Sometimes, it's not getting the mortgage approval that's so tough. It's keeping the approval.

Short Sales Are Slow To Close

Unless you're applying for a conventional mortgage or going FHA, getting to the closing table can take up to 2 months, depending on the speed of appraisal, bank signoff, and other factors.

It's especially bad with short sales, foreclosures and short refis.

During those 60 days, a lot can happen to a person that changes their underwriting disposition.  For example, one could lose their job, get injured, or have a home damaged by storm.

And, the more time there is between application and closing, the more likely a catastrophic event is to occur

Of course, catastrophe tends to lead to a mortgage turndown and,  sometimes, bad things just happen.  However, there are things that you can plan for; things within your control.

Good Behavior Matters in Mortgages

Mortgage approvals are fragile, living things and nothing's done until it's done. Good behavior matters.

Keeping that in mind, here are 8 things you should absolutely not do between the date of application and the date of funding.  I've been doing this long enough that I can say with certainty: Ignore these rules at your own peril.

Bad Mortgage Behavior, Defined

1. Don't buy a new car or trade-up to a bigger lease
2. Don't quit your job to change industries or start a new company
3. Don't switch from a salaried job to a heavily-commissioned job
4. Don't transfer large sums of money between bank accounts
5. Don't forget to pay your bills -- even the ones in dispute
6. Don't open new credit cards -- even if you're getting 20% off
7. Don't accept a cash gift without filing the proper "gift" paperwork
8. Don't make random, undocumented deposits into your bank account

Now, it may be impractical to have follow every rule to the letter.  I know that.  For example, if your car lease is expiring,  you have to do what you have to do.  But before renewing the lead, check with your loan officer to see if renting a car for the short-term would be a better solution instead.

It may prove more costly today, but it could be much, much cheaper over the next 30 years of your mortgage.

The same goes for accepting cash gifts from parents.  There's a right way and a wrong way to accept a cash gift and doing it the wrong way may preclude your ability to use the gift as a source of downpayment.

Tread Carefully And Keep Your Credit Scores High

There are a bevy of "gotchas" in Mortgageland and with underwriting times getting longer, it's more likely that the average applicant will trip into one.

Following these 8 rules, though, is a good start.

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