Why it is important to get preapproved? Is preapproval the same as a ratehold?

Preapproval and ratehold are used interchangeably quite often but they can mean two very different things. It is dependent on how your mortgage broker manages them.
A true preapproval is complete when your income and down payment documents have been reviewed and your credit reviewed.

A ratehold is completed when the application is submitted to the lender. Sometimes, with rateholds, the income and down payment documents have not been reviewed.

Preapprovals with income and down payment documentation, have a much better chance of turning into an approval with the lender. It takes out the majority of the surprises in the deal. Part of our responsibilities as mortgage brokers is to review documents and look for any issues that might arise and to give advice on what is required in the documentation. There are even a few lenders that will actually underwrite the preapprovals which means they will review income and down...