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The term status quo means different things to different people. 

In England, it's a quote-unquote rock band, for example. In America, "status quo" is something different.  It's an expression often used as an allusion to old and stodgy social mores.  Except in mortgage lending. 

In those circles, status quo is actually a good thing and mortgage applicants would do well to pay attention to it. 

Keeping things the way they are is the best way to make an underwriter smile and not maintaining the status quo is the quickest way to make a mortgage approval can go sideways. 

Now, some influences are outside of a person's control -- changing mortgage guidelines, for example.  But many more are within it. 

Maintaining your mortgage application's status quo can be as simple as following a few basic rules.

Keep your existing mode of transportation

Mortgage approvals consider your total debt obligation and when you buy a new car, you increase your monthly debts. 

Heck, even shopping for one can damage you because some auto dealers check your credit, alerting astute underwriters about the pending purchase. 

Save the shopping and the buying until after the home loan has closed.

Keep your job

Your income and job stability is important to a mortgage underwriter.  Even if you are "trading up" to a better job at a better company, remember that your home loan was pre-approved at your current job with your current income.  You won't get a better interest rate because you're getting paid more.

If you have plans to change jobs, wait until after your home loan closes.

Keep payments on-time to your creditors

When your home loan is being approved, it's not the time to fight with a wireless service provider, insurance company or anybody else that will file a collection against your credit report. 

Even if you don't think you owe them, consider paying your bills because it's usually less expensive to settle than to let it fester.

If you want to stand on principle about debts, wait until after your home loan closes.

Keep your home off the market

Mortgage lenders prefer to lend when they know they'll be collecting interest over time.  Therefore, don't list your home for sale before or during your mortgage approval process.  It's the surest way to have your application denied overnight.

Keep your bank accounts unsuspicious

When lender see large, out-of-character deposits and/or transfer in your bank accounts, they start to ask questions.  A lot of them.  Therefore, if you are depositing gifts and/or transferring monies between accounts, cover your tracks with a detailed paper trail.

If you don't need the money for your closing, don't put it in your account.

Keep your home as-is

Don't start repair work while home financing is underway, or buy big-ticket appliances and/or furniture on credit.  The repair work can adversely impact your appraisal and purchases on credit add to your monthly debt payments.

The mortgage approval process can take as long as 60 days and it's important that the person "on paper" at Day 1 is the same as the person at closing on Day 60.

These basic status quo-maintaining steps aren't the only steps a mortgage applicant should take, but they are a terrific start. 

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Dan Green is an active loan officer. Email or call 513-443-2020. Dan is on Twitter at @mortgagereports.