11 Things To Avoid Doing Before Closing

What Not To Do Before Closing On A House

First time home buyers are often surprised at what happens AFTER they are pre-approved for a home loan. In fact, numerous people ruin their chances of getting a home by making simple mistakes once they hear the word “approval” from the mortgage lender. This article will point out some of the most common mistakes people make and most importantly explain things to avoid before closing on a home.

Do Not Start a New Job

Although it is not the most important item for getting approval, job history and length of time at your present employer are vital to getting approved for a mortgage loan.

If you have been at your current job for more than 2 years, wait until the mortgage loan is closed and you have moved into the home before choosing to switch to another company.

Do NOT Purchase a New(er) Car

It is so easy to understand the temptation to buy a vehicle after getting a mortgage pre-approval. Most people are a bit nervous and are filled with excitement when they learn that a mortgage lender has offered them a chance to buy a home. If their credit and income are good enough to buy a home, then surely it is good enough to get a great deal on a car, right?

The pre-approval issued by the lender was determined by the current level of debt and income at the moment the person applied for the home loan. Getting a new loan for a car changes all of that.

It is best to wait until the loan has closed before trading up on your vehicle.

Do NOT Make a Late Payment on ANY Existing Debt

As previously stated, the pre-approval is determined by a snapshot of your credit at a particular point in time. The track record that you have is documented by the credit report used for your approval. The majority of lenders will request a new credit report for you approximately one or two days before the loan closing. Any late payment that shows up could be a red flag to the lender and cause them to turn down the loan.

So, to be safe, make all payments on time while waiting for the lender to finalize your loan.

Avoid Any Unusually Large Deposits

Just as your credit report shows a track record of your payments over time, your bank account also has a track record. The mortgage underwriter will review your checking and savings account to see if there are any larger-than-normal deposits in the months leading up to the purchase. Avoid any large deposits that do not coincide with your normal banking habits.

What is considered large? Let’s use some numbers to illustrate the point.

Suppose you get paid bi-weekly and your spouse gets paid weekly. Your net check is usually around $1,650 to $1,900 every other week while your spouse has a net check that fluctuates between $950 and $1,075 each week. A deposit of $800 would not mean anything to the lender. But, a deposit for $3,250 would send up a big red flag because that is much larger than most of the previous deposits.

Do NOT Open a New Bank Account

We previously mentioned that you should not switch jobs or add any new debt. The theme is consistency and this point fits within that theme.

Whether you have used your current bank for 6 months or 6 years, it is best to stick with that bank until the loan closes. Opening up a new account creates suspicion among mortgage lenders. They wonder if you are trying to hide funds in one account or if you have unrecorded debt obligations that are going to be facilitated with the new account.

Do NOT Spend the Funds Earmarked for Down Payment or Closing

Buying a home can be exciting but also stressful. Getting the utilities switched to a new address, changing the address with the post office and creditors, and hiring the movers can all take time and some funds. While you may have saved up a nice nest egg to prepare for the home purchase, now is not the time to spend all of that money.

The estimate provided to you for the closing is just an estimate. Things like property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and other costs can creep up and cost a bit more than anticipated. It is an awful feeling to get a call from your lender notifying you of the closing date and the amount needed for the closing costs only to realize you don’t have the funds for the purchase.

Do NOT Offer More for The Home Over the Appraisal

You may find yourself bidding to purchase a home against other interested buyers. This battle of prices may feel a bit like an auction where the prize goes to the highest bidder. However, mortgage underwriters do not view the home in that manner.

A mortgage is limited by the fair market value of the home which is determined by the appraisal. If you place a contract on a home for a price higher than the appraised amount, you will be asked to pay the extra from your own funds.

Suddenly, you find yourself paying hundreds or maybe thousands of dollars above the market price just to close the deal. That is a bad way to start your journey as a homeowner.

Do NOT Close Out Any Debt Account

It is usually a good idea to pay down debt and close the account, whether it is a credit card, furniture account, or local store account. However, as we mentioned earlier about keeping your debt as is until the mortgage closes, the same applies here.

Closing out a credit card, for example, can lower your credit score. One factor of a credit score is the ability to quickly borrow money, also called capacity. If you have a credit card with an available spending limit of $1,000 and only a balance of $100, that means you have the capacity to borrow $900 in the event of an emergency.

However, if you pay off that card and close the account, you then lose the capacity. The capacity reduction can hurt your credit score.

The bottom line, leave all accounts open for the time being.

Do NOT Agree to Co-Sign on a New Loan

Earlier it was mentioned that new borrowers should avoid any new debt, especially in the form of buying a new car. This is also true for other new debts such as new credit cards, new furniture accounts, or an unsecured loan. This is especially true for being a co-signor on a loan.

If your mortgage lender told you that you were approved for a home loan, do not co-sign on any loan for a friend or relative until you have moved into your new home. Becoming a co-signer makes you 100% responsible for the new loan, regardless of the good intentions of your friend or relative. This one area is a big no-no for potential homebuyers.

Do NOT Skip a Home Inspection

A home appraisal will tell you how much the home is worth based on similar homes in the immediate area. A home inspection will uncover any major problems that need to be addressed before you become the new owner.

If you choose to buy a home without an inspection, there is no legal avenue for you to pursue if you discover a problem after you move in.

This means that a faulty water heater, cracks in the foundation, mold in the roof, or any other potential problem will be your financial responsibility.

Most homes are in good shape and there will not be a big problem to deal with. But it is better to be safe than sorry.

Do NOT Ignore Requests from Your Lender

Think of a lender as a person very similar to you, they are merely trying to do their job. In this case, their job is to help you buy a home.

Sometimes a mortgage underwriter will ask for very specific things. It is not uncommon for an underwriter to request documentation supporting a sale of a car, a major change in job, or an explanation for one missed payment from 14 months ago.

If your lender contacts you and asks for some type of document or explanation, be prompt and thorough in providing the answer. Your entire loan could hinge upon this one item and you don’t want to get rejected because you could not find the time to respond to the lender’s inquiry.

Summing Up What To Avoid Before Closing on a Home

After you have received your mortgage pre-approval, continue on with your life as if nothing has changed. Keep making payments on time, don’t shut down any accounts, and don’t add any new debt. Along with the other suggestions above, this should keep you prepared and ready for the final loan closing.

Additional Home Buyer Resources:
Prepare For A Mortgage Application via Petra Norris
Top 7 Home Buyer Mistakes To Avoid via Kevin Vitali
Tips For First Time Home Buyers via Eric Jeanette
Why Buyers Fail To Get Approved For A Mortgage via Sharon Paxson

What Not To Do Before Closing On A House

Avoid These Pitfalls Before Closing On A Home

About the author: This article on “What To Avoid Before Closing On A Home” was written by Luke Skar of MadisonMortgageGuys.com. As the Social Media Strategist, his role is to provide original content for all of their social media profiles as well as generate new leads from his website.

We provide award-winning customer service to clients who need to purchase a home or refinance an existing mortgage.

  • Contact us for more information
    (262) 305-0680
  • Fill out the form and a member of our team will contact you within 24 hours.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Filed under: Real Estate

Luke Skar

Luke Skar is the web developer and content strategist for MadisonMortgageGuys.com. Currently working for NRL Mortgage which serves 47 states including Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Florida. Guided by his 20-plus years of various mortgage marketing experience, Luke provides top-quality SEO services, effective social media management, and web development and maintenance. Luke’s career in the mortgage industry began back in 2001, as a loan processor. After becoming a loan officer for a number of years, Luke now runs madisonmortgageguys.com. To ensure that all the information he posts is fresh, accurate, and up-to-date, Luke relies on the knowledge which his years of dedication to keeping up with the constant change that the mortgage industry provides.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *