Buying a home in Jacksonville is exciting, but it also comes with one big responsibility: qualifying for a mortgage. Whether you are purchasing your first home in Riverside, upgrading in Mandarin, or settling near the beaches, your credit profile plays a major role in determining whether you’ll get approved and what kind of interest rate you’ll pay.

Many future homeowners unknowingly make mistakes with their credit in the months leading up to applying for a mortgage. These missteps can cost you thousands of dollars in higher interest rates, larger down payments, or even a denial of your loan.

The good news? By knowing what to avoid, you can take control of your credit and put yourself in the best position to secure a mortgage for your dream home in Jacksonville.

Let’s break down the 7 biggest credit mistakes you’ll want to steer clear of when applying for a mortgage.

1. Making Late Payments

Your payment history makes up the largest portion of your credit score. Even one late payment on a credit card, car loan, or student loan can hurt your score significantly.

Lenders in Jacksonville and across the country view consistent, on-time payments as a sign that you are reliable and financially stable. A recent late payment could signal to a lender that you may struggle to pay your mortgage on time.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Set up automatic payments on all your accounts.

• If you’re juggling multiple bills, create a budget calendar to keep track of due dates.

• Contact your creditor immediately if you think you might be late. Many companies offer short-term hardship options that can prevent negative reporting.

2. Opening New Credit Accounts Before Applying

It can be tempting to finance new furniture for your Jacksonville home or take advantage of a store credit card promotion. But opening new accounts before or during the mortgage process can backfire.

Every time you apply for new credit, a “hard inquiry” appears on your credit report. Too many inquiries in a short period can lower your score. Plus, taking on new debt increases your overall obligations, which can hurt your debt-to-income ratio, another key factor lenders review.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Put off opening new credit cards or financing big purchases until after closing.

• If you need furniture or appliances for your new Jacksonville home, wait until you’ve signed on the dotted line.

3. Maxing Out Your Credit Cards

Carrying high balances on your credit cards is one of the fastest ways to damage your credit score. Lenders look at your credit utilization ratio, which compares your outstanding balances to your total available credit.

For example, if you have a $5,000 limit and a $4,500 balance, your utilization is 90 percent, which lenders see as risky. Even if you pay your bills on time, maxing out your cards signals financial strain.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Keep your utilization below 30 percent of your credit limit. For the best scores, aim for under 10 percent.

• Pay down balances aggressively before applying for your mortgage.

• Avoid running up new charges while you’re in the loan approval process.

4. Closing Old Credit Accounts

You might think closing unused credit cards will help your credit, but the opposite is true. Closing an account reduces your available credit, which increases your utilization ratio. It can also shorten the length of your credit history, another factor lenders use to evaluate you.

In Jacksonville, where many buyers are competing for homes, even a small drop in your score can make the difference between securing a great rate and paying more over the life of your loan.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Keep old accounts open, even if you rarely use them.

• If you’re worried about fees, consider cards with no annual fee.

• Use older accounts occasionally for small purchases, then pay them off to keep them active.

5. Ignoring Errors on Your Credit Report

Credit reports are not always perfect. Errors like duplicate accounts, incorrect late payments, or accounts that don’t belong to you can all hurt your score. Unfortunately, many borrowers don’t realize mistakes exist until they’ve already applied for a mortgage.

Since lenders rely heavily on your credit report, even small inaccuracies can create big problems when buying a home in Jacksonville.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Request a free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com.

• Review it carefully for errors at least 6–12 months before applying for a mortgage.

• Dispute inaccuracies right away with the credit bureau and follow up until they are corrected.

6. Taking On New Loans or Large Debts

Buying a new car, financing a boat, or co-signing a loan for a friend right before applying for a mortgage can throw your debt-to-income ratio out of balance. Even if you have great credit, lenders may decide you’re overextended.

In Jacksonville’s competitive housing market, lenders want assurance that you can comfortably handle a mortgage on top of your existing obligations.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Postpone big purchases until after closing.

• If you need a vehicle, consider buying it months before applying for your mortgage so your lender can see a stable payment history.

• Think twice before co-signing loans, since you’ll be legally responsible if the other person defaults.

7. Applying Without Professional Guidance

Many future homeowners try to navigate the mortgage process alone. While online tools can be helpful, they don’t replace the value of working with an experienced mortgage broker who understands the Jacksonville market.

Without expert guidance, you might not know which credit factors matter most to lenders, or you could make moves that unintentionally hurt your chances of approval.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Work with a trusted mortgage professional who can review your credit, explain your options, and guide you through the process.

• Ask questions about timing, down payments, and loan products tailored to your situation.

• Get pre-approved before shopping for homes so you know exactly where you stand and what you can afford.

Protect Your Credit, Secure Your Future Home

Buying a home in Jacksonville, FL, is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make. Your credit profile is the foundation of that process. By avoiding these seven common mistakes, late payments, opening new accounts, maxing out credit cards, closing old accounts, ignoring errors, taking on new debt, and applying without guidance, you’ll set yourself up for success.

With the right preparation, you can qualify for a mortgage with confidence and move into the Jacksonville home you’ve been dreaming about.