Pre-Approval Stress Test

Will this pre-approval survive underwriting?

Ten questions. Answer honestly for your buyer's file — the cracks show up here, not at the closing table.

Free tool, no login needed. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere — run it fresh for each buyer.

1. Was income verified with actual documents (paystubs, W-2s, tax returns)?

Why it matters: Stated income that was never documented is the most common pre-approval killer.

2. Has the borrower been in the same line of work for 2+ years?

Why it matters: Job changes, gaps, or new self-employment draw immediate underwriter scrutiny.

3. Are all large deposits sourced and paper-trailed?

Why it matters: Unsourced deposits stall files for weeks while everyone scrambles for statements.

4. Was credit actually pulled (not just a score the borrower quoted)?

Why it matters: Borrower-quoted scores are frequently wrong; collections and disputes hide in full reports.

5. Were ALL debts disclosed — including co-signed obligations and deferred loans?

Why it matters: Surprise debts discovered mid-file change the DTI math overnight.

6. Is the property type standard (not condo, manufactured, multi-unit, or unique)?

Why it matters: Non-standard property types carry extra requirements that blindside timelines.

7. Is the down payment seasoned and documented?

Why it matters: Gift funds, mattress money, and last-minute transfers all need paper trails.

8. Were reserves verified (not just stated)?

Why it matters: Reserve requirements vary by loan type and AUS findings; stated reserves evaporate.

9. Has the borrower avoided new credit, large purchases, or job changes since pre-approval?

Why it matters: A new car payment the week before closing has killed more deals than any guideline.

10. Was the pre-approval run through AUS (not just a loan officer's opinion)?

Why it matters: An opinion without DU/LPA findings is a guess with letterhead.

The stress-test readout

10 of 10 areas need shoring up before this file meets an underwriter:

Was income verified with actual documents (paystubs, W-2s, tax returns)?Shore it up: Get the full document set to the lender now — before an offer, not after.

Has the borrower been in the same line of work for 2+ years?Shore it up: Document the work history timeline and any gaps with explanations ready.

Are all large deposits sourced and paper-trailed?Shore it up: Gather 2-3 months of complete bank statements and source every large deposit.

Was credit actually pulled (not just a score the borrower quoted)?Shore it up: Confirm a tri-merge pull within the last 120 days and review every derogatory item.

Were ALL debts disclosed — including co-signed obligations and deferred loans?Shore it up: Run through every possible obligation with the borrower explicitly.

Is the property type standard (not condo, manufactured, multi-unit, or unique)?Shore it up: If non-standard, run the relevant screener early and warn the timeline.

Is the down payment seasoned and documented?Shore it up: Document the source of every dollar going into the transaction now.

Were reserves verified (not just stated)?Shore it up: Confirm the actual reserve position with statements.

Has the borrower avoided new credit, large purchases, or job changes since pre-approval?Shore it up: Give the borrower the 'change nothing' speech in writing, today.

Was the pre-approval run through AUS (not just a loan officer's opinion)?Shore it up: Ask the lender directly: was this run through automated underwriting?

You've confirmed 0 of 10 — the readout only counts what you've answered.

Screening aid only. This tool surfaces documentation gaps and common risk areas — it does not determine whether any borrower qualifies, will be approved, or what an underwriter will decide. Verify everything against the lender's actual requirements and the authorized underwriter.