There’s a point in every homebuyer’s journey when the numbers start to feel heavier than the dream.
The debt.
The payments.
The quiet fear of, “What if I’m not ready?”
If you’re in that season, I want you to know this:
You don’t need perfection to qualify — you just need direction.
And sometimes it’s the smallest changes that shift everything.
Here’s what actually moves your DTI in the real world:
💳 Pay down revolving credit first
Credit card debt hits harder than loans.
Even paying $100–$200 toward a high-balance card can lower your minimum payment and boost your buying power.
Think “tackle one card at a time,” not “pay everything off.”
💪 Increase income — even temporarily
Side gigs count. Seriously.
Driving DoorDash on weekends, picking up overtime, babysitting for a friend, taking on one holiday shift a week — lenders look at consistent extra income, even if it’s small.
🚫 Avoid co-signing anything new
It doesn’t matter if they “promise they’ll pay it.”
If their payment shows up under your name, it counts against you. Protect your future mortgage approval.
🔄 Refinance or consolidate with intention
If you’re juggling multiple high-interest payments, consolidating into one lower monthly payment can free up room fast.
It’s not about shortcuts — it’s about making your monthly obligations easier to manage.
📉 Simplify your monthly commitments
Pause unused subscriptions.
Hold off on Buy Now Pay Later purchases.
Avoid random deposits and transfers between accounts.
Clean, predictable banking makes underwriting smoother — and lowers your DTI when you wipe out unnecessary payments.
Buying a home isn’t about having perfect finances.
It’s about creating space — little by little — for the future you’re building.
❤️ Like this if it made things feel a little more doable
Drop a 🏡 in the comments and I’ll walk you through your numbers so you know exactly where you stand
