Buyer and agent guide · Pre-approval
A pre-approval that actually holds up.
BRAVE stands for Better Rates And Verified Eligibility. Here’s exactly what “verified” means, and what you’ll need to get started.
Not all letters are equal
| Pre-qualification | Typical pre-approval | Brave verified pre-approval | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit | Your estimate | Credit pulled, score checked | Full report reviewed by a person, problems worked early |
| Income | What you tell us | Pay stubs glanced at | Income calculated and employment verified |
| Assets | Not checked | Sometimes checked | Bank statements reviewed for down payment and reserves |
| Credit score help | None | Rarely | Rapid rescore at our expense when it can help |
| Agent access | None | Call center | Direct line to Tim about any letter |
Documents to gather
Everyone
- Driver’s license or photo ID
- Pay stubs from the last 30 days
- W-2s from the last 2 years
- Bank statements from the last 2 months, all pages
- Retirement or investment statements if you’ll use them
If it applies to you
- Self-employed or commission: 2 years of tax returns
- Gift money: a signed gift letter
- Divorce or child support: the decree
- Veterans: your Certificate of Eligibility (we can help order it)
- Rentals you own: leases and mortgage statements
How it works
- Apply online in about 15 minutes. You can save and finish later.
- Upload your documents through the secure portal.
- We review and verify credit, income, employment, and assets, and flag anything to fix.
- You get your letter and a clear budget. We update the letter for each offer you write.
For listing agents
Got an offer with a Brave letter? Call or text me at 281-414-2631. I’ll tell you what we’ve verified and answer your questions about the buyer’s file, with their permission.
A pre-approval is not a commitment to lend. Final approval depends on the property appraisal, title, underwriting, and no material change in your credit, income, or assets before closing.
