If anything, what surprised me most was how much they cared about consistency—like regular paychecks and no weird gaps in employment. The rest felt like background noise.
Nailed it. Lenders are way more interested in your job history and whether you’ve got steady income than if you splurged on a latte or two. I’ve seen folks stress over $20 purchases when the real focus should be:
- No late payments (especially in the last 12 months)
- Debt-to-income ratio under control
- Stable employment (2+ years is gold)
Paying down cards right before applying can help your utilization rate, but honestly, unless you’re carrying big balances, it’s not a game changer. The little stuff just doesn’t move the needle much. I’d say keep your eye on the big picture and don’t sweat the random Amazon orders.
Honestly, I’ve seen folks get way too hung up on the little stuff. Like,
Couldn’t agree more. Lenders care way more about whether you’ve been at your job for a couple years and if you’re not maxed out on credit cards. I’ve had buyers with spotless spending habits get tripped up by a short job gap, while someone with a few Target runs on their statement sailed through. The big picture really does matter more than the nitpicking.“don’t sweat the random Amazon orders.”
“don’t sweat the random Amazon orders.”
Totally get this. I used to obsess over every coffee run showing up on my statements, but when I actually talked to a lender, they barely glanced at that stuff. What really mattered was my steady income and keeping my credit card balances under control. If you’re prepping for 2026, focus on the big things: job stability, paying bills on time, and not taking on new debt right before applying. The little purchases just don’t move the needle as much as people think.
I get where you're coming from, but I’m not sure it’s always that simple.
Maybe not for everyone, but lenders do sometimes flag patterns if your spending looks erratic or you’re constantly dipping into overdraft. I’ve seen a few buyers get tripped up by stuff like that, especially when they’re right on the edge with their debt-to-income ratio. It’s true that job stability and low balances are huge, but I’d still keep an eye on those “little” things, just in case. You never know what’ll pop up when the underwriter gets picky.“the little purchases just don’t move the needle as much as people think.”
It’s true that job stability and low balances are huge, but I’d still keep an eye on those “little” things, just in case.
- Not sure I totally buy that “little purchases don’t move the needle” idea.
- I’ve been through a refi and the underwriter flagged three $12 DoorDash charges in one week—asked me to explain the “pattern.”
- If you’re right at the edge, those small things can add up or at least make your file look messy.
- Agree, job stability matters more, but I’d still watch for what might look weird on statements.
- Sometimes it’s not about the dollar amount, but the story your spending tells.
