Mortgage Ready: a plan that fits your life.
You do not need perfect credit, a finished savings goal, or all your paperwork before you ask for help. Bring your questions, whether you are buying soon, buying again, or simply wondering where to start. We will choose a next step that fits your life.
Worried about your credit? You can ask for guidance before a lender credit pull. No application is needed to ask a question. We can start with a soft pull, which never touches your score, or general advice with no credit pull at all.
1. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com and request your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion reports. Complete identity verification yourself.
2. Save each report as a PDF, using Print to PDF if available. If you cannot access a report, contact me and we can discuss another way to start.
3. Contact me for the company-approved secure upload method. Do not attach reports to the general contact form or send them by regular email or text. Never share passwords or login information.
Requesting your own reports does not affect your credit scores. Reports usually do not include a score. If you already have a recent free score, you may share it securely as a general starting point; you do not need to buy a score or subscription. Consumer scores can differ from mortgage scores. This is planning guidance, not preapproval.
You can ask for help before you feel ready
Bring your questions. We’ll look at your starting point and create a Mortgage Ready plan specific to your situation.
Prefer to read? Here is the video’s message
In this earlier video, I shared a client’s progress: their credit score was 560 in September, and after following the specific credit-card paydown steps I gave them, it was 650 a few months later. We chose how much to pay toward each card so they could get the most benefit from the money they used. That client’s result was their own; it is not a prediction for someone else. If you would like help understanding your own starting point, call or text me at (501) 548-7648. We can make a Mortgage Ready plan specific to your situation.
Start My Plan
Want help with your next step? Tell me about your goals and I’ll help you make a plan.
This is a planning conversation. There is no credit pull, and you should not include sensitive information like your Social Security number or bank details here. This request does not authorize a credit pull.
Start with the guide that helps you
The one-page Starting Checklist is a place to get started with Mortgage Ready. The six-page Workbook offers a more in-depth look at preparing to buy. Both are optional guides. Either way, I will create a Mortgage Ready plan specific to you and your situation. You do not need to complete either guide before asking for help.
Enter your email below for instant access to both guides and an email with the download links. This request does not sign you up for marketing emails. Questions and help are always available without requesting the guides. Privacy Policy.
Your next steps
1
Talk about your goals
We’ll start with what you want home to look like and what matters most in your budget.
2
Review your starting point
We can begin with your questions and, if helpful, reports you obtain yourself. I will explain how to share documents securely. A mortgage application and lender credit report come later when appropriate. We will also talk about how long you think you will live in this home: a few years, long term, or not sure yet. That helps us compare upfront costs, points, and loan options with your goals. Plans can change.
3
Create your personalized plan
We’ll choose a comfortable payment goal, estimate down payment and closing-cost savings needs, keep a cushion for emergencies, identify documents and credit questions to review, and agree on your next action and check-in timing. Your plan is personal; no score increase or loan approval is guaranteed.
4
Check in and adjust
When you’re ready, we’ll revisit your plan and adjust for new goals, income, or timing.
Try a practice payment
Choose a possible total housing payment, including taxes, insurance, mortgage insurance when applicable, and HOA dues. Subtract your current housing payment and, if your budget allows, set that difference aside in your own savings account. For example, a $1,900 target minus $1,400 current housing cost means practicing with $500 per month. This is a budget exercise, not an approval test. Allow separately for utilities, maintenance, and other ownership costs. We can adjust the amount together.
Bring your questions
This is optional preparation, not homework you must finish before asking for help.
For our first conversation, jot down your buying questions, your comfort zone for a monthly payment, and anything you want me to know about your credit, income, or savings.
Questions I hear often
Do I need to fix my credit before contacting you?
No. You can start with no score, past late payments, or questions about collections. I can help identify mortgage-related next steps through Mortgage Ready. A secured card or a family member’s well-managed authorized-user account may help some buyers, but we review your situation first; timing, scores, and approval are not guaranteed.
Do I need to pay a credit repair company?
Not necessarily. You can dispute inaccurate information yourself for free. If someone says they can remove collections or late payments for a fee, be skeptical and ask questions about what they promise and how. Paying a company does not make accurate, current negative information removable. If professional help is needed, I am glad to connect you with a professional credit repair company.
Do I have to apply or gather documents first?
No. A question is enough for our first conversation. If an application or documents would help, I will explain the next step and the secure way to share them.
What if I am not ready yet?
We can work on a comfortable payment, savings goal, credit questions, and a realistic timeline. You can pause or adjust the plan, and I am here for questions after closing too.
Should I pay down debt before we talk?
Keep required payments on time, but talk with me before using your home savings for extra debt payments. I can give you a specific, step-by-step plan for which debts may need to be paid down or off, in what order, and by how much. We want the most benefit from each dollar while protecting your savings, instead of paying debts randomly. Paying collections does not always improve a score; do not ignore notices or legal deadlines.
Does my debt balance determine my debt-to-income ratio?
For debt-to-income ratio (DTI), we focus on monthly debt payments, not just balances. We compare required debt payments, including the proposed housing payment, with qualifying gross monthly income. Balances still matter for credit utilization, payoffs, and loan rules. Some debts require a calculated payment; I will work out what applies to you.