Determining how much you can afford is one of the most important factors of your Jacksonville Florida home buying experience. Depending on your individual situation, your budget can affect everything from the neighborhood where you look, the size of the house, and even what kind of financing your choose. Some Jacksonville Florida lenders view more than your income to establish the size of the loan. One of the best ways to settle on a budget is to get pre-qualified for a loan. Prequalification differs from pre-approval because it is only an estimate of what you can afford opposed to a more formal process where a lender guarantees you a precise amount.