If your income is fixed, focus on lowering your ratio.

A higher score lowers your interest rate, saving you hundreds monthly.

Look for "fixer-uppers" that qualify for an FHA 203(k) loan , which lets you roll renovation costs into the mortgage. 📝 Key Requirements to Prepare Before applying, you will generally need to provide: Two years of steady employment history. Tax returns and W-2s for the last two years.