🏡 5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Home (From a Realtor Who’s Seen It All)

By Carol Reynolds Licensed Real Estate Agent

Buying a home is a huge step—emotionally and financially. Here are five of the most common (and costly) mistakes buyers make, and how you can avoid them.

✅ 1. Opening New Credit Accounts

Why it matters:Your credit score plays a huge role in determining your mortgage approval and interest rate. Opening a new credit card, even for a small purchase or to “earn points,” can lower your score and change your debt-to-income ratio. This can seriously disrupt underwriting and delay—or even derail—your loan approval leaving you unable to purchase a home altogether.

What to do instead:Wait until after your home has officially closed to open any new accounts or lines of credit.

✅ 2. Making Major Purchases (Like a New Car)

Why it matters:Large purchases—especially those financed—can significantly impact your credit score and debt-to-income ratio. Buying a car, furniture, or appliances before closing could cause your mortgage to fall through last minute.

What to do instead:Hold off on any non-essential purchases until after you’ve signed the final paperwork.

✅ 3. Skipping Mortgage Pre-Approval

Why it matters:Without a pre-approval letter, you’re essentially shopping blind. A seller will not even consider your offer without a pre-approval. This is the ticket that tells a seller you can afford the home you are trying to buy and have the funding behind you to do so. It also helps you to know how much house you can afford and what your payments will be.

What to do instead:Get pre-approved before you start house hunting. It saves time and puts you in a stronger negotiating position.

✅ 4. Using the Wrong Agent

Why it matters:Many buyers use the first agent they come across and don’t double check how experienced the agent is, what network they have to serve all of your possible needs, or if the agent has done any transactions in the past year. They end up running into issues or not getting the best terms in negotiations because their agent is inexperienced, or uneducated in the field and lack the needed resources to resolve the issues that may arise

What to do instead:Interview your agent. Ask them how long they have been an agent, how many transactions they’ve done in the last 12 months and ask for a portfolio of their transactions

✅ 5. Using the listing agent

Why it matters:The listing agent’s duty is to represent the seller. They don’t have your best interest in mind. They are not going to take care of or represent your interests in the process and you will be on your own. This could lead to you paying more than you want for the house, or not getting repair items taken care of that need to be addressed. Their fiduciary duty is to their client the seller not you.

What to do instead:Hire your own agent even if you don’t have time to find a good one, they will represent you and it will give you someone who can represent your interests and help negotiate the best deal for your needs

Buying a home is exciting, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. If you want help avoiding these mistakes and navigating the process with confidence, reach out—I’d love to guide you! Book a consult or give me a call at (816)-446-7227