About Prequalee
Clear information for the moments before you apply.
Prequalee is an educational website about the early stages of borrowing: prequalification, credit, debt-to-income and the paperwork lenders review. We write for people who want to understand the process before they take part in it.
Our mission
Make the language of lending understandable.
Loan applications ask people to make significant decisions using unfamiliar terms. A letter says "prequalified," a website mentions a "soft pull," a checklist asks for "two years of W-2s," and it is not always clear what any of it means for you.
Our mission is to make those terms understandable, so that anyone preparing to apply for a mortgage, an auto loan or a personal loan knows what to expect, what to ask and what to watch out for. We focus on the questions people tend to have before they apply, when a little understanding can make the rest of the process calmer and clearer.
- Prequalification and preapprovalWhat each step involves and how firm it is.
- Credit reports and scoresHow scores are built and how inquiries work.
- Debt-to-incomeHow to calculate it and why it matters.
- DocumentsWhat lenders typically ask for, and why.
- Preparing to applyPractical steps in the months beforehand.
- Protecting yourselfRecognizing scams and guarding your information.
What we are not
An explainer, not a lender.
Prequalee is not a lender, insurer, broker or government agency. We don't take applications, make or influence credit decisions, or recommend specific lenders or products.
We can't review your personal situation or tell you whether you will qualify for a loan. What we can do is help you understand the process well enough to ask good questions of the people who can.
Editorial standards
What every guide is held to.
Accuracy over simplicity
We simplify the language, never the facts. If a rule has an important exception, we mention it.
Primary sources first
We check definitions and rules against public information from federal agencies, such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission, and against the credit scoring companies' own published explanations.
Honest about what varies
Lenders set their own criteria, and those criteria differ by loan type and over time. Where that is the case, we say so rather than presenting one number as the rule.
No promises about outcomes
Nobody can tell you in advance how a lender will decide. We never suggest that reading a guide, or following a step, will lead to a particular result.
No lender recommendations
Our guides explain how the process works. They do not rank or recommend lenders or loan products.
Review and updates
How our content is reviewed and kept current.
Before a guide is published, its explanations are checked against the official public sources it relies on. We avoid precise figures that vary from lender to lender. When we do use numbers, such as scoring ranges or time limits set by federal law, we use ones that are published and well established.
Each guide shows the month it was last updated. We revisit guides when rules or common lending practices change, and whenever a reader points out something that is unclear or out of date. Every guide ends with a short list of official resources so you can go straight to the source.
Corrections
If you believe something in a guide is inaccurate or out of date, email info@prequalee.com with the word "Correction" in the subject line and a link to the page. We review every correction request and update the guide when a change is warranted.
How to reach us
The best way to reach Prequalee is by email at info@prequalee.com, or through our contact form. If you would like to hear when we publish something new, you can sign up for updates.