Home loan pre-approval is an optional step in the application process that some lenders offer. Pre-approval means a lender has examined your savings, income and spending habits and has a rough idea of how much it could lend you. It's not the same as full loan approval and it's no guarantee that the lender will ultimately approve a full application. But it does allow borrowers to start looking for a home with more confidence and a clearer idea of their borrowing power.
Pre-approval is not something every lender offers, but many do.