Your offer has been accepted on your dream home and you have a down payment, good credit, and little debt. So the escrow process should be a breeze, right? WRONG! There are some surprising deal breakers that can quickly cause the transaction to go south. Here are a few of the most common ones.

Closing Lines of Credit

Maybe you’ve realized you have a few more credit cards than you’d like your lender to see. Time to shut ’em down before they check your credit, right? Not so fast. Closing down multiple accounts could actually ding your credit. Credit is composed of a few key components, the age of an opened account being one biggie. Shutting down multiple accounts will also lower your credit utilization rates, which can be yet another credit killer. Research the impact of any change to your credit before taking action.

Not Calculating the True Cost of your Mortgage Payment

The cost of homeownership goes far beyond a monthly mortgage check. There are HOA fees, maintenance costs, PMI, etc. Make sure you’ve calculated — and recalculated — whether the cumulative costs will be feasible. You don’t want a nasty surprise when you finally crunch your numbers and realize they don’t fit within your current financial circumstances.

Forgetting Maintenance Costs

Remember that you’ll have to spend much more time and money on the dream house with a pool in the backyard. If you simply don’t have the budget for a home with a pool, communicate this to your agent before you start looking at houses. The last thing you want is to end up falling in love with a home you simply can’t afford to maintain.

Assuming Fixtures are Part of the Deal

Make sure you and the seller agree on exactly what will be included — and what the seller will be taking to their new home sweet home. Things such as light fixtures are often assumed to be a part of the package, but if it’s an heirloom chandelier from the seller’s grandma, chances are they’ll consider it fair game to take when they go. Set out clear expectations of what’s staying and what’s going to avoid any confusion or upset.

Buying a home can be stressful, but with a little preparation (and the right lender and real estate agent) things can go relatively smoothly. No matter what happens, remember to stay flexible. Some things may arise that are out of your control. How you respond can ultimately sway the outcome — and hopefully get you the house of your dreams!