Tips to get you financially ready to buy a home

Don't switch jobs

When it comes to getting your mortgage application approved, your employment and income are two of the most important factors underwriters consider. Even if your loan has been approved, many lenders will do a final check to verify your employment and income haven’t changed. Lower pay could affect your chances of obtaining or keeping a mortgage.

Keep credit cards to a minimum

Don’t open multiple new credit cards in an attempt to create more available credit lines. Every time you apply for a card, the issuer checks your credit, which is considered a hard inquiry on your credit report and can affect your score.

Buy less house than you can afford

You may be approved for a certain amount, but lenders don’t take into consideration your expenses such as daycare, auto insurance, and medical payments. Additionally, if you buy a house at the top of your budget, it won’t leave any wiggle room for an emergency fund or savings. Just keep this in mind: as a general rule, you want to spend no more than 30 percent of your monthly gross income on housing.

Don't focus on just your credit score

While a minimum credit score is important when buying a new home, putting an actual number on it can be misleading. “Doing this can lead to potential buyers disqualifying themselves from the homebuying process just based on that value,” says Brian Hall, Meritage Homes President of Financial Services. “Take the time to get pre-approved.”

For additional assistance on getting financially ready, expert guidance is available for most homebuyers through MTH Mortgage’s Financial Solutions Program. The complimentary Financial Solutions Program gives customers with less-than-perfect credit the tools they need to purchase a home by helping them clean up their credit profile and determine which loan is best for them. Buyers who are interested can pre-qualify on the website.*

Now that you’ve taken the steps to become more financially savvy, you’re ready to start that new chapter and buy the dream home you’ve always wanted.

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* By clicking this link you will be leaving the web site of Meritage Homes and entering the site of MTH Mortgage, LLC. The link is being provided for your convenience and no information contained in the linked site has been endorsed or approved by Meritage Homes and Meritage Homes is not responsible for the content of such site. “Pre-Approval” provided by MTH Mortgage, LLC, an Arizona limited liability company (“MTH Mortgage”), and is subject to the terms and conditions imposed by MTH Mortgage. Any financing arrangement and relationship shall be solely between Buyer and Buyer’s Lender (whether or not Buyer has selected MTH Mortgage), and in no event shall Meritage Homes have any responsibility, obligation, or liability for any “Pre-Approval” provided by MTH Mortgage or any other lender, nor for any other matters or disputes that arise in connection with Buyer’s financing arrangement with Buyer’s Lender. All costs and expenses associated with Buyer’s financing arrangement shall be Buyer’s responsibility and shall be payable by Buyer in addition to any closing costs payable by Buyer pursuant to its contract with Meritage Homes for a home. Meritage hereby notifies you that Meritage has a business relationship with MTH Mortgage, LLC, an Arizona limited liability company (“MTH Mortgage”). Specifically, Meritage or one of its affiliates is a member of and owns a sixty-five percent (65%) ownership interest in MTH Mortgage. As a result of this relationship, Meritage’s referral of MTH Mortgage may provide Meritage with a financial or other benefit.