Preparing To Buy A House May 2026

: Lenders prefer a Debt-to-Income ratio below 25-36%. Pay down credit cards to below 1/3 of their limit. 🏠 Phase 2: Defining Your "Must-Haves" How to Prepare to Buy a House in 6 Months

: Pull reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. preparing to buy a house

: Correct errors and avoid opening new lines of credit (like car loans) which can tank your score. The 20/30/40 Rule : Use this for a healthy balance: : Lenders prefer a Debt-to-Income ratio below 25-36%

: Keep a 40% income buffer for savings and other life goals. preparing to buy a house

: Aim for this down payment to avoid Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).