Step 1. Shop for a mortgage that fits your needs
Ideally, you should start shopping for a mortgage three to six months before you plan to buy a home after you have a down payment. This lengthy lead time is important because you may have to invest time in boosting your credit score. You’ll need a credit score on your credit report of 760 or higher to qualify for the best mortgage rates.

Step 2. Find low mortgage interest rates
As you probably know, one of a borrower's main goals while shopping around for a mortgage lender is to secure a low fixed interest rate on a home loan. The mortgage rates different lenders charge, after all, are basically a service fee charged by lenders and are not always apples-to-apples. The lower your mortgage rate, the less money you'll pay back each monthly payment—and every quarter of a percent counts!

Step 3. Analyze your closing costs
A low mortgage interest rate and a nice down payment may win you bragging rights as a borrower, but this is hardly your only goal. That's because mortgage quotes come with sizable closing costs, totaling an additional 2% to 7% of the sales price of your home.

Step 4. Be mindful of interest rate fluctuations
Once you commit to a particular mortgage lender, the lender will underwrite and process your loan application. Then you'll receive a pre-approval letter, which is a commitment to lend you the money for the mortgage you need to buy a home. Although getting pre-approved from a lender is typically good for 90 days, a borrower's pre-qualified interest rate isn't guaranteed until you sign a purchase agreement with a seller, so you'll want to keep an eye on changes in the mortgage market. However, you can opt to lock in your mortgage rate for a period of 30, 45, 60, or even 90 days, depending on your lender..

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