If you’re on the hunt for a new car, the first move you make shouldn’t be walking into a dealership—it should be getting pre-approved for an auto loan. This simple step can be a game-changer, putting you in the driver’s seat (pun intended) when it comes to negotiating and ensuring you walk away with the right deal for your budget and lifestyle.

Beyond the typical mortgage loans most of us are familiar with, a jumbo loan or mortgage, as the name implies, covers a larger-than-normal loan amount. Specifically, a jumbo loan exceeds the conforming loan limits set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), and is not eligible to be purchased, guaranteed, or securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

Your home is more than the place you rest your head at night, eat meals, and invite guests. It’s an investment—and an asset. Unlike other purchases, the money you pay towards your mortgage doesn't disappear. From the time you put down your first payment, that cash is put to work building equity in your home. Like depositing money in a savings account, paying money towards your mortgage is building your financial future.