08/07/2026
Paying off credit cards before buying a home can help but don’t drain your savings to do it.
Lower balances may improve your credit utilization and reduce the monthly debt counted in your debt-to-income ratio.
But cash matters too. You may still need funds for your down payment, closing costs, and reserves.
The best move is to review the numbers before moving money around.
What would you rather improve first: your credit score or your monthly payment?
Follow for more practical homebuying tips.