You should apply for a mortgage offer in principle before you find a property, which will help to avoid any delays later down the line. This will also show the potential sellers that you are serious and will likely improve your odds of having your offer accepted.

A lending institution or mortgage broker will be able to give you an indication as to how much you can borrow at any point, this process can even be completed online. Once you have an agreement in principle from your chosen lender, you can progress to completing a full application once a property has been identified.