Your name saw this post on The ActiveRain Real Estate Network and thought it might be of interest to you. Please see the link below to review the post.

MORTGAGE PRE-APPROVAL - WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT?
Get a Mortgage Pre-Approval 
An important ingredient in a successful home search is knowing how much you can afford. You don’t want to fall in love with a property only to find out it’s outside your price range.
That’s why I recommend getting a Mortgage Pre-Approval. This is a document from your bank or other lender stating how much of a mortgage they are willing to give you. There are two advantages to getting this pre-approval:
It gives you the peace-of-mind of knowing you can afford homes you view on the market, and won’t have problems arranging financing. You know exactly how much you can afford to spend on your new home.  There is nothing worse than finding a home you love only to discover it is beyond your budget. It’s a sign to sellers that you are a serious, prepared buyer – which gives you the edge when making an offer. Your rate is then locked in for 90-120 days. If rates go up in that time period, your rate will remain the same as when you locked it in. If the rates go down, then your rate will go down too You can arrange for a Mortgage Pre-Approval with your bank ... more

__________________________________________________
Are you on The Rain? Grow Your Network!