Steps to Take Before House Shopping
April 22, 2026
The prospect of house shopping can be exciting to think about.
However, purchasing a home can also be intimidating, especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer because you may not know where to begin with one of the biggest purchases of your life.
On the latest episode of the “At Home on the Lakeshore” podcast, UnitedOne Credit Union’s Local Home Loan Experts discuss important steps you should take before you start looking at houses.
While it may be tempting to scroll through house listings online and start envisioning a place of your own, you could be setting yourself up for disappointment if you don’t have clarity on your purchasing power.
“You don't want to put the cart before the horse,” said UnitedOne Mortgage Specialist Kari Johnsrud, NMLS # 441414. “You need to know what you can afford and what works in your budget before you start house shopping.”
That’s why one of the first steps for anyone in the market to buy a home is to get a pre-approval letter. Below is a list of items you’ll need when applying for a home loan.
- A current photo ID
- Current pay stubs
- Your W2's and tax returns for the past two years
- Bank statements for the past two months
- Investment account statements for the past two months
- Retirement account statements for the past two months
In addition to getting pre-approved, it would be a wise decision to schedule a meeting with one of UnitedOne’s Local Home Loan Experts to go over your budget and options.
“Did the numbers match up with your dreams and expectations of what kind of house you want?” Johnsrud said. “If not, we can work on what do you need to do.”
If the amount you are pre-approved for doesn’t align with the range you would like to be at there are action items you can do to improve your situation in the future.
“Another thing you could do is review your credit,” said Mortgage Specialist Marla Hitsman, NMLS # 2696821. “You are able to go and utilize resources like AnnualCreditReport.com and it'll allow you to get a free copy of your credit report. This is great because you can see what is reporting and if there's anything you need to dispute or clear.”
Placing a pause on house shopping would also be a good idea if you’re struggling to make payments on debts, like a car loan or credit card.
“Paying down debts and saving is also another great thing to do to prepare yourself for purchasing a home,” Hitsman said. “Something that we consider is what's called a debt-to-income ratio. In theory, the less debts you have, the more buying power you could have.”
Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or looking to refinance,UnitedOne’s Local Home Loan Experts in Manitowoc and Sheboygan can help point you in the right direction with all of your home loan needs.