Exactly what @betty126 said. That pre-approval letter is the only thing that makes a seller take you seriously. Saw it happen when my friend tried to put an offer on a place without one, and the seller just tossed it out. They had ten other offers with letters ready to go. It proves you're not just window shopping and can actually get the loan. Skipping that step just makes you look like you aren't ready to buy a house.

Right, those random moments of real curiosity totally make the grind worth it.

That's such a cool way for your kid to see it! My hands just tell the story of me being a total klutz in the kitchen, all grease stains and little knife nicks from trying to chop veggies too fast. Your daughter's comment is way more poetic than my reality. It really does make you think about the marks we collect, even the silly ones.

Wait, they still have public computers?