Credit

Credit Insights: Navigating the Path to Homeownership

Discover the importance of credit in the mortgage process and learn how to optimize your credit score to secure the best mortgage rates. Our blog posts in this category offer expert advice on credit management, credit score improvement, and strategies for overcoming common credit challenges. From tips on paying off debt to understanding how credit inquiries affect your score, our articles provide valuable insights to help you navigate the complex world of credit and achieve your dream of homeownership.

Concept image showing a house balanced against weighted blocks on a seesaw, representing the cost-benefit analysis of buying mortgage discount points to lower a home loan interest rate.

What Are Mortgage Points? A Simple Guide to Saving Money on Your Home Loan

If you’ve shopped for a mortgage, you’ve probably heard a lender mention “buying points.” For many homebuyers, mortgage points can feel confusing—but they can be a powerful tool for lowering your monthly payment and saving money over the life of your loan. Here’s what mortgage points are, how they work, and when they may make

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What You Should Know About the New VantageScore 4.0

By John Becker How the New Credit Scoring Model Could Affect Your Future Financing If you’ve ever applied for a mortgage, you know your credit score plays a big role. What you may not know is that a new scoring model—VantageScore 4.0—is changing how lenders evaluate credit, and it could affect you the next time

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Credit Score Improvements & Renovation

New Credit Score Improvements & Home Renovations

Credit Score Improvements The CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) shared a concern to the credit industry regarding medical debt and consumers. The director of the CFPB stated that 58% of the debt and collections on people’s credit reports is medical debt. As a result, the credit bureaus have agreed to alter the data reported on

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Property Taxes and Homeowners’ Insurance Increasing

With property values in much of the country up over 20% year-over-year and more and more catastrophic weather-related situations, real estate property taxes and homeowner’s insurance are likely to be significantly higher this year. If you are a homeowner and you escrow as part of your monthly payment for taxes and insurance, you receive an

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pre-approval when buying a home

Mortgage Update Summer 2021

Now is Your Unique Opportunity to Cash Out Earlier this year, rates started moving higher because of inflation fears. Since that time, the Federal Reserve is done a good job of telegraphing that this inflationary pressure we are feeling is likely transitory. Because of this, investors have become comfortable with this synopsis and rates have

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What Credit Score Do You Need for a Mortgage?

What Credit Score Do You Need for a Mortgage?

According to data from the most recent Origination Insight Report by Ellie Mae, the average FICO® score on closed loans reached 753 in February. As lending standards have tightened recently, many are concerned over whether or not their credit score is strong enough to qualify for a mortgage. While stricter lending standards could be a challenge for some, many buyers may be

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