Balance Transfer prior to Mortgage Application

Inapickle80

Around April/May 2023 my ex partner will be coming off of our joint mortgage (all amicable) so I can become sole owner of our currently joint owned property. 

I have credit card debt which I won’t be able to clear prior to the sole application and it’s too soon to risk a new balance transfer on my credit report. 

My question is, would a balance transfer between two of my existing credit cards go against me? 

Barclays have offered me a balance transfer on my existing card and I’m all for saving money on interest, however I also wouldn’t want a transfer to affect my credit score. 

Am I best to stay as is and just suck it up on the interest I’m paying on another card, or am I ok to shift across?

I have had a look online but all the answers seem to be for a new card application.

Thanks in advance. 

MorningcoffeeIV

It would definitely affect your score but that doesn't matter as no one will ever know.

You'd still have the same indebtedness and no new credit, so would have minimal impact. It's also a far better look to have debt at 0%.

Inapickle80

MorningcoffeeIV said:

It would definitely affect your score but that doesn't matter as no one will ever know.

How do you mean? Surely the mortgage company will check my score too? Depending on the credit agency my score is pretty good. Between 603 and 999 on TotallyMoney and Experian respectively. 

MorningcoffeeIV

No one ever sees your credit score except you. It's a made up number for the CRA, provided purely for fun. Lenders assess you for risk, based on their own criteria.

As you can see, you scores differ dramatically, depending on who has made it up.

ACG

In theory you should be fine. 
But you could find it is a problem with a couple of lenders if credit reports have not updated in time to show one cleared off.

If you do it, maybe speak to a broker before making any applications. 
Aside from that, it could affect your credit score having a new credit check but thats probably more of an issue if you are a border line application.