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Should you get pre-approved before shopping for a home?
That's a great question! Getting pre-approved by a lender should be one of the first steps you take when looking for your next home.
If you're thinking to yourself, "My credit is good enough" or "I've purchased a house before, I"ll be ok" ...THINK AGAIN!  Things in the mortgage world have changed dramatically in the past 12-18 months and a good credit score doesn't guarantee you an approval anymore.
Underwriting is more intense now, and regardless of your FICO score, everything is put under the microscope:  Your credit, employment history, asset documentation, and tax returns (just to name a few) are looked at line-by-line.
That's why it's important to talk with a knowledgeable lender who knows what to look for when taking an application and reviewing your documents.  Yes, your FICO score is one of the first major hurdles you now have to jump over, but it's just the beginning of the race to the finish line.  An experienced lender will be able to walk you through the entire loan process so you don't have any major surprises that come up along the way that become a road block to you getting your home. 
Here are the steps ... more

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