Photo by bongkarn thanyakij from Pexels
Shopping for a new home should be an exciting experience, but if you are unsure of where you stand with your credit, it can be a little nerve-wracking. Having good credit will not only help you to secure more favorable interest rates for your mortgage, but it can also help you to avoid less favorable loan structures, higher down payments, and additional costs such as PMI. The best way to prepare yourself for your financing is to whip your credit into shape before your hunt begins. Check out three ways to help prep your credit.
Collections are delinquent accounts that can seriously affect your credit score. Review your credit report and address any collections that are listed. If there are ones on there in error, file a dispute with the credit bureaus. If you owe the debt and can pay it, contact the collection company and ask if you can satisfy the debt by paying it and have it removed from the report. Finally, if you can not afford to pay the whole debt, discuss with the creditor possible settlement options.
When you open a new credit card or credit account, it can affect your credit in multiple ways. First, it will count as a hard inquiry, which can slightly lower your score, and secondly, it may change the average of your credit history. Mortgage companies don't like to see a lot of credit being acquired right before a mortgage is being established, so if it can wait, let it wait until the mortgage is secured.
If you have the means to reduce the balance of your credit cards, now is the ideal time. Your credit score is affected by your credit card balances in two primary ways. The first being the amount of debt that is listed on all of your credit cards. The second is the ratio of the amount owed on your card in relation to the credit limit on the card. A good ratio is less than 30%, so to keep your credit score high, you will want to be below this percentage. Paying a large chunk of your debt can increase your score by several points, and also improve your debt to income ratio. Just be sure to do this at least thirty days out so that the new balance is reflected when your score is pulled.
Don't let poor credit lower your chances of buying the home that you always wanted. Follow the tips above to pump up your credit before applying for your next mortgage. Even a few points can mean significant savings.
“I sell your home like it's mine”
A licensed real estate salesperson since 2016, Rob is affiliated with the Briarcliff Manor office of Corcoran Legends Realty. He serves buyers, sellers, renters, in Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties. Rob, a native of New York and Westchester County for most of his life, brings an extensive local knowledge of both residential and commercial properties to the table. His experience includes a wide range of property types – single-family, multi-family, condos and mixed use. “Hard to sell” properties is where Rob really excels. “There’s no problem that cannot be solved.”
Rob is certified for many different disciplines in real estate. Cartus Relocation Network Agent, AARP Agent, National Tenants Network (NTN) Agent, Green certified and Pricing Strategies Master. In addition, Rob has completed the Leader’s Edge Advanced training to better serve his clients. Rob has been both associate of the month and top closed dollar agent.
When you work with Rob, you get the feeling you’re his only client. Numbers don’t count, you do. Clients always come first. Each transaction is handled as if it were his own home. Rob strives to make the process as seamless as possible and takes care of all the details, no matter how small. His clients rave about his above-and-beyond service and prompt informative communication. Rob is easy going, friendly, and patient. However he can be a determined and aggressive negotiator when the need arises.
When not out actively working on behalf of his clients, Rob spends time with his wife and two teenage daughters. A devoted supporter of community he sits on several local boards and volunteers for numerous locale nonprofit organizations. He enjoys cycling, hiking, kayaking and winter skiing.
“May your price be right, and your sale be swift!”