Lenders Requiring Closing Costs at Time of Application?

[Hooosier]

As mentioned previously, we plan on purchasing at home this winter (early 2015) in the 400K range.  When we apply for the mortgage I'm assuming the lender will require us to show proof of having 20K in reserves in a savings account.  Do all lenders also require us to show we have the money for closing costs (assumed to be in the 10K range), as well?  So would we have to show we have 30K or more in reserves at the time of the application?

[TheGardner]

I am by no means an expert but I don't think they would as you can have the seller help with the closing costs built into the contract.

[ShanetheMortgageMan]

You can get pre-approved without having any money saved up at all, but the pre-approval would be contingent upon you having the down payment (+ any other funds to close, such as the closing costs if another party isn't paying them) before closing, as well as explaining where the down payment will be coming from (i.e. gift, saving up from your own paychecks, etc.)