Best way for pre-approval

[James Lindsey]

I am looking to start my real estate aadventure and of course I need financing to start with. What is the best way to get pre-approved through your bank/lender? It was my understanding you needed collateral or have already found a property you wanted to buy. My problems are I have rented my whole life and have no collateral and every time I find property I want to buy it is gone before I can even get it to them to show how good of an investment it is. Am I going about this the wrong way? What are the things most lenders look for and any suggestions would be appreciated.