How long does a mortgage pre-approval last?

A mortgage pre-approval typically lasts 60 to 90 days. It is a snapshot of your financial situation on the day it is issued, and lenders set an expiration so the information stays reasonably current. After it expires, the lender must refresh your income, asset, and credit documentation before you keep making offers.

The exact window varies by lender, so ask when you receive the letter. Knowing the expiration date lets you time your house hunt so you are not left without a valid pre-approval mid-search.

When a pre-approval expires, you simply update it. The lender re-verifies your income and assets, pulls a fresh credit report, and issues a new letter. If nothing has changed in your finances, the renewal is usually quick and straightforward.

This is also a good moment to check whether your rate lock or loan terms need updating, since the market may have moved. An expiring pre-approval is a natural checkpoint, not a setback.

The pre-approval is only as good as the financial picture behind it, and that picture changes. Your income can change, your savings can move, and your credit can shift. A 60-to-90-day window keeps the lender's estimate of what you can borrow reasonably current.

It also protects you: a stale pre-approval could lead you to make offers based on outdated numbers. Keeping it current means the offers you write reflect what you can actually afford.

Between pre-approval and closing, keep your finances steady so the numbers hold. Avoid opening new credit cards, taking on large new debt, or making major changes to your income. A lender re-checks your credit and documentation before funding, and changes can derail a loan.

If you expect a big financial change, such as a job move or a large purchase, tell your lender early. Surprising a lender at the last minute is how pre-approvals turn into denials.