Timing: When to get loan pre-approval

[Samuel Williams]

My wife and I will be moving to a new town around the beginning of 2022, where we will both be starting new jobs. As part of this transition we plan to buy a multi family property to house hack, living in one unit.

My question is, when should we apply for loan pre-approval?

Is it possible to get approved for a loan even though we will be starting new jobs immediately after? Not sure how this would work or if we will simply have to find a place to rent, wait for a certain amount of new pay stubs and then try for a loan?

Any advice helps, thanks!