Its actually critical to speak with a bank or lender before looking at homes so you can get pre-approved. When you talk to a bank before looking at homes, you can better assess how much you can afford. If its your first time buying a home, make sure you absolutely talk to the bank! There are plenty of first time home buyer programs, not to mention, youll want to know what costs are affiliated with buying a home.
It can be tricky to differentiate between a down payment, pre-paid items and escrows so youll want to get in touch with an experienced mortgage professional to assist you.