10/24/2026
One practical move: make a credit checklist before you start shopping. If a refinance, business equipment purchase, or car upgrade can wait, postpone it until after the mortgage file is closed so the lender is not re-checking fresh inquiries and new debt. That matters even more for borrowers qualifying with 1040s and 1099s instead of W-2s. Compare this to your situation. https://bit.ly/46FldXD