Save My Pre-Approvalof Cornerstone First Mortgage, LLCNMLS #173855
Second-Look Guides

How Qualifying Works

How lenders actually decide: pre-qualification vs. pre-approval, underwriting, overlays, and the guidelines behind a yes or a no.

How Qualifying Works

What Is a Lender Overlay? Why One Lender Says No

An overlay is a lender's own rule on top of the agency or investor guideline. How overlays work, how to spot one in a denial, and why another lender may differ.

Tanner Cook6 min
How Qualifying Works

Pre-Qual vs. Pre-Approval vs. Underwritten Approval

Lenders use these terms differently. What each step really checks, why a pre-approval can still fall apart, and when an underwritten (TBD) approval is worth it.

Tanner Cook7 min