Credit Improvement

Credit Myths That Can Hurt Your Mortgage Approval

Common misconceptions that quietly delay closings.

5 min readUpdated 2026Credit Improvement

"Carrying a balance helps my score."

It doesn't. Pay balances in full and you'll still build history.

"Checking my own credit hurts my score."

Consumer soft pulls don't affect your score.

"Closing cards improves my score."

Usually the opposite — you shrink your available credit and history.

Key takeaways

  • Pay in full; don't close old cards; check your own report freely.

Frequently asked questions

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