We've compiled our top 3 reasons why you should get pre-approved for a mortgage.

Get pre-approved to know what you can afford.

While it's essential for you to calculate your budget on your own (use our online calculators!), lenders will need to do an accurate analysis. Doing this will help you determine your actual budget and know your house-affordability ceiling.

Get pre-approved to make it easier for the seller to accept your offer.

Many sellers these days won't entertain offers from prospective buyers who have not been pre-approved, so save yourself a headache and get pre-approved before you start looking!

Get pre-approved to speed up the home buying process.

The mortgage process can get lengthy as underwriters sometimes need additional to verify your finances. When you get pre-approved, however, most of that legwork is done upfront, meaning that when you find the right home to buy, you'll be in a position to move quickly to the sale of the property.