Hello Kristin. Yes, you would need to be first pre-approved so that you know how much you qualify for. Freedom Mortgage is a Direct Lender and we fund loans in all 50 states. Our minimum credit score is 620. Please send me an email adennie@fmbranch.com and I can issue an APPROVAL today. :) Look forward to speaking to you.

Kristin,The first thing is to find a Mortgage profesional that you are comfortable working with abd you feel you can trust ,than you can find out how much you qualify for and how much you want to spend.A good mortgag profesional should be able to answer any questions you may have and even be able to connect you with a realtor if needed.Remember comunication is key you should be given step by step instructions and continued updates.If you need any other information please dont hesitate to contact me. Patrick BodineMortgage Consultant 650 Douglas Drive NorthGolden Valley, MN 55422Cell:651.248.0467 Office:612.305.2284 Fax:612.766.9884 Email:pbodine@bncnationalbank.comWebsite:www.bncnationalbank.com/minneapolis/pbodine

Call a Mortgage Broker or Bank to get prequalified first. Based on your information, they should be able to tell you how much you qualify for. If your credit is in good standing, you'll be able to move forward with the process. A great Mortgage Originator will guide you from start to finish throughout your process.

Kristin, Buying your first home could be very confusing. feel free to contact us as i am sure you have tons of questions that needs to be answered. Houtan.Hormozian@Crestico.com 949 242 5215 here is a link to a good article written by one our Realtors. http://www.crestico.com/realty/latest-news-2/five-mistakes-you-shouldnt-make-as-a-first-time-homebuyer/