Our friends at OpenListings shared a super helpful mortgage article that inspired us to breakdown three simple reasons WHY it’s important to get pre-approved before you shop for a home:

Are you good for it?

Home sellers are kinda like the rest of us…always looking for (pre) approval. Offers from pre-approved buyers carry more weight…because a home finance professional is putting their stamp on what the buyer can afford.

Falling out of love ain’t pretty

Sure it’s fun to play “make believe”, but generally it’s better to know your budget before you fall in love with a home. Even better yet before your significant other and/or kids fall in love with a home.

The future depends on what you do today

There are always ways to improve your finances so you can hit your home ownership goals. Common examples are credit repair and paying off debt. Uncommon examples (aka not recommended) are gambling and ignoring your taxes. To get beyond the obvious advice, consult a mortgage expert (ahem!)