Five Things You Should Stop Doing Before Applying For a Home Loan

No matter whether you’re a first home buyer or a seasoned investor, entering the property market right now, in whatever capacity, is a tricky task thanks to high interest rates and a super competitive market across the board.

With Google searches like ‘how much deposit do I need to buy a house’ and ‘how to get a home loan’ currently trending, there’s one question potential buyers should be asking, as well: ‘what are the things to stop doing before applying for a home loan’.

Barbara Giamalis, a mortgage broker at Tiimely Home, has over 25 years of experience on the matter, and says there are certainly some factors to consider when applying for a home loan that can better your chances of success.

“There’s no right or wrong time to purchase a home; it all depends on every person’s financial situation, but you must ensure you’re comfortable paying back the loan based on your personal financial circumstances,” said Ms Giamalis.

“The number one question I’m asked is, ‘how much can I borrow?’, but there’s a huge difference between what people can borrow now in comparison to rates. By enacting some of these small tips below, it might just be the difference between getting approved or denied for a home loan.”

Below, Ms Giamalis lists five things you should consider stopping if you’re planning to apply for a home loan. And with predications of lower interest rates coming into play this year, there’s never been a better time to get on top of the home loan race.

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1. Consider cancelling your credit card

This is a simple one. Typically, if you’re looking to borrow more money for a higher loan, it’s wise to close any credit card accounts you have open. Contrary to popular opinion, you definitely don’t need a credit card to build your credit score to get a home loan.

“If you’ve got credit cards, try and pay them off and cancel them before applying for a loan because it gives you greater borrowing power,” said Ms Giamalis.

“You don’t need a good credit score through a credit card to get approved for a home loan as your credit rating is what it is. If you’re a first-time borrower and never had a loan, your rating won’t be great, it might be around 700, but it’s better than having 800 with two credit cards.”

Typically, a credit card rating is calculated from your credit report, which is essentially a history of your credit card actions. It’s calculated based off your line of credit (the amount you have borrowed), your credit application history, and whether you have paid your debts in time. Your score will be highlighted between zero to 1,200; the higher the score, the better your odds are of getting a loan. The lower your score, riskier you present to potential lenders.

2. Stop using ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ schemes

We’ve all been there. ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ services present as extremely attractive payment alternatives when shopping online. But therein lies the danger; such services rely on its customers not making repayments in time.

And if you’re considering applying for a home loan, it’s wise to avoid using such services all together.

“If an applicant opts to pay off purchases in increments, even interest-free payments, this could signal to some lenders that the applicant may not be financially stable,” said Ms Giamalis.

“Most lenders will look at the living expenses of an applicant. If an applicant is using ‘buy now, pay later’ services more than what they have in their savings, this could be a red flag and lenders could question whether they can afford a loan.”

Services like Afterpay also have the right to report any missed payments on your credit history, which could definitely have a negative impact to your credit score.

3. Don’t put off saving for future mortgage repayments

Before applying for a home loan, a good indication of whether you would be able to afford the monthly repayments on your mortgage is demonstrating the ability to save the amount. This, along with saving for your ten or 20 percent deposit, will put you in good stead for your home loan preparation, and will show lenders that you’re disciplined when it comes to finances.

“One of the best tips for young people, and one they can start doing now, is to start saving for their monthly mortgage payment before applying for a home loan as it shows dedication,” said Ms Giamalis.

Ms Giamalis adds that having a three-month saving history is a great way to prove this to potential lenders.

Here are some friendly financial tools to assist you along the way.

4. Stop gambling and making cash withdrawals

According to Gambling Statistics Australia, 6.8 million Australians participate in some form of gambling each year. This could include activities like buying a ticket in the lottery right through to using gambling apps and visiting casinos. This can present as an obvious red flag to lenders, who will take this into account when deciding to service a home loan application or not.

Another factor to consider is cash withdrawals. If you’re someone who is making regular ATM cash withdrawals per week or per month, this can be a problem as the potential lender can’t track where this money is going. Experts suggest it’s better to have purchases that are traceable.

“Large one-off purchases such as a couch, a new hot water service or a motor vehicle, won’t be taken into an applicant’s living expenses as it’s a one-off meaning the banks will look at that as a discretionary cost,” added Ms Giamalis.

5. Don’t hold onto student debt

One of the key considerations your mortgage broker or financial professional will consider in the home loan application process is paying out any debts you may have outstanding, such as your higher education debt.

It might seem obvious that paying off a HECS debt will strengthen your chances of obtaining a home loan, however, Ms Giamalis says many people often don’t factor in these debts.

“The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) impacts your borrowing power. HELP debt is a liability that you need to declare in the home loan application process,” said Ms Giamalis.

“The impact of HECS on your ability to get a home loan may vary depending on your income level and the amount of your HECS debt. Seeking financial advice before deciding to pay off your debt is crucial.”

Many are not in the position to pay off their student loans immediately, so this point comes as an additional should you be in the position to do so. This also applies even in light of the Federal Government’s proposal to wipe a reported $3 billion in debt from three million Australians who have HECS debts through indexation changes, essentially capping indexation rate for loans. The proposal is designed to lend a hand in helping young tertiary educated Australians pay off their student loans.

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In 2021, actress Emma Stone purchased a historic estate in Austin, Texas, with a plan to move her family there. Four years later, she has instead decided to put the property on the market.

The actress and her husband, comedy writer Dave McCary, are asking $26.5 million for the newly renovated estate, according to Eric Moreland of Moreland Properties/Forbes Global Properties, one of the listing agents. The 1.25-acre property, located in the upscale Tarrytown neighbourhood, will be among the most expensive on the market in Austin.

Stone and McCary have spent more than three years renovating and restoring the Texas property, Moreland said.

A spokesperson for Stone didn’t respond to requests for comment. Moreland said the couple’s New York business interests have expanded since they started the remodel, and while they hope to live in Austin eventually, it doesn’t make sense for now.

The couple, who are co-founders of the production company Fruit Tree, own a roughly $12 million apartment in lower Manhattan, according to property records. Stone is slated to star in the upcoming contemporary Western film “Eddington.”

It’s unclear what Stone and McCary paid for the Austin property, since Texas is a nondisclosure state . The Georgian-style brick house dates to around 1940, making it one of the oldest estates in the area.

The roughly 10,000-square-foot estate includes a main house with four bedrooms and a two-bedroom guesthouse. The property also has a pool, a hot tub, and a garage with a screening room and entertaining space above.

As part of the renovation, the couple removed, cleaned and reused all the exterior brick. They also reconfigured some of the living spaces, opening the kitchen to the living room for a more modern layout. It took more than a year just to install the millwork in the screening room, said Moreland.

The contractors are now putting the finishing touches on the property, he said.

The “La La Land” actress has a track record of buying and selling her homes for significantly more than she paid. In 2022, she sold her blufftop Malibu, Calif., home for $4.425 million after buying it for $3.25 million in 2018, according to property records.

Last year, she sold her home in L.A.’s Comstock Hills neighbourhood for $4.3 million, significantly more than the $2.3 million she paid in 2019.

Austin saw an influx of new residents during COVID, but many of those are now returning to the East and West coasts, particularly workers in the tech sector.

While the market “has come down to earth a little bit” since the pandemic-era boom, Moreland said, he has seen a number of $20 million-plus deals over the past few months.

Moreland has the listing with colleague Diane Humphreys.

Five Things You Should Stop Doing Before Applying For a Home Loan

If you’re looking to secure a home loan, you might want to consider these expert tips…

The actress and her husband, comedy writer Dave McCary, spent more than three years restoring the house, which is one of the priciest properties for sale in the Texas city.