Buying a home is exciting. Choosing a mortgage to pay for your new home is just as important. Don’t rush into it.
Share & printBefore you start shopping for a home and a mortgage, set yourself up for success by taking time to prepare. Use our step-by-step guide to check your credit, assess your finances, set your home-price budget, and more.
Tools for this phase
Track your spending to know how much you can afford for a monthly payment.
The interest rate you expect to receive helps you decide how much to spend on a home.
Visit our sources page to find more about the facts and numbers we reference.
The process and forms described on this page reflect mortgage regulations that apply to most mortgages.
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