Check the store plan against the actual floor measurements before cutting anything.

Was he a younger guy or had he been doing this awhile? I had a similar thing happen with my first mortgage and honestly it stung at the time but it saved me from a world of pain. The guy basically told me I was house poor before I even moved in and I hated him for it back then. Looking back now, that brutal honesty was the best gift anyone ever gave me financially. It's so rare to find someone who wont just push you through the paperwork to make a commission. I'm really glad he took the time to help you fix your credit instead of just sending you on your way.

Dropping the load lower just makes the swing worse in my book.