Homebuyer Workshop REPLAY: Your Credit and Buying a Home

If you’re thinking about buying a home, your credit is one of the first places most lenders will look—and it can have a bigger impact than many people realize. Credit doesn’t just affect whether you qualify. It can influence your interest rate, monthly payment, insurance premiums, and even how much home you can afford.

In this second workshop in my Home Buyer Workshop Series, we focus on how credit works in the mortgage process, what impacts your score the most, and the common “common sense” actions that can accidentally hurt your credit when you’re preparing to buy.

Watch the Workshop: Your Credit and Buying a Home

This workshop is especially helpful if you:

• Feel nervous about pulling credit (you’re not alone!)
• Are working on improving your score before buying
• Want to understand what lenders actually look for
• Are unsure whether to pay off debt or save for a down payment
• Have questions about late payments, collections, student loans, or co-signing

What You’ll Learn in This Credit Workshop

Why your credit score matters (beyond the mortgage)

Even one point can impact borrowing costs. Credit can also influence:

• Auto and homeowner’s insurance premiums
• Rental applications
• Other types of financing and interest rates

What lenders see when they review your credit

A credit report can include:

• Current and past addresses and employers
• Open and closed accounts (credit cards, student loans, auto loans)
• Payment history and late payments
• Collections, public records, inquiries, and more

The biggest factors that impact your credit score

In plain terms, the biggest drivers include:

• Payment history
• Amounts owed / utilization (how much of your available credit you’re using)
• Length of credit history
• New credit / inquiries
• Credit mix

Mortgage credit scoring is different than consumer apps

The scores you see through many free tools can be different than mortgage scores. In the workshop, I share what to expect and why many lenders begin with a soft pull to review credit without impacting your score.

“Common sense” moves that can hurt your score before buying

This is one of the most important parts of the workshop.

Some actions that seem helpful can create unintended consequences—like:

• Closing older accounts
• Consolidating debt without a plan
• Paying off collections in a way that triggers new activity
• Opening new credit (even “zero interest” financing)
• Buying a car before closing on a home

Always talk with your mortgage professional before making changes, especially if you’re within a few months of buying.

Should you wait until your credit is perfect?

Not necessarily.

Credit scores are a snapshot in time—and you may be able to buy a home sooner than you think while you continue improving your credit. In this workshop, I share why getting started early with a pre-qualification can create options and prevent missed opportunities.

Get the Companion Workbook & Resources

Each workshop in this series includes companion resources to help you apply what you’re learning.

📘 Request your free Home Buyer Workbook here.
👉 Homebuyer Workshop Series

You’ll be able to select “Your Credit and Buying a Home” and I’ll send the workbook and materials.

✔ Delivered by email
✔ Education-first
✔ No spam, no pressure

What’s Next in the Workshop Series?

Next up: How much money you need to buy a home (including down payment options and down payment assistance).

If you have questions as you watch the credit workshop, feel free to reach out anytime—I’m happy to help even if you’re not planning on buying for a couple of years.