Can You Change Jobs While Buying a House?
Buying a house can be a long, involved process. But when income and employment factors play a key role in the mortgage application, what happens if you have to change jobs during the house-buying process?
Things to Consider
When it comes to whether or not you can change jobs while buying a house, there are a few things to consider:
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- The type of loan: Different loan programs have different requirements; some may require that you have a job before you apply, while others may allow for job changes.
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- The lender: Different lenders handle job changes differently, so be sure to ask yours how they look at employment.
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- Your particular situation: Generally, job changes are less of a factor if you moved to a similar job in the same industry, if you are going from part-time to full-time, or if you are changing to a higher-paying job.
Pros and Cons
There are benefits and drawbacks to changing jobs while in the process of buying a house:
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- Pros: Changing to a better job or a raise in pay can help boost your financial picture and your chances of approval.
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- Cons: If you switch to a job in a different or less stable industry or a lower-paying job than your previous one, the lender may consider you to be a higher risk and may choose not to approve your loan or increase the interest rate.
Bottom Line
Changing jobs during the process of buying a house can be tricky, but it is possible. Whether you have to change jobs or not, be sure to talk to your lender about their specific employment requirements before submitting an application for a mortgage.