The starting point in the mortgage process is getting pre-approved. This means you chat with a lender and share your financial details to figure out how much you could borrow. Pre-approval gives you a sense of your budget and makes it easier to focus your house hunting.

Once you've discovered a home that steals your heart, the following move is to fill out a mortgage application. This means sharing more detailed money-related info and documents with the lender. Afterward, the lender will look over the application and work through it to decide if you're good to go for a mortgage.

The last part of the mortgage process is the closing, which is also called settlement. This means you sign all the needed papers and take care of closing costs. Once all is squared away, you'll get the keys to your new home!