It definitely pays to shop around for financing when buying a home. The rates offered by banks can vary widely. Shopping around for the lowest Mortgage Rates can save you money in the end. Securing pre-approval for a loan before the actual house hunting begins is another wise move when the decision is made to purchase a new home. Having pre-approval will speed up the process once an offer is made on a home, and it will let the seller know that you are serious and ready to take on the loan. Taking these steps can make the home buying process easier.