- Gotta say, I’ve seen lenders get pretty nosy about random purchases. Had a buddy who bought a new fridge two weeks before closing—boom, lender wanted receipts and a written explanation. Not every lender’s that intense, but it happens more than folks think.
- Honestly, keeping your finances “boring” is underrated. It’s not forever, just until the deal’s done... then go wild with the furniture shopping if you want.
- One thing I’d add: even transfers between your own accounts can trip things up if the timing is weird. Lenders love drama, apparently.
even transfers between your own accounts can trip things up if the timing is weird. Lenders love drama, apparently.
That’s wild, but yeah, I’ve heard similar stories. Here’s how I handled it during my last refi:
1. Stopped all big purchases and transfers about a month before applying.
2. Kept my checking account as “boring” as possible—just paychecks in, bills out.
3. If I had to move money, I made a note of why and kept screenshots.
It felt a little over the top, but it saved me from having to explain anything weird later. The less you have to justify, the smoother things go... even if it means waiting on that new TV.
Honestly, I get why you’d want to keep things super clean before a refi, but I’ve actually gone the other way a couple times and it didn’t cause as much trouble as I expected. Maybe it depends on the lender or how much you’re moving around, but I’ve had months where I was shuffling funds between accounts for different property expenses—maintenance, taxes, even just moving rent payments—and the underwriter just asked for a quick explanation. I sent over a short note and a couple statements, and that was it.
I do agree that big, unexplained deposits or withdrawals can raise eyebrows, but in my experience, as long as you can document where the money’s coming from (especially if it’s your own accounts), most lenders are reasonable. They just want to make sure there’s no mystery cash floating around. I guess my point is, you don’t always have to freeze your financial life for weeks on end. If you’re organized and can back up your transactions, it usually works out.
That said, I’d never make a major purchase right before closing—learned that lesson the hard way with a truck a few years back. Credit took a hit at exactly the wrong time. But for regular transfers or paying bills? As long as you’re not moving huge sums or doing anything out of the ordinary, I wouldn’t stress too much.
Maybe I’ve just gotten used to the paperwork shuffle at this point... but sometimes I think lenders just want to see you’re not hiding anything, not that your account is totally static.
I’ve seen the same thing—underwriters usually just want a paper trail. You nailed it with,
In my experience, if you’re moving funds between business and personal accounts for legit expenses, they’ll just ask for a quick explanation or supporting docs. The main thing that trips people up is unexplained large deposits or sudden credit hits. I always tell people: don’t buy anything big, and keep your records handy. No need to freeze everything, but don’t get sloppy either.“as long as you can document where the money’s coming from (especially if it’s your own accounts), most lenders are reasonable.”
Honestly, you summed it up pretty well. Underwriters just want to see a clear trail—nothing mysterious or out of the blue. That line you quoted really hits home:
“as long as you can document where the money’s coming from (especially if it’s your own accounts), most lenders are reasonable.”
I’ve had clients get nervous about moving money around, but as long as you’re transparent and keep those records, it’s usually smooth sailing. One thing I’d add is that if you’re self-employed or have side income, be extra careful. Lenders sometimes scrutinize those deposits more closely, especially if they don’t match your regular payroll.
And yeah, big purchases right before closing can be a killer. I had someone buy a new car two weeks before funding—credit score took a hit and nearly derailed the whole deal. Just goes to show, even small stuff can snowball if you’re not careful.
Bottom line: keep things boring and predictable for a couple months, and your refinance should go a lot more smoothly.
