Is an LLC needed before buying the property?

[Stephanie St. Germain]

Hi, 

I'm just starting out in my real estate investing journey and am looking to buy a single family home to buy and hold as a long-term rental. Do I need to have an LLC set up prior to obtaining a loan or can I have the mortgage in my name but then still buy the property under the LLC name?
At the moment I do not have an LLC set up, but I’ve already been pre-approved for a conventional loan in my name - can I use this to obtain the financing but still have the property under an LLC or does the loan need to made out to an LLC and my pre-approval is basically useless?