10/22/2026
Home Buying Pitfalls | Paying off debt early might actually hurt your mortgage approval
One of the most common mistakes future homeowners make:
Thinking that being completely debt-free will make it easier to get approved for a mortgage.
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What lenders actually care about:
Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio โ the percentage of your monthly income that goes toward debt payments.
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Always calculate these before paying off debt early:
How your loan amount changes before and after payoff
Your remaining cash reserves after covering the down payment + closing costs
Whether your overall financial plan stays secure
If youโre gearing up to buy a home, run the numbers first before making any moves.