It happens time and time again. Real estate agents show a home to potential buyer clients that love the house. They decide they want it, but then they cannot get financing for that home, or at all. This is a waste of time for the buyer, the seller, and the agent. If you are serious about buying a home, the first step should be sorting out your finances. Figure out if you have a down payment or how much of a down payment you can afford. Shop around for a mortgage loan to establish your maximum preapproval amount. By doing this crucial step first, buyers will find out if they are even in a good position to buy a house. Talking with lenders will help you determine if now is the time to buy or if you should maybe wait a few years. If you are preapproved, it will give you a better starting point for your house hunt. You then know what price range to give your real estate agent. This will prevent buyers from falling in love with a home that they cannot afford and thus setting an impossible standard for their actual price range. If you know your maximum, your agent will only show you houses that you can afford. Making the process faster and more pleasant for everyone. Many deals fall through because the buyer could not get financing. Be one less by exploring financing options before talking to a licensed agent.