[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f2xyh6tf2v4wal":3,"$ffeh0925h8cuz":42,"$fbwk2pqjjqsc7":46},{"item":4,"previous":30,"next":36},{"id":5,"slug":6,"title":7,"description":8,"excerpt":9,"contentType":10,"featuredImage":11,"bannerImage":9,"body":12,"agentsBottomLine":13,"bodyImage":9,"isInfographic":14,"categories":15,"isVideo":14,"videoThumbnail":9,"videoSource":9,"publishedAt":28,"updatedAt":29},105927,"before-you-fall-in-love-with-a-house-do-this-first","Before You Fall in Love with a House, Do This First.","\u003Cp>Be honest. Have you started looking at homes online yet? If you have, it’s already time to get pre-approved.\u003C\u002Fp>","","blog","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260331\u002FHeader-Image-GettyImages-1778024621-original.png","\u003Cp>Be honest. Have you started looking at homes online yet? If you have, it’s already time to get \u003Cstrong>pre-approved\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Because here’s what not enough people know.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>If \u003Ca href=\"\u002F2026\u002F03\u002F18\u002F3-must-dos-for-first-time-home-buyers\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">buying a home\u003C\u002Fa> is on your radar – even if it’s more of a \u003Cem>someday\u003C\u002Fem> plan than a \u003Cem>right now\u003C\u002Fem> plan – you don’t want to wait until later on in the process to tackle this step.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>No matter what you’ve heard, pre-approval isn’t about \u003Cem>commitment\u003C\u002Fem>. It’s about \u003Cem>clarity\u003C\u002Fem>.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>And here are the two big ways pre-approval sets you up for success.\u003Cstrong> \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>You Know Your Numbers Up Front\u003C\u002Fstrong> \u003C\u002Fh4>\u003Cp>During the pre-approval process, a lender will walk through your finances and tell you what you can borrow based on your income, debts, \u003Ca href=\"\u002F2026\u002F01\u002F12\u002Fthe-credit-score-myth-thats-holding-would-be-buyers-back\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">credit score\u003C\u002Fa>, and more. And once you have that number, your search becomes a lot more focused.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>With a mortgage pre-approval, you know what you can borrow, so it’s easier to figure out your ideal price point, and what you can actually afford.\u003C\u002Fstrong> And that clarity is key.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Because if you just start browsing online and just guess at your price point, you run the risk of falling for a house that’s outside of your price range – or missing out on ones that aren’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>You want this number to be clearly defined before your search. Here’s why.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>You Can Move Quickly When You Find the One\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\u003Cp>This is how a lot of home searches go today. You scroll through listings just to see what’s out there, and then it happens. You fall in love with something you’ve seen online.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>If you’re already pre-approved? You’re probably in great shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>But if you’re not…\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Instead of being able to jump on that house and quickly make an offer, you have to scramble to get a lender, gather the financial documents, and then submit the necessary pre-approval paperwork first. And while you’re waiting to hear back from your lender, someone else who’s more prepared could beat you to the house. As \u003Cem>Bankrate \u003C\u002Fem>explains:\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cblockquote>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>“The best time to get a mortgage preapproval is before you start looking for a home.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cem> If you find a home you love but don’t have a preapproval in hand, you likely won’t have time to get preapproved before you need to make an offer . . .”\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\u003Cp>And that’s avoidable, with the right prep.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Because while you can’t control when the right home shows up, you \u003Cem>can\u003C\u002Fem> be ready for it. Think of it like showing up to the starting line with your shoes tied and your warm-up done – while everyone else is still looking for parking.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>It’s not about rushing your timeline. It’s about removing the delay between finding the right home and being able to move on it.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>One Thing You Need To Know About Pre-Approvals\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\u003Cp>Speaking of timing, pre-approvals do have an expiration date. So, be sure to ask your lender how long it’s good for. \u003Cem>The Mortgage Reports \u003C\u002Fem>explains:\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cblockquote>\u003Cem>“\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>Mortgage preapproval letters are typically valid for anywhere from 30 to 90 days.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cem> However, a preapproval can be updated and extended if the lender re-checks your information.”\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\u003Cp>Doing the right prep and knowing this information can make the whole process a lot smoother.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>You don’t have to be\u003Cem> ready to buy\u003C\u002Fem> to be ready to buy.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Getting pre-approved doesn’t mean you’re committing to buy right now. It just means you’ve taken a step to understand your numbers. And when a home catches your attention, you’re prepped and good to go.\u003C\u002Fp>","\u003Cp>Ask yourself this:\u003Cstrong> \u003Cem>if your perfect home popped up tomorrow, would you be ready to make a move?\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>If the answer is no and you want to buy, it may be time to get pre-approved. You don’t feel behind before your search even officially kicks off.\u003C\u002Fp>",false,[16,20,24],{"id":17,"name":18,"slug":19},5,"For Buyers","buyers",{"id":21,"name":22,"slug":23},11,"First-Time Buyers","first-time-buyers",{"id":25,"name":26,"slug":27},323,"Buying Tips","buying-tips","2026-04-02T10:30:00Z","2026-04-02T10:30:30Z",{"id":31,"slug":32,"title":33,"featuredImage":34,"publishedAt":35,"contentType":10,"isVideo":14},105659,"dont-let-home-prices-headlines-fool-you","Don’t Let Home Prices Headlines Fool You","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260325\u002FHeader-Image-GettyImages-1382975767-original.png","2026-04-01T10:30:00Z",{"id":37,"slug":38,"title":39,"featuredImage":40,"publishedAt":41,"contentType":10,"isVideo":14},106007,"your-house-hasnt-sold-yet-should-you-rent-it-out-instead","Your House Hasn’t Sold Yet. Should You Rent It Out Instead?","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260401\u002FHeader-Image-GettyImages-1730915570-original.png","2026-04-06T10:30:00Z",{"cover":43,"open":44,"shareSpread":45},"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260603\u002F2026-Summer-Buyers-Guide-Cover-original.png","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260603\u002F2026-Summer-Buyers-Guide-Spread-original.png","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260603\u002F2026-Summer-Buyers-Guide-Magazine-original.png",[47,51,52,56,60,64,68,69,73,77,81,85,89,93,97,101,105,109,113,117,121,125,129,130,134,138,142,146,150,154],{"id":48,"name":49,"slug":50},1,"Uncategorized","uncategorized",{"id":17,"name":18,"slug":19},{"id":53,"name":54,"slug":55},6,"For Sellers","sellers",{"id":57,"name":58,"slug":59},7,"Foreclosures","foreclosures",{"id":61,"name":62,"slug":63},8,"Infographics","infographics",{"id":65,"name":66,"slug":67},9,"Home Prices","home-prices",{"id":21,"name":22,"slug":23},{"id":70,"name":71,"slug":72},34,"Senior Market","senior-market",{"id":74,"name":75,"slug":76},35,"Mortgage Rates","mortgage-rates",{"id":78,"name":79,"slug":80},38,"Move-Up","move-up",{"id":82,"name":83,"slug":84},41,"For Sale by Owner","for-sale-by-owner",{"id":86,"name":87,"slug":88},42,"Featured","featured",{"id":90,"name":91,"slug":92},45,"New Construction","new-construction",{"id":94,"name":95,"slug":96},52,"Luxury \u002F Vacation","luxury--vacation",{"id":98,"name":99,"slug":100},53,"Rent vs. Buy","rent-vs-buy",{"id":102,"name":103,"slug":104},80,"Time-sensitive","time-sensitive",{"id":106,"name":107,"slug":108},81,"Outdated","outdated",{"id":110,"name":111,"slug":112},147,"Internal","internal",{"id":114,"name":115,"slug":116},148,"Do Not Autopost","do-not-autopost",{"id":118,"name":119,"slug":120},320,"Inventory","inventory",{"id":122,"name":123,"slug":124},321,"Agent Value","agent-value",{"id":126,"name":127,"slug":128},322,"Affordability","affordability",{"id":25,"name":26,"slug":27},{"id":131,"name":132,"slug":133},324,"Downsize","downsize",{"id":135,"name":136,"slug":137},325,"Economy","economy",{"id":139,"name":140,"slug":141},326,"Equity","equity",{"id":143,"name":144,"slug":145},327,"Forecasts","forecasts",{"id":147,"name":148,"slug":149},328,"Selling Tips","selling-tips",{"id":151,"name":152,"slug":153},339,"Expired\u002FWithdrawn\u002FCanceled","expiredwithdrawncanceled",{"id":155,"name":156,"slug":157},340,"Price It Right\u002FOverpricing","price-it-rightoverpricing"]