Performance information may have changed because the time of publication. Lenders began foreclosures on 20,747 properties nationwide in August, down 5.1% from the previous month and 9.4% from a year ago, in accordance with real estate data firm Attom. …Always get pre-approved with a strong and respected lender as soon as attainable. Getting pre-approved will provide you with a much clearer understanding of your finances and what you probably can afford, it reveals sellers that you’re a certified purchaser and it strengthens your offers. By the top of September, residence affordability continued to improve, with the average 30-year mortgage rates …