Both are early steps toward a home loan, but they carry different weight with sellers and real estate agents.
Pre-qualification
A quick, informal review based on what you tell me about your income, debts, assets, and credit. It's a good way to get a ballpark price range and spot any issues early. It doesn't involve verifying documents.
Pre-approval
A pre-approval requires a full application, a credit review (with your authorization), and verification of income and assets. The result is a letter showing a lender has reviewed your file. That makes your offer more credible, which matters in a competitive South Florida market.
Which do you need?
If you're just exploring, start with a pre-qualification. Once you're ready to shop seriously, get pre-approved. A pre-approval is not a final loan approval. Final approval depends on the property, appraisal, and underwriting.
General educational information only. Not financial, tax, or legal advice, and not a commitment to lend.