I first heard about the idea of house hacking last year and I was hooked!

Once you get an accurate mortgage quote, you can plug that rate into calculators to get an idea of payment.

I have no idea how to maneuver through excel, yet along knowing what info I need for cold calling.

You're not listening to the right podcasts if you have no idea how to find a buyer....check out the WholesalingInc podcast and also look at Max Maxwell on youtube.  

Do you think it makes sense for me to get approved so I have an idea of the interest rate and what percentage down would be required if i intend to buy in the next 6 months or so?

With that said, perhaps there are some BPers out there who have other ideas for what you are trying to achieve with a different type of loan product.Hancock-Whitney (or whatever they are calling themselves nowadays) will do an 80-90% LTV HELOC. 

@Eric WilsonGreat (similar) idea.

:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/549...If you have any questions, i'd be happy to chat with you and bounce ideas off each otherTae

If she wants to give money as a gift that’s fine, just do it below the gift exclusion for tax purposes, but taking a loan is probably a bad idea

You can sometimes get an idea by looking at tax account as it will show mortgage but not always.