about your own numbers?
Send over your goal, income type and timeline and you'll get a straight answer on what is realistic.