Which factor is least likely to influence a mortgage application?

The borrower’s personal preferences are least likely to influence a mortgage application because mortgage lenders primarily focus on objective financial metrics and creditworthiness when assessing an application. Factors such as credit score, employment history, and debt-to-income ratio provide measurable indicators of a borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

Credit scores reflect a borrower’s creditworthiness based on their credit history, while employment history indicates job stability and capacity for income. The debt-to-income ratio is a financial metric used to evaluate a borrower’s ability to manage monthly payments and other debts. Personal preferences, such as a borrower’s aesthetic desires for a property or specific features they may want, do not have a tangible impact on the lender's assessment of risk and repayment likelihood. Therefore, personal preferences are generally not a determining factor in the underwriting decision process for mortgages.