Here’s what no one’s telling buyers right now:

You can get pre-approved today and still lose the house tomorrow.
Sounds harsh, but in today’s market, being loan ready goes beyond a pre-approval letter. Buyers are getting blindsided by small missteps that end up costing them their dream home.

Let’s break down the three biggest mistakes buyers are making — and what smart buyers are doing instead.

MISTAKE #1: TAKING ON NEW DEBT MID-PROCESS

That new car? The shiny furniture set you’ve been eyeing? Or that extra credit card you just opened for points?
All of those can wreck your debt-to-income ratio and derail your loan approval.

When you’re in the middle of buying a home, lenders monitor your financial stability like a hawk. Even one small loan or purchase can shift your ratios enough to put your approval at risk — and that dream home could slip away in an instant.

The Savvy Move:
Lock your loan first.
Once you’ve closed and have keys in hand — that’s when you can start shopping for the extras. Until then, keep your finances frozen in place.

MISTAKE #2: IGNORING APPRAISAL AND INSPECTION CHALLENGES

Everything’s smooth sailing — until the appraisal comes in low or the inspection uncovers a deal-breaker. Suddenly, your loan is shaky, negotiations stall, and stress levels rise.

Here’s the thing: these issues are common, but they don’t have to kill your deal.

The Savvy Move:
Work with a realtor and lender who know how to pivot.
A skilled team can renegotiate with the seller, restructure the loan, or adjust contract terms to keep your deal alive. Flexibility and communication are everything here.

Don’t panic — pivot.

MISTAKE #3: CHANGING JOBS OR CREDIT HABITS MID-DEAL

Lenders today are looking deep into your financial history — even right before closing. That means:

• Switching jobs (even for higher pay)
  
  
• Missing a single credit card payment
  
  
• Opening or closing accounts
  
  

All of these can trigger red flags. Stability is the name of the game during escrow.

The Savvy Move:
Keep everything consistent — your job, your accounts, your spending patterns. Continue paying all bills on time, avoid big purchases, and monitor your credit like it’s your full-time job.

The goal is to look exactly the same financially on closing day as you did on approval day.

THE BOTTOM LIME: SMART BUYERS PREP BEFORE THEY SHOP

In this market, the most successful buyers are the ones who prepare first. They’re not scrambling mid-deal or guessing what could go wrong — they know exactly how to stay loan-ready from start to finish.

Reading is one thing — seeing it makes all the difference.
Watch the video below to understand the key points even better!

Watch my video: 3 Common Mistakes Buyers Are Making Right Now