Starting to talk to realtors. Pre-approved for mortgage?

[Coronet]

If your credit report is clean and you know it, then you could wait until a bit closer, but I'd personally want to make extra sure there was nothing that would deny a pre-approval well beforehand.

Excellent suggestion! I checked my credit report a few months ago, but I will probably check again to ensure this.

Oh, and if you have USAA I'd use their Movers Advantage Program. It's like free money if you use the real estate agent they recommend.

Very cool. I'll check it out!

My apologies then, thought you were saving the 20% right now and looking to buy in the fall?

No problem. I'm waiting till late summer/early fall because I currently have a 12 month lease on an apartment that expires around then. I want to be fair to my landlord.

Having bought both ways before, having a preapproved mortgage and then finding the house is much less stressful than finding a house then scrambling to provide the bank with all the paperwork it requires, which can be quite a nightmare sometimes (oh, and hoping it doesn't stretch out past your closing/settlement date).

That makes sense! I'd definitely want to go the less stressful route!