Prepare 6-12 months before buying. This lets you improve credit, build savings, and strengthen your position.
Credit
Check your reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. Dispute errors. Pay down credit card balances—high utilization hurts scores. Don't open new accounts before applying. See our credit improvement guide.
Savings
You need: down payment (3-20%), closing costs (2-5% of loan), moving expenses, and reserves (2-6 months of payments). Use our affordability calculator to estimate.
Debt
Pay off debts nearing completion to improve your DTI ratio. Avoid new debt before and during your application.