Does Shopping Around for A Mortgage Pre-Approval Hurt Your Credit Rating?

Smart homebuyers know that mortgage rates and terms can vary widely among lenders. While your credit score and history will influence what rates and terms you’re offered, there’s a wide range of flexibility, which means shopping around for a pre-approval makes sense. At the same time, it’s important to minimize credit inquiries to protect your credit rating. What is Mortgage Pre-Approval? Mortgage pre-approval is often mistaken for mortgage pre-qualification. Pre-qualification is a process whereby the borrower personally submits their financial information to the lender. Pre-approval is the process whereby the lender does their own vetting regarding the income, debt and…
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What Is A High Enough Credit Score For A Mortgage?

There are many people who are interested in purchasing a home for the first time. Even though many first-time homeowners are interested in the sticker price of a home, it is just as important to consider credit scores. Anyone who requires financing to purchase a home will have to go through a credit check. What credit score is considered high enough for a home loan? What do people have to do if they want to increase their credit scores? What Credit Bureaus Do Lenders Use? First, a credit score is a reflection of someone's overall financial health. A lender wants to…
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Boosting Your Credit Score To Qualify For Better Rates

The better your credit score, the better the mortgage interest rate for which you should qualify. That can mean thousands of dollars saved over the life of the mortgage. If your credit score needs improving, get started prior to your search for a new home. Pay Bills On Time The simplest way to boost your credit score is by ensuring your bills are always paid on time. Nothing harms a credit score more than late payments. Check for Credit Report Errors Check your credit reports for any errors. These issues are not uncommon, and can really impact your score. Each…
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What Are The Most Common Mistakes Homeowners Make When Refinancing?

There are lots of people who are looking to take advantage of low interest rates to refinance their homes. This provides homeowners with an opportunity to save tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. It could also allow homeowners to access equity to finance a home renovation or shave years off their mortgage. On the other hand, there are also a lot of people who make mistakes during the refinancing process. What are some of the mistakes that everyone should make sure they avoid? Avoid Saying Yes To Loan Forbearance On A Mortgage First, try to…
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A Late Payment: Credit Score Impact

This has been a difficult year for everyone. There are a lot of people who are worried that they might not be able to keep up with their mortgage payments. Small businesses have had to close their doors and numerous individuals have been laid off from work. It is important for homeowners to understand that banks do not want people to foreclose on their homes either. Therefore, they are often willing to work out an alternate payment plan with homeowners who are struggling due to dire financial situations. Those who are late on a mortgage payment might be wondering how this…
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