When I started house hunting, my realtor suggested getting pre-approved first. Honestly, I thought it was just another boring step, but man, it made things way smoother. Knowing exactly what I could afford saved me from falling in love with houses outta my league (been there, done that, ouch). Plus, sellers seemed to take my offers more seriously. Curious if anyone else found pre-approval helpful or if you think it's overrated?
"Knowing exactly what I could afford saved me from falling in love with houses outta my league (been there, done that, ouch)."
Totally relate to this. When I first bought my place, I skipped pre-approval thinking it was just paperwork fluff. Ended up wasting weeks drooling over homes way beyond my budget—talk about reality check. Later, when refinancing, I learned the hard way how crucial it is to have your financial ducks in a row beforehand. Pre-approval isn't just about impressing sellers; it's about clarity and confidence. You can move fast when you find the right place, and sellers definitely notice when you're serious and ready to go. Sure, it's not the most exciting part of home buying, but man, it saves headaches down the road. Glad it worked out smoothly for you!
Yeah, pre-approval definitely cuts down on the stress. One thing I'd add though—don't just go with the first lender you talk to. Shopping around a bit can save you thousands. Anyone else find big differences between lenders?
