04/15/2026
You got pre-approved. You found the house. You’re under contract. You think it’s a done deal.
It’s not.
Your lender is watching everything you do financially between now and closing day. And these 3 moves will tank your loan faster than anything.
1. Opening a new line of credit. That furniture store offers you 0% financing on the couch for your new living room. You figure why not, you’re about to close anyway. Big mistake. New credit inquiries change your debt-to-income ratio. Your credit score drops. And your lender pulls a final credit check right before closing. That $1,200 couch just cost you a $500,000 house.
2. Making a large deposit without a paper trail. Your parents gift you $10,000 to help with closing costs. Amazing. But if that money shows up in your account without proper documentation, your lender flags it. They need a gift letter, bank statements, and a clear paper trail. Undocumented deposits can delay or kill your closing entirely.
3. Changing jobs or employment status. You get a better job offer two weeks before closing. More money. Better title. Sounds like a win. Except our lender underwrote your loan based on your current employment. Switching jobs, going from salary to commission, or even moving within the same company can reset the entire approval process. Buyers lose their dream home over a promotion they thought was good.
Here’s what your agent should be telling you the day you go under contract:
✅Don’t open any new accounts.
✅Don’t make large purchases.
✅Don’t move money around without talking to your lender first.
✅Don’t change jobs.
✅Don’t co-sign anything for anyone.
Boring? Yes. But boring keeps your loan intact.
The time between contract and closing is not the time to make big financial moves. It’s the time to stay completely still.
