Getting pre-approved by a lender before you start looking to buy a home is helpful for a few reasons. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

1. Know Your Money: When you get pre-approved, you find out exactly how much you can spend on a house. It's important to note that pre-approval is different from pre-qualification. Pre-approval is a more rigorous process where the lender verifies your financial information, while pre-qualification is a rough estimate based on your information. This way, you will only look at homes that cost what you can afford.
2. Be a Stronger Buyer: Being pre-approved shows sellers that you're serious about buying and empowers you. It proves you can pay for the house, which can give you a significant advantage if other people are interested in the same house.
3. Buy Faster: Pre-approval not only speeds up the mortgage process but also saves you valuable time. Since much of the paperwork and checks are already done, you can secure the mortgage more quickly once you find the right house. This is particularly beneficial in a market where houses sell fast, giving you a sense of ease and control over the process.
4. Find Peace of Mind Early: Any potential issues with your credit or financial situation can be identified during pre-approval. This early detection allows you to address these concerns before you embark on your home-buying journey, offering you a sense of security and peace of mind.
5. Understand Your Options: Lenders will explain all the different kinds of mortgages you can get, like ones where the interest rate stays the same or ones where it can change. Knowing this helps you pick the best mortgage for your money situation.
6. Avoid Disappointment: It's disappointing to fall in love with a house and find out you can't afford it. Pre-approval helps you know how much you can spend so you can focus on houses that you can buy.

Overall, getting pre-approved by a lender before you start looking for a house helps you understand your money situation better, makes sellers take you more seriously, and makes buying a home more accessible and faster. It's a smart first step when you want to become a homeowner.