No. An expired pre-approval doesn't send you back to square one. A pre-approval stays valid as long as the financial picture underneath it hasn't changed: same job, same income, no new debts, no missed payments. What actually expires is the supporting paperwork, because each document has a shelf life: - Credit report: generally good for 120 days from the pull until the loan closes. - Bank statements: typically within 60 days of the note date. - Pay stubs: within about 30 days of application. Confirm the current windows with your loan team, since these are guideline-driven and can be updated. When a pre-approval lapses, refreshing a few documents (a credit re-pull, your latest statements and pay stubs) usually does it, with no rebuilding of the file. The bigger thing to protect during a house hunt is the financial picture itself. Don't open new credit, finance a car, change jobs, or move large sums around without talking to your loan team first, because those are the changes that can genuinely reset your qualification. If it's been a while since your last conversation, a quick refresh call keeps you ready to move the moment you find the house.