I assume you are referring to the pre-qual of sellers choice. As mortgage fraud escalates it behooves sellers (and lenders in short sale situations) to go ahead and prequalify the buyers directly. Note this is not making or forcing the buyer to use the sellers specified lender. However it does help the seller to get a bit more of a comfort level that the buyer is not bogus. Many times when you buy and REO the lender that owns the property will make you the buyer at least get prequaled by them. Then you can get your financing from anyone you want.