Tag: credit score
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Credit-smart Shopping Tips for Black Friday
Read more: Credit-smart Shopping Tips for Black FridayAre you a savvy shopper who looks forward to snagging deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday? If so, you might be surprised to learn that these shopping days can also provide valuable lessons in managing your finances—especially if you’re considering buying a new home. In fact, adopting a credit-smart approach during this bustling shopping…
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How to Shop for a Mortgage Without Hurting Your Credit (Much)
Read more: How to Shop for a Mortgage Without Hurting Your Credit (Much)Wondering how to shop for a mortgage without hurting your credit? It’s a valid concern, but don’t worry. From narrowing down your lending options to paying down your credit cards, we’ve rounded up some tips to help you protect your credit score while scoring the home of your dreams! Read more.
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Mortgage Infographic: Get Your Credit Ready Before You Apply
Read more: Mortgage Infographic: Get Your Credit Ready Before You ApplyLooking to buy a new home soon? We’ve created a handy mortgage infographic to help you understand some of the factors that affect your credit score and the ways you can improve your score—an important consideration for any lender reviewing your mortgage application. Your credit score may influence what types of loans you can qualify…
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How to Manage Your Credit Score During the Holiday Season
Read more: How to Manage Your Credit Score During the Holiday SeasonThe holidays are a tempting time to splurge, but if you’re planning on purchasing a home in the near future, keep a close eye on your bills. ‘Tis the season for holiday spending, but the five tips below will help keep your credit score in great shape. We’ve outlined eight valuable tips for managing your…
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What Credit Score Do I Need for a Mortgage?
Read more: What Credit Score Do I Need for a Mortgage?Wondering what credit score you need to qualify for a mortgage? You’d be wise to ask. Your credit score (also known as a FICO® score) is one of the most important elements of qualifying for a home loan—and helps lenders determine your interest rate in the event you do qualify. While there isn’t a strict…
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5 Things to Do Before You Contract on a New Home
Read more: 5 Things to Do Before You Contract on a New HomeWe recommend having a checklist of things to research and do in the days and weeks leading up to your home purchase. A few simple steps can help you feel prepared, well-informed and ready to sign that contract with confidence. 1. Scope out neighborhoods If you’re moving within the same area of town, researching the…
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5 Ways to Help Maintain (or Improve) Your Credit Score
Read more: 5 Ways to Help Maintain (or Improve) Your Credit ScoreKeeping a spotless credit history can be tough, but if you’re hoping to buy a home, maintaining or improving your credit score is well worth the effort. Factors like your FICO® score help lenders determine your creditworthiness, which in turn affects what mortgage rates, loan amounts and terms they can offer you. Luckily, there are some…
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Online Tools to Improve Credit
Read more: Online Tools to Improve CreditAn acceptable credit score is one of the keys to getting your home loan application approved. Mortgage lenders have historically used FICO® scores—derived from data collected by one or more of the three major credit bureaus—as a major factor in determining whether you qualify for a mortgage. Different mortgage lenders can approve or deny loans based…
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First Steps for Buying a Home After Foreclosure
Read more: First Steps for Buying a Home After ForeclosureIt’s already been a decade since the start of the Great Recession, and many former homeowners sidelined by foreclosure are ready to jump back in the market. If you’re one of them, first of all, hooray! Secondly, we’ve listed a few good first steps to help you navigate the process of buying after foreclosure. We…
