Three moves to make before buying a home in 2026

(InvestigateTV) — Planning ahead is essential when buying a home, and experts say it is never too early to start.

Cherry Dale, vice president of financial education at Virginia Credit Union, said there are three areas buyers should focus on before entering the market.

Dale said buyers should aim for a credit score in the higher 600s. Credit scores range from 300 to 850.

“You want to be in the higher 600,” Dale said. “A good place to start is 600, if you’re trying to kind of rebuild that, keep in mind it’s risk based so the higher the credit score hopefully the better rate you would get on that loan.”

Dale said lenders will also look at a buyer’s debt-to-income ratio, or DTI, which includes credit card, car loan and personal debt. She said buyers should pull their credit report and calculate how much of their monthly income is going toward debt payments.

“If you’re at 10 percent, that’s a pretty good place actually,” Dale said. “If you have no debt that’s a wonderful place to begin because you can afford more house. When you are getting to the point of getting that mortgage, you want to stay under 40.”

Dale said buyers should also work to build a down payment by creating a dedicated home fund and automating savings into that account.