Mortgage pre-approval 2026: how to apply and how much you get

House-hunting without pre-approval is a bit like grocery shopping hungry. You risk falling for something you cannot really afford. A pre-approval (lånelöfte) is the bank’s statement of how much you may borrow. Applying costs nothing and you usually have an answer within days. And suddenly you know exactly what to look for.

What is a pre-approval?

A pre-approval is a preliminary statement from the bank about how much they are prepared to lend you for a home purchase. It builds on your income, your debts and a credit check.

But it is not a binding promise. Once you have bought something, the bank runs a final check before granting the loan. If your finances change along the way, or the home you want to buy, the amount can come out different. So see the pre-approval as a strong indication, not a guarantee.

How long pre-approval lasts

Pre-approval usually lasts three to six months. Finding nothing meanwhile, you simply renew it with the bank. Finances rarely change that much in half a year, so it usually goes fast. We also gathered how long pre-approval lasts on a page of its own.

How to apply for pre-approval, step by step

Step 1: Gather your papers. You need pay slips for recent months, track of other income (unemployment insurance, parental benefit, rental income), your existing loans and credits, and how much you have saved.

Step 2: Ask more than one bank. You can turn to your own bank or to a mortgage broker comparing several for you. Getting more than one answer almost always pays off. Banks can land on different amounts for the same person.

Step 3: The bank runs a credit check. They look at your income, debts, payment history and savings. They also calculate with a stress-test rate clearly above today’s level, to see you manage even if rates rise.

Step 4: You get your answer. The pre-approval shows a maximum amount. Sometimes with conditions, for example that your current home must be sold first.

How much may I borrow?

Income weighs heaviest. The bank calculates what remains after tax and fixed expenses. A common rule of thumb is that the mortgage should be no more than four to five times your gross income, but it varies between banks.

Your debts pull the amount down. Student loans, car loans and credit card debt count in. If you can pay something off before applying, it can make a difference.

You need a down payment (kontantinsats). Since the new mortgage rules of 1 April 2026, the mortgage cap sits at 90 percent. That means you must put at least 10 percent of the price down yourself. Buying for three million, you need at least 300,000 kronor of your own. With more, you borrow less and pay lower interest.

Amortisation requirements affect your calculation. Borrowing more than 70 percent of the home’s value, you amortise at least 2 percent per year; between 50 and 70 percent at least 1 percent. The former stricter requirement tied to high debt-to-income, debts over 4.5 times gross income, was removed with the new 2026 rules.

Applying as two, your incomes combine. That usually gives a solidly higher amount.

Why pre-approval matters extra on SökHem

On an ordinary housing market you can bid first and hope the bank says yes later. That is a gamble. On SökHem it is reversed: you register your buying brief and get matched with sellers, even ones who have not listed openly.

When a seller starts talking to you, they want to know you are serious. With pre-approval ready you can answer fast and show you mean it. You do not need it in place to register your buying brief, but if timing fits, being ready when a match appears is nice.