Buying a home is an ideal investment for many people because not only is it a place that belongs to them, it can also be very beneficial financially. While you may be strongly considering buying a home for these reasons, it's also important to be in good financial health so that your ideal home purchase is within reach. If you're currently perusing the market for prospects, here are some reasons you should pay down debt before taking the leap into home ownership. Good Credit History The amount … [Read more...]
Spouse with Bad Credit? 3 Reasons You’ll Want to Consider a Co-signer for Your Mortgage
Obtaining a mortgage can be quite a complicated process even without the financial hurdles, but if your spouse's credit has experienced a number of difficulties, acquiring a mortgage can be even more of a burden. If you're concerned about what bad credit will mean for your mortgage and are weighing your options, here are some reasons why it might be important to use a co-signer for your application. Increasing The Likelihood Of Approval From getting an education to purchasing your first … [Read more...]
FICO Scores 101: How to Shop for a New Mortgage Without Harming Your Credit Score
It's difficult to begin shopping around for a new mortgage without the facts on how this can affect your FICO score. Anybody who is holding off for fear that their credit score will be ruined by multiple credit checks has nothing to worry about. Mortgage brokers require this information to give an accurate quote, so many credit checks by different companies will have a miniscule effect on credit scores. The system has been designed this way because a mortgage is not considered to be 'bad debt' … [Read more...]
Will Missing Mortgage Payments Impact My FICO Score? Yes – and Here’s How
If you're like most homeowners, you probably believe that one missed mortgage payment won't have a noticeable impact on your FICO score. People get behind now and then, and besides, you've been faithfully making payments on time for years. How bad could it be? In truth, even one missed mortgage payment could seriously damage your FICO score. Lenders can report missed monthly payments whenever they choose - they don't need to wait until a certain date to do it. That means even if your mortgage … [Read more...]
Understanding the Basics of How the Adjustable Rate Mortgage or ‘ARM’ Works
As the 2009 recession fades into the sunset, the home buying market is showing signs of improvement in areas all over the United States. With more home buyers now entering the market, this becomes a good time to discuss one popular type of mortgage called the "Adjustable Rate Mortgage" or ARM. What is an Adjustable Rate Mortgage? An adjustable rate mortgage is a non-traditional home loan offered by lenders where the interest rate is tied to a specific rate index. The applicable rate on this type … [Read more...]
