Before browsing real estate listings or attending open houses, a critical self-assessment of your personal finances is essential. This initial phase involves looking beyond your monthly income to understand your complete financial profile, which includes your debt-to-income ratio, credit score, and overall savings. Lenders will scrutinize these figures to determine your creditworthiness, making it vital for you to review them first. Gathering your recent tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, and any
