Before You Apply for a Mortgage, Try This Simple Credit Card Trick to Give Yourself a Real Advantage 💳

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make. And when it comes to securing the best mortgage, every little bit counts — especially your credit score. One simple move before you apply can potentially boost your score and give you a major advantage with lenders.

Here’s the trick 👇

Pay Down Your Credit Cards — But Timing Is Everything
We all know it’s important to pay our credit card bills on time. But if you’re about to apply for a mortgage, there’s a smarter way to manage those balances — one that can actually raise your credit score before the lender checks it.

Here’s what to do:

➡️ Pay down your credit card balances to under 30% of the credit limit.
➡️ Do it before your statement closing date — not just before the due date.

That’s it. But it makes a big difference.

Why This Works
Most people assume their credit score is based only on whether they pay their bills on time. That’s only part of the picture.

When lenders check your credit score, one of the biggest factors they see is your credit utilization ratio — that’s the percentage of your available credit that you’re currently using.

The key here is that your utilization is reported to the credit bureaus on your statement closing date, not your payment due date.

So if you wait until the due date to pay off a big balance, your credit report might still show a high usage — even if you pay in full every month. That high usage can drag down your score right when it matters most.

Example:
Credit limit: $5,000
Balance before statement closing: $3,800 (76% utilization)
Balance after early payment: $1,000 (20% utilization)
That drop in utilization can translate to a higher credit score — instantly.

Why It Matters When Applying for a Mortgage
Even a small bump in your credit score can mean:

✅ A better interest rate – Which can save you tens of thousands in interest over the life of the loan.
✅ Lower monthly payments – A better rate = lower monthly cost.
✅ Higher loan approval amount – A higher score can improve your overall borrower profile.

This is especially powerful if your score is right on the edge of a better credit tier (like moving from a 679 to a 680+ or 719 to 720+). That one point could be worth thousands.

Final Thoughts: It’s Simple, But It Works
If you’re even thinking about applying for a mortgage soon, take this one step:

🗓️ Mark your statement closing dates.
💳 Pay balances down to under 30% before that date.

Even better? If you can, go below 10% utilization — that’s where the biggest credit score boosts often kick in.

I’ve seen this simple credit card strategy make a huge difference for clients. It takes a little planning, but it could be the edge you need to secure the home (and the rate) you want.

Pro tip: Want to go a step further? Request a credit limit increase (without a hard inquiry). That way, your utilization drops even if your spending stays the same.