11/02/2026
January buyers don't start in January. The ones who get the house start right about now.
After the holidays, listings pick back up and the prepared buyers move first. Here's the 60 day plan I walk clients through.
November: pull all three credit reports, pay card balances down before the statement dates, and dispute anything wrong now, since fixes can take 30 days or more.
Also November: build the folder. Two years of tax returns and W-2s or 1099s, 30 days of pay stubs, two months of bank and asset statements. Self employed? Add a year to date P&L and recent business bank statements.
December: get fully underwritten, not just pre-qualified. And hold off on new cards, car loans or financed furniture until after closing.
January: shop with confidence and write the strong offer.
Self employed, investor, high net worth, complex income? The file decides which program fits, and with 100+ lenders I know where to send it.
If you're a planner, CPA or agent with a client eyeing a January move, send them my way now while there's still time to prep.
Save this one for later.
Whatever your client needs, Jay knows which lender has it.
Jay Rodriguez | Wise Home Lending, powered by Arbor Financial Group | NMLS # 902610