Yes-  First, you'll  need to find out how much you can comfortably afford which can help when looking for homes. Second, having preapproval before making an offer may give you an edge over other buyers.  

Your credit score does  play an important role in determining whether or not you qualify for a loan, as well as the type of loan you may qualify for and the interest rate. Lenders use your credit score to determine risk. While higher credit scores usually mean better rates, you may still qualify for a mortgage loan even if your score is less than perfect.  

Have your pay stubs, W-2s, tax returns, bank statements, investment account statements and brokerage account information ready. We will send you a list of required documents so you can gather them ahead of time. Be sure to send everything in a timely manner to help keep things moving.

 Several things will be taken into account when determining how much you can comfortably afford. Consider how much you make, your monthly expenses, how much money you have saved, how much you can put towards a down payment, current interest rates and current home value