Exactly—learned this the hard way myself. Thought I'd be smart and snag a furniture deal while refinancing... lender saw the credit hit and nearly tanked the whole thing. Anyone else tempted by those big sales mid-process?
Been there, done that... almost blew my refinance over a shiny new fridge. Figured, "hey, it's 40% off, what could go wrong?" Turns out lenders don't appreciate my bargain-hunting skills mid-process. Had to write a whole explanation letter promising I wouldn't buy anything else—not even a toaster—until closing. Lesson learned: resist the sale, protect the mortgage.
Ha, reminds me of when I almost tanked my closing by splurging on patio furniture. Thought the backyard deserved it, but my lender strongly disagreed... had to apologize and promise to sit on lawn chairs until closing day. Patience definitely pays off.
It's tempting to celebrate early, but lenders have their reasons for being cautious. I've seen deals fall apart over smaller things than patio furniture... best to hold off until the keys are in hand. Patience isn't fun, but it protects your investment.
Totally agree—jumping the gun can really backfire. I've had buyers get excited and order furniture or appliances on credit right before closing, only to have their debt-to-income ratio shift just enough to spook the lender. Best practice is to keep your financial situation stable and unchanged until the deal officially closes. It's tough when you're eager, but staying disciplined now saves headaches later... trust me, been there!
