Unlike in Brazil, in the American market it's common — and, in California, required by contract — to attach a proof of funds to the purchase offer: a bank statement or letter showing the buyer actually has the money to close that deal.

It's not optional, it's a contract clause

The clause requiring proof of funds is already written into the standard California Association of Realtors contract — it's not the agent's decision, it's part of the form. Without it, the offer is seen as weak. In houses with multiple offers, whoever shows more available cash than needed tends to gain a psychological edge: the seller associates that with less risk of the sale falling through.

Prequalification vs. preapproval

• Prequalification: the buyer reports income and assets to the lender without a formal credit check — it generally lasts 60 to 90 days, and is used to get a sense of budget before house-hunting.
• Preapproval (preapproval letter): this is the real credit letter, issued after all documentation — pay stubs, bank statements, tax returns — has been submitted to the underwriter, the analyst who decides whether to approve the loan. This is the document that accompanies the offer.

The credit check done for preapproval is usually a soft pull: it doesn't hurt the buyer's FICO score, but it's necessary for the bank to determine the applicable interest rate and financing limit.

The most common mistake: touching your credit after the letter

A warning repeated by the agents: after receiving preapproval, the buyer should not open a new account, finance a car, or make big credit card purchases. If the purchase process takes 30, 40, 50 days, the bank reassesses the financial situation before releasing final financing — and new debt can derail an already-granted approval.

Sources and verification

• California Association of Realtors — standard proof-of-funds clause in the purchase contract.
• Agents' explanation of prequalification, preapproval and soft credit pull in the episode.
• Transcript of episode 4 of the Cadê Moradia podcast (March 2026).

This topic comes from the full episode — watch it:

CADÊ BRAZIL