The 5 Most Common Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Home Mortgage Approval

Recently, President Obama put into action the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan to help Americans on the brink of foreclosure to receive the loan modifications they need to be able to stay in their home.  This could be the closest we get to a consumer bailout, but the money won’t be available to just anyone who applies.

Most Americans know that they should pay their bills on time to help their credit score, but there are many other factors that can dramatically affect your ability to get a loan.  Let’s take a look at the 5 most common credit mistakes:

1.  Maxing out your credit cards

Repayment ability is the main factor that lenders are looking at, which is essentially your debt-to-income ratio.  If you have a small amount of debt compared to your income, you’re in a much better position to pay off what you owe (quickly).  Before you apply for a home loan, try to avoid charging a lot on your credt cards, so that your balance stays low.  If you carry a balance month-to-month, try to pay them down as much as possible.

2. Buying a car on borrowed money

One of the biggest mistakes many families make is financing a car or other major purchase right before they apply for a mortgage.  Sometimes is can mean the difference between approval and denial.  Wait until after your loan has closed - not just been ‘approved’ - before you take out another loan.

3.  Procrastinating

When you’re looking to refinance an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM), don’t wait until crunch time.  Start preparing at least a year in advance.  Most homeowners wait until just 2-3 months before the expiration of their initial rate, and this can really limit the number of available options. 

4.  Reconciling old bad debt

If you have old charge offs or collections on your credit history, it might seem like a responsible idea to pay down or completely pay off these debts.  Unfortunately, by paying into this debt, your credit report adjusts it to ‘current debt’ which makes your credit problems seem more recent than they were.

5. Reaching out for help

Credit counselors will often give advice that is relevant for getting you out of debt, but typically neglect your ability to get new financing, including home mortgages.  Many times, a counselor will recommend closing healthy credit accounts to stop you from using them, but canceling these accounts is bad for your credit score.  Additionally, lenders don’t like to see that you are having difficulties handing your own finances, and having credit repair services on your record can send up a red flag.

To qualify for a certain type of home loan under the Homeowner Stability Initiative, you might have to sign up for HUD-certified debt counseling program, but otherwise you should stay away from credit counseling before applying for a home loan.  If you really have a spending problem, a better strategy is to put your credit cards where they aren’t easily accessible to you (like a safe deposit box), or even cut them up.  Keep the accounts open, and continue to pay down your balances and make your payments on time.

By avoiding these mistakes, you can help boost your credit score enough to qualify for lower rates, bigger loans, or both!

If you’d like a free consultation to get the best mortgage for your current financial position, drop us a line and we’ll help you out.