Uncategorized category


Cut Utility Costs – Improve Your Credit

August 2, 2012 | Posted by Blair Warner | 2 Comments

Cutting costs to get out of debt

Click for a free credit evaluation

I admit, the title was designed to get you to read this posts. However, it’s true; when trying to get out of debt and improve your credit profile, it is often important to look at your finances and expenses and come up with ways to save money so that you can pay down any debt you may need to in order to increase your score and reach your financial goals. One of the biggest expenses we have, besides food and shelter, are utility bills like electricity, water, telephone, etc. Today’s blog looks at some tips for saving money on your electric bill, the biggest portion of your utility bills.

First, Reevaluate your monthly electric bills. Read through your bills and understand what all the charges are for. Start by determining how much electricity you use. Understand what each itemized fee is, and even look at the kilowatt usage. Compare each month and season’s usage, and use the monthly usage from the previous 12 months to determine the approximate value. (Follow the same process for your water bill, telephone bill and internet bill. Some people have an HOA bill as well.)

Consider the amount of energy you use at night. Many people burn a great deal of energy at night, leaving lights on and appliances running while they sleep. Make sure your T.V., computers, and any unused ceiling fans are turned off, as well as unplug gadgets such as cellphone and radio devices, as they can suck energy. (It’s not good for your device batteries anyway, to keep charging after a full charge).

Change your lighting. If you use a particular light more than 30 minutes a day it is economically worth it to replace the bulb with a high-quality LED or compact flourescent bulb to save money.

Pay attention to heating and air-conditioning. The heating and air-conditioning systems probably account for the largest portion of your monthly electric bill. There are several good tips you can follow to save electrical use for these items.

  • Make sure and change your filters regularly. Don’t use the so-called permanent filters. They can cause your system to not function at full capacity, and put strain on the unit, even requiring a sooner-than-normal replacement.
  • Is your house properly insulated? A well-insulated home will not leak heat or cool-air.
  • Use a fan instead of an air-conditioner when you can. It is far less costly. Also, turning your thermostat up a little, to even 77 or 78 degrees and using a fan will do wonders in cutting costs.


  • Decrease energy use by your refrigerator and freezer. They use a great deal of energy. Of course, you can’t very well turn off the refrigerator. There are a few things you can do. Make sure the door is closed when not in use, and check all the sealing gaskets around the doors to make sure they seal well. Lastly, make sure there is plenty of ventilation by leaving plenty of space between the refrigerator and the wall.

    Use the oven and stove in ways that uses less energy. When using the stove, use the right pots for the right burner size. Turn the stove off five minutes before the cooking time ends. Keep the oven door closed as much as possible and try not to preheat it if possible. Finally, turn off the oven 10 minutes before the food is ready.

    Use energy-efficient appliances. Technology has come a long way in developing energy-efficient appliances, especially for the most often used ones.

    As a last tip, make sure the washing machine and dish washer are as full as possible before each use so as to reduce the number of times they are used. Furthermore, in most cases, it is ok to use cold water which will reduce energy use more than you would think.

    As David Horowitz says “Being energy-efficient is not only good for the environment, but is one of the most important ways in which you can cut costs.”

    I know this is not your typical blog topic you see on a credit repair and credit counseling website, but I hope you received some great ideas on how to save money.

    By Blair Warner

    How Soon Can I Buy A Home After a Short Sale?

    June 21, 2012 | Posted by Blair Warner | No Comments

    Short SalesHow soon can I buy a home after a Short Sale? This is one of the many questions that buyers ask us before they decide to move forward with a short sale on their home. Many times it is one of the last obstacles to moving forward with a short sale. I heard of a family delaying their decision over a year which ultimately delayed resolving their problem and being ready to buy a new, more suitably priced home the same length of time. The sooner you can move beyond your fears and hesitations and get the information you need, the sooner you will be able and ready to buy again when your credit is repaired.

    How soon can I buy a house after a short sale? As soon as 2 years! This will vary from borrower to borrower and from lender to lender but the avg recovery time to purchase again seems to be roughly 2 years after a short sale. Please consult with your mortgage expert to be sure.

    How soon can I buy a house after a foreclosure? 3-7 years depending on circumstances and the original lender and loan. It is VERY IMPORTANT to speak with a specialist in the areas of real estate, mortgage lending and credit before making any decisions about a short sale or foreclosure. It might even be wise to consult your attorney if he is familiar with short sales.

    In many cases (not all) buyer’s have worked with a credit repair organization to move the process along further and faster. This may or may not be the best option for you and your family. We would encourage you to get the information you need by taking advantage of our FREE consultation so you can make an informed decision. Additionally, after a short sale, take your time, save and prepare yourself for the right buying opportunity.

    We would love the opportunity to chat with you about your unique situation and about your buying options after a short sale. Give us a call at 888-586-2261 or contact us through the form on this page of our website and we will be in touch.

    I hope you found this helpful.

    By Blair Warner

    The 10 Commandments of a Good Credit Score

    June 3, 2012 | Posted by Blair Warner | 5 Comments

    A common question I get asked is, “what is the secret to a good credit score?” I always hate to answer it so matter-of-factly and quickly because I know they are hoping I can perform magic. The simple answer is, though, the only way to get one is to demonstrate financial responsibility. “Creditors don’t care about how many millions you may have in your investment account, it’s how you use your credit,” says Maxine Sweet, vice president, public education for Experian.

    However, there are some tips for using your credit, and like many things in life, it’s what you don’t do that can have a positive effect on your credit score.


    Steer Clear of These 10 Things:

    1. Thou Shalt Not Avoid Using Credit. If you don’t use credit, you won’t have much of a credit score. To Quote Sweet again, “A credit score is an important tool companies use to protect themselves”. The lower the score, the higher the risk, and this can affect whether or not a loan is approved.

    2. Thou Shalt Not Miss Payments. Paying a bill late will hurt your credit, but missing a payment will damage it even more. “If you do so, you can’t make it up,” Sweet says. In other words, making two payments in the next billing cycle will not remove the blemish from your credit history. Whether or not you pay your bills on time determines 33% of your score.

    3. Thou Shalt Not Limit Loan Types. Despite what your bank account may think, a car payment and a mortgage may not be enough. Also managing an installment debt, such as a credit card, is a good indicator of credit savviness. There are five elements to the credit score model and revolving credit, which allows consumers to charge and owe different amounts each month, is one of them. “It’s 10% of the score,” says Gail Cunningham, vice president of public relations for National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

    4. Thou Shalt Not Close Unused Credit Card Accounts. Actually, just use caution, says Sweet. A factor in credit score models is your utilization, which is your debt vs. how much is available. For instance, if you owe $4,800 on a card with a $5,000 limit, you’re using most of your available credit and this “utilization” will have a negative impact on your score. Counting toward 30 percent, your utilization is the second highest factor in your credit score. You should charge no more than 30% of your available credit, recommends Cunningham.

    5. Thou Shalt Not Be A Credit Tease. Don’t run up charges all over town or apply for several cards at once while looking for the best rewards program. Recent inquiries means that you have accessed your credit and this can affect your score negatively. “This signals that you’re desperate for credit and don’t have enough cash available for your purchases,” says Cunningham. She adds that if you are shopping for a major purchase, such as a mortgage or car loan, the inquiries will usually roll together into one.

    6. Thou Shalt Not Rob Peter To Pay Paul. Don’t charge anything unless you know how and when you are going to pay it back. One of the benefits of credit is the ability to spread out payments on a big purchase, not to delay paying with hopes that the money will come in – from somewhere. If you need to use a credit card for convenience, use a prepaid card or a secured card that enables you to make payments to your own line of credit.

    7. Thou Shalt Not Get On The Call List. When a debt turns into a collection account, it’s an indication that you got yourself in hot water. Once a collection agency jumps into the arena, it becomes the owner of the debt, which will show on your credit history. Trying to make payments to the original debtor will not make the collection agency or the negative mark on your credit go away.

    8. Thou Shalt Not Forget The Little Things. That library fine you didn’t pay or the health club contract you signed but didn’t honor can show up on your credit report. Any debtor has the right to report unpaid bills to the credit bureaus, and many of them exercise that right.

    9. Thou Shalt Not Negotiate. On paying less than what you owe, that is. If you cannot repay a debt in full and a creditor agrees to settle for less than you owe, you haven’t won the battle. The transaction will be reported as a settled account and this will hurt your credit score. Instead of negotiating to lower the overall amount of the debt, ask to have your interest rate or monthly payment lowered so that you can continue to pay the debt off in full. (Sometimes negotiating is the best choice. Each case is different)

    10. Thou Shalt Not Give Up. If you have late payments, missed payments, defaulted loans, and similar credit mess-ups in-between, don’t give up and think that your credit history is ruined. Although offenses like these generally stay on your credit history for seven years, the recovery clock doesn’t start ticking until you have one full month of paying all of your debts on time, says Sweet.

    Adapted from FreeCreditReport.com, a part of Experian. (excluding introductory paragraph)

    Posted by Blair Warner

    Mortgage Originators: FHA Delays Collection Payoff Rule

    April 8, 2012 | Posted by Blair Warner | No Comments

      FHA Delays Implementation of Collection Payoff Rule

    Looks like the public outcry has FHA rethinking their position. Note in bold–wording regarding seeking additional input.

    Posted as an FHA notice late April 6:

    In order to allow Mortgagees additional time to adapt their procedures to implement portions of the new guidance found in Mortgagee Letter 2012-03 (ML 2012-03), FHA is delaying the effective date of the following topics from ML 2012-03:

    Handling of Disputed Accounts, Public Records FHA Total User Guide Chapter 2, and
    Handbook 4155.1 4.C.2.e, Paying off Collections and Judgments.

    The new effective date of this section is delayed until July 1, 2012. Prior to the effective date, FHA intends to seek additional input on this section and work to clarify guidance, as appropriate.

    The Mortgagee Letter and FHA Total Scorecard User Guide will be updated and posted to HUD’s website on Monday April 9, 2012. Please Note: With this extension, any case numbers assigned prior to July 1, 2012 are subject to the previous guidance in effect for the subject topics.

    From OriginationPro Blog Post April 7, 2012:

    This means we have 3 more months to get more loans closed. It also means there is more time to come up with a workable plan for implementing the new rulings once they do come into effect.

    Best to you!

    By Blair Warner
    I am on Google+

    How Are FICO Scores Determined?

    March 28, 2012 | Posted by Blair Warner | 2 Comments

    There are five factors that contribute to determining your credit score:

      Payment History
      Amount Owed (ratio)
      Length of Credit History
      Taking on More Debt (Inquiries)
      Types of Credit in Use

    1. How you pay your bills – Your credit history (35 percent of the score)
    This is the most important factor; how you’ve paid your bills in the past, with the strongest emphasis on recent activity (2 years or less.) Paying all your bills on time is good. Paying them late is not, and particularly on a consistent basis. Few things hurt your score as heavily as past due payments. Having accounts that were sent to collections is even worse. Declaring bankruptcy is the worst. Think long and hard before filing for bankruptcy. It most cases, it simply isn’t worth it.

    2. Your debt to your available credit ratio (30 percent)
    The second most important area is your outstanding debt — how much money you owe on unsecured and secured loans, with emphasis on revolving credit. Revolving credit is credit cards, and lines of credit. Installment loans include car loans, personal loans, mortgages, etc.). The ratio of available credit to debt (account balance) is an important ratio. Try to keep the ratio of available credit to credit used, also called utilization ratio, below 30%.

    Some underwriters place importance on the total amount of credit you have available. If you have 10 credit cards that each have $5,000 credit limits, that’s $50,000 of available credit. Statistically, people who have a lot of credit available tend to use it, which makes them a less attractive credit risk. However, please note, this is less important to FICO’s credit score algorithm.

    3. Length of credit history (15 percent)
    The third consideration is the length of your credit history. The longer you’ve had credit — particularly if it’s with the same credit issuers — the more points you’ll get.

    4. Types/Mix of credit (10 percent)
    The best scores will have a mix of both revolving credit, such as credit cards, and installment credit, such as mortgages and car loans. “Statistically, consumers with a richer variety of experiences are better credit risks,” Watts says. “They know how to handle money.”

    5. New credit applications – Also called inquiries (10 percent)
    The final category is how many credit applications you’re filling out, called intquiries. The scoring model compensates for people who are rate shopping for the best mortgage or car loan rates, but not for revolving type loans, payday loans, etc. The only time shopping really hurts your score is when you have previous recent credit stumbles, such as late payments or bills sent to collections.




    It is our greatest desire that our blog posts are helpful to you. Your comments and thoughts are welcome.

    By Blair Warner
    Google Plus Profile

    Upgrade My Credit Home Page

    What is credit repair anyway?

    May 1, 2011 | Posted by Blair Warner | No Comments

    It seems like a new business networking group springs up every week. This last week, I was asked to join a new group by the name of Cup of Coffee Networkers. From what I can tell, it is primarily an online group, so I am still trying to figure out how this avid coffee-drinking connoisseur is going to get his cup of coffee. Actually, I think the goal is to start online and then organize groups offline step by step. Are they going to meet at coffee shops?

    All humor aside, it is a fact that business networking groups are the in thing these days. A popular one that I personally attend is Netweavers– SAKM Netweavers (South Arlington, Kennedale, Mansfield) . You are probably asking “what does this have to do with the title ‘What is credit repair anyway?'” Well, I am glad you asked. One of the key components of any networking group is to meet with other members one-on-one in order to get to know each other and their respective businesses better. Without fail, whenever I do a one-on-one with someone they either ask “what is credit repair anyway?” or, “so, how does credit repair work?”. That is the question I am waiting for them to ask. I love to answer it.

    Credit repair in a nutshell:

    The first step is to obtain your credit reports and get them to us. Once we’ve received your credit reports, we will analyze your credit history to identify items that are responsible for bringing your credit score down – including not having enough current positive credit.

    Upgrade Your Credit

    We will recommend and provide ways to increase your score, as well as draft letters to dispute the negative items on your behalf. Upgrade My Credit’s letters are expertly designed such that credit bureaus will accept the dispute and conduct an investigation.

    A disputed credit listing must be verified as accurate and within the correct time constraints for it to remain on the credit report. If the credit listings contain an error, the credit bureau may simply correct the item, but, very often, disputed credit items cannot be verified because either the creditor no longer possesses necessary information or does not to go to the effort of verifying it. Furthermore, the investigation must be completed within 30 days or the listing must be removed. For these reasons, properly disputed credit listings are removed from your credit report with remarkable frequency.

    At the conclusion of the credit bureau’s investigation, a new copy of the credit report is sent to you along with any deletions or improvements. You then provide us with a copy of the new credit report and the cycle repeats itself at strategic intervals and according to a personalized plan for reaching your goals.

    The above process can be done DIY (Do it yourself), as the laws used by Upgrade My Credit and all credit restoration companies were written for the consumer. However, for some reason, the government did not write the laws consumer-user friendly. And, just like we need a CPA or even have someone mow the lawn for us, often times, it is more efficient and quicker to let a professional help.

    In addition to credit repair, Upgrade My Credit offers many more financial and credit services to help you build and manage your financial future well, such as personal budgeting help, debt reduction programs, classes and workshops, bankruptcy counseling, etc.

    Well, that is it in a nutshell. Hope it has answered the question “what is credit repair?”.

    Here’s to your financial future!

    Blair Warner – Founder and Sr. Credit Consultant

    What Is Your Story?

    February 17, 2011 | Posted by Blair Warner | 3 Comments

    I met with a past client the other day whose story inspired me, and I want to share it with you toward that same end — that you will be inspired. At the beginning of this story this person was in her late 30’s, had 3 children (not 2.3) and a hard-working, devoted husband. Things were rolling along uneventful, so to speak, when her husband was suddenly killed, almost instantly, when hit by a speeding car while checking the mail. Needless to say, her life was turned upside down and very challenging on many fronts for a while. Fortunately, Spring comes after Winter, and she is well on her way to a happy ending.

    continue story           Click “return to original post” to return here..

    what is your credit story? Everyone has a story. In fact, it is your story that makes you unique. Stories offer the listener a new perspective, new experience, even a new adventure of sorts, while at the same time often sounding a ring of familiarity to each one of us as a common member of the human race. That’s why it is said “everyone LOVES a story” — and stories are not just for children. Look at how many movies and novels are pumped out every year. It is also said that “‘everyone has a story”. What is your story? Have you thought about what you would share with someone if you had 5-10 min to share a story of your life in a way that would leave the listeners …… kind of a “Personal Chicken Soup”? Of course, there are stories of the personal, private nature. I am not asking for stories reserved for those closest to us, but for those that if shared will inspire and encourage. Inspire us! Share it as a comment.

    At Upgrade My Credit we get to hear, and be a part of many people’s stories as they come to us with credit, debt and budget problems affecting their financial lives and futures. It is our privilege to help.

    Cheers,

    By Blair Warner

    Credit Reports, Credit Repair, credit counseling, Credit Restoration, Credit Cards, Credit Score, Debt Settlement, build credit, debt, foreclosure, identity theft, medical bills, free credit repair, bankruptcy, Credit Repair Fort Worth, Credit Repair Arlington, Credit Repair Dallas, Credit Repair Plano, Credit Repair North Richland Hills, Credit Repair Mansfield, Credit Repair Kennedale,