Pre-approved mortgage
It sounds like a certainty you can go and buy with. The trouble is that "pre-approval" isn't a fixed term: one bank means a non-binding indication based on what you told it, another means a binding commitment after checking your income. You can only tell the difference by what you ask.
One word, two different things
Ask whether the bank has seen your documents. That is the dividing line. As long as you are only entering figures into a form, the result is an estimate. Once the bank checks your income and the registries, it is something else.
The practical impact is big. An estate agent or developer wants to see proof that you can reach the price of the property, and a non-binding indication from a calculator usually isn't enough for them. So if you're asking for pre-approval because of a reservation on a specific flat, ask directly for the document you can show.
The questions that decide it: did the bank check the registries? Did I provide my income? Until when is it valid? And does it commit the bank, or is it just a guide? Get the answers in writing.
How long does the rate hold?
For a limited time, and a different length at each bank. Raiffeisenbank's own site offers a guarantee of thirty days, Moneta states sixty. Checked on 21 September 2026.
It's one of the things worth comparing before you choose a bank. If you're searching for a property over a longer period, a shorter guarantee will run out and the rate will be recalculated based on what applies at that point.
In a rising market a longer guarantee is an advantage, and in a falling one it's more of a ceiling. Nobody can reliably predict how rates will move, so treat the guarantee not as a win but as protection against missing your budget because of a move you had no control over.
What else can cancel the pre-approval?
Pre-approval is tied to you, but the loan is also tied to the property. That's usually where it breaks down.
- The valuation comes out lower than the purchase price. Then the bank lends less, because LTV, meaning the loan's share of the property's value, is calculated from the valuation, not from what you agreed.
- Something is attached to the property. An easement, an enforcement order or a dispute entered on the title can stop the deal, even when you're in order.
- You change. A new job on a probation period, a new loan or a lease: the bank checks your creditworthiness again before drawdown.
- The deadline runs out. After it, you submit an updated application and the bank checks your income and the registries again.
From this follows an order that saves you trouble: check the property first, and only then sign a reservation agreement with a deadline and a deposit. What to look for on the title is covered under our entry Charge over the property.
So what is it actually good for?
Two things, and both are practical. You know what price range to search in, and you have something to show when more than one person is after the same property.
A third, less visible advantage: during the check-up, things surface that you would otherwise only find out at the worst moment. A forgotten credit card, an overdraft you never closed, or an entry in the registry is far easier to deal with three months before signing than three days after a reservation.
Before you sign anything, work out what you can really get. Our calculator has an income-based mode and you'll see the result without leaving any contact details.
Frequently asked questions
Is a pre-approved mortgage binding?
It depends on what the bank actually issued you, which is exactly why that is the first question worth asking. A non-binding indication commits you to nothing, but it does not commit the bank either. A commitment made after checking your income and the registries carries different weight. Get written confirmation of exactly what you have and until when it is valid.
Does pre-approval cost anything?
Banks usually do not charge for the assessment itself. What costs money is the property valuation, but that is only done for a specific property, meaning after pre-approval. Watch out for reservation fees charged by an estate agency; they have nothing to do with the mortgage and are refunded according to the agreement you sign.
Can I have pre-approval at more than one bank at once?
Technically yes, but every check gets recorded in the registry and other banks will see it. It makes more sense to compare the conditions first and only then apply. Our adviser does this for you without triggering a registry check at every bank.
Does pre-approval still apply if I choose a different property than I planned?
The amount is tied to your creditworthiness, so you can keep searching. The bank assesses the specific property separately, though, and may lend less if the valuation comes out lower or if something is attached to it. Pre-approval is therefore not a promise for whatever you pick.
What happens when the deadline runs out?
You submit an updated application and the bank checks your income and the registries again. The rate is recalculated based on what applies at that point, so the result can move either way. If you know your search will take a while, ask about the length of the guarantee right at the start.