Before you submit that mortgage application, let’s make sure you’re positioned for SUCCESS. Here are the 3 NON-NEGOTIABLES lenders top lenders look at: 1. DTI (Debt-to-Income Ratio) Under 43% Your monthly debt payments need to be less than 43% of your gross monthly income. This includes car notes, credit cards, student loans, and your future mortgage payment. If you’re over this threshold, we need to strategically pay down or remove certain debts FIRST. 2. Credit Utilization Below 30% (Ideally Under 10%) Lenders want to see you’re not maxing out your credit cards. If you have $10,000 in total credit limits, keep your balances under $3,000 across ALL cards - but under $1,000 is even better. High utilization = red flag to underwriters, even if you pay on time. 3. Clean Payment History (Last 6-12 Months) Recent late payments are deal-breakers. Underwriters focus heavily on your RECENT behavior. Even one 30-day late in the past 6 months can drop your approval odds significantly. We need a spotless track record leading up to application time. The Echelon Advantage: This is exactly why we don’t just “repair credit” - we strategically POSITION you for mortgage approval. If any of these three areas need work, let’s create your personalized roadmap NOW so you’re not denied later. Drop a 🏡 below if you’re ready to get mortgage-ready!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​