Question 1

Should I get pre-approved before house hunting?

Accepted Answer

Yes, pre-approval tells you your real budget and makes your offer more credible to sellers, house hunting without it risks falling for homes you can't actually finance.

Question 2

What's the difference between EMI and total monthly housing cost?

Accepted Answer

EMI only covers principal and interest on the loan, your actual monthly cost also includes property tax, homeowners insurance and any HOA fees, which can add hundreds more.

Question 3

How much should I save for a down payment?

Accepted Answer

20% is a common target that avoids extra mortgage insurance in many markets, but minimums vary, use the down payment calculator to see how different percentages affect your loan and monthly payment.

Home-Buying Checklist

Frequently asked questions

Home-Buying Checklist

Related tools & calculators

Frequently asked questions

Should I get pre-approved before house hunting?

What's the difference between EMI and total monthly housing cost?

How much should I save for a down payment?

More checklists to try