Whether you are a first time buyer or a seasoned pro its always good to with a mortgage professional a few months before you plan to go looking for homes.  For the first time buyer its a good chance to understand what the banks are looking at to qualify you for the home price range you are thinking of buying.  For the 2nd, 3rd or 4th time buyer it’s still good to check in ahead of the home search, as things may have changed since the last time.  The mortgage industry Underwriting Guidelines are always changing and rates can go on big swings up or down, so what you think you qualify for may not be the reality.   taking 30 minutes to chat with a mortgage pro like myself can save you time and energy moving forward in your search.    It doesn’t have to be a root canal experience either.  I start with a very relaxed chat about the vital information and then move on from there if it makes sense.  “A stich in time saves nine” is a good saying here.  With a little prep work you can identify any concerns that can be dealt with ahead of your home search and save you the time and frustration of going to look at a house that you want but may not be qualified for.