I learned a long time ago that “common sense is NOT a common practice.” This is especially the case during the emotional time that surrounds buying a home, when people tend to do the same non-commonsensical things. So, What not to do When Applying for a Mortgage? Here are a few that I’ve seen through my career that have delayed (and even killed) deals:
- Don’t deposit cash into your bank accounts. Lenders need to source your money and cash is not really traceable. Small, explainable deposits are fine, but getting $10,000 from your parents as a gift in cash is not. Discuss the proper way to track your assets with your loan officer.
- Don’t make any large purchases like a new car or a bunch of new furniture. New debt comes with it, including new monthly obligations. New obligations create new qualifications. People with new debt have higher ratios… higher ratios make for riskier loans… and some qualified borrowers no longer qualify.
- Don’t co-sign other loans for anyone. When you co-sign, you are obligated. With that obligation comes higher ratios as well. Even if you swear you won’t be making payments, the lender will be counting the payment against you.
- Don’t change bank accounts. Remember, lenders need to source and track assets. That task is significantly easier when there is a consistency of accounts. Frankly, before you even transfer money between accounts, talk to your loan officer.
- Don’t apply for new credit. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a new credit card or a new car, when you have your credit report run by organizations in multiple financial channels (mortgage credit card, auto, etc.) your FICO score will be affected. Lower credit scores can determine your interest rate and maybe even your eligibility for approval.
- Don’t close any credit accounts. Many clients have erroneously believed that having less available credit makes them less risky and more approvable. WRONG. A major component of your score is your length and depth credit history (as opposed to just your payment history) and your total usage of credit as a percentage of available credit. Closing accounts has a negative impact on both those determinants of your score. The best advice is to fully disclose and discuss your plans with your loan officer before you do anything financial in nature. Any blip in income, assets, or credit should be reviewed and executed in a way to keep your application in the most positive light.
We hope that helps provide some insight into what not to do when applying for a mortgage. If you have any questions, contact us. We would be happy to help.