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When it comes to securing financing for a new house or an existing property, getting a great mortgage rate is at the top of all of our lists. This is probably because even a small difference in your mortgage rate can make a BIG difference to the total interest you’ll pay over the lifetime of your mortgage and overall amortization.

The truth is that getting a great mortgage rate often comes down to having great credit.

But did you know that having no credit can be just as damaging as having bad credit?

Did you know that credit reporting agencies don’t verify the information that is given to them? Or did you know that your credit can affect more than just your ability to qualify for loans? In fact, it can affect many of your everyday purchases, from cell phones to insurance to public utilities!

So if you’re looking for tips to improve or repair your credit, read on for valuable advice and recommendations to manage your credit and improve your financial situation you can start today!

First, always make at least your minimum payment on time on every loan, credit card or other debt you owe.

You may think that you can miss a month and then pay extra the following month—but that’s not how the credit card companies operate (or calculate interest). Instead, your required payment will be considered late or delinquent. Most companies will report even one missed payment to the credit reporting agencies – and this can damage your credit score. So make at least the minimum payment on every loan, no matter what, to keep your credit healthy and in good standing with any debtors you have, as well as have the best chance of a high FICO credit score.

Related Article: How Are FICO Scores Determined

Second, set up pre-authorized payments so your bills are paid automatically.

As I mentioned above, missing even one payment can affect your credit. Debtors don’t care if you intentionally or accidentally forgot to make a payment. They only care if you make your payments on time, every time.

Maybe you simply forgot to pay a bill because all of your bills are due on different days and you don’t have an organized system to keep track of them. In that case, setting up pre-authorized payments can be a lifesaver.

If you prefer not to use preauthorized payments, setting a reminder on your cell phone or computer can be another great way to make sure your bills are always paid on time. Paying your bills becomes effortless so you never miss a due date. You’ll also save money by avoiding unnecessary interest charges.

Lastly, request a copy of your credit report at least once a year and review it thoroughly.

In Canada, you can contact one of two credit bureaus (Equifax or TransUnion) directly to request a free copy of your credit report. In the U.S. you can go to http://annualcreditreport.com to get all 3 credit reports from Equifax, Transunion and Experian.  Verify the accuracy of ALL information, including your personal information, loans, credit cards, etc.

Take note: Credit bureaus don’t verify the information they get from your creditors so it’s up to you to make sure all the information is accurate! Otherwise, you could get a nasty surprise since inaccurate information or information about a loan you don’t recognize could signal that someone may have opened an account in your name, or even possible identify theft.

Address any inaccurate information as soon as possible so that you can be on your way to improving your credit.

For more tips on managing and repairing your credit you are in the right place. Upgrade My Credit is here to help. To get straight forward advice and tips so you can qualify for the best Barrie mortgage rates, visit my website or give me a call.

By Darren Robinson, Mortgage Broker

What is a mortgage pre-approval?

First, let’s clarify what a mortgage pre-approval is NOT. It is not the same as a pre-qualification. The pre-qualification process most often includes pulling your credit score and getting some information from you either verbally or from an application. No verification of any kind occurs. Mortgage pre-qualification happens when your lender approves you as the borrower for a certain amount to buy a house (how much house you can afford), and that you qualify on a least a preliminary basis. A pre-qualification is a minimal first step before most Realtors will begin showing you houses.

A mortgage pre-approval is more detailed. This process also includes pulling your credit score, but includes verifying income with paystubs or a W2 tax form, collecting bank statements, etc. and can sometimes even be submitted to underwriting. Mortgage pre-approval positions a buyer to better negotiate a purchase because the seller knows your offer is backed by a lender. Mortgage approval comes after pre-approval.

What do you do if you don’t qualify for a mortgage pre-approval?

Additionally, credit advice for general purchases or buying a car can differ from home-financing tips, not to mention, your FICO score can vary, depending on who pulls it. A consumer-pulled score will likely differ from when a car dealer looks…which will probably be different than when a mortgage consultant pulls your credit score. It also matters which financial institution that’s looking at the credit history and the score. A store offering zero-down credit with their store card, for example, may not look as far back as a mortgage banker, or they may not look at medical collections the same way, either.

A lot is riding on your FICO score when you’re looking to buy a house. So, it benefits you to have a few tips to keep in mind if you’re considering a purchase in the future, near or far?

“Highlight” these 6 credit tips when you’re getting on the road to mortgage-ready credit.  Tweet This…

1 – Pay your payments on time, all the time. Whether you’re 6 months away from buying a house or 6 years, paying your bills on time is a big one. Late payments can negatively affect your credit score for years. Sometimes “things come up,” and a late payment just happens. Fortunately, some bills have grace periods. Make sure that if you’re going to be late on a payment, it’s one with a grace period. The ones without, should be paid first. Then make sure you pay the late ones as soon as possible. Again, late payments can have a major impact on your credit score. Payment history actually makes up about 35% of your FICO score.

2 – Don’t close credit accounts, yet. Paying down balances to zero is generally a great idea. However, don’t close that account just yet. Wait until you talk to a mortgage consultant about your FICO score in particular. A varied, seasoned credit history helps your score. That credit card you opened up your freshman year at college shows that you’re a long-term consumer. That helps. Don’t max it out, but keep it at about 30% of the limit or less. Keep it at zero, just make sure you use it occasionally. A long history with various lines of credit – credit card, car payment, insurance, cell phone bill – shows that you’re a “good borrower.”

3 – Keep an eye on your credit history. Checking your credit often is a great way to make sure no one is stealing your identity. You have the right to check your score with each of the major credit bureaus once a year. This means you can do it all at once, or each quarter check with a different bureau. Keep on top of fraudulent charges or other issues so you’re not surprised when a creditor pulls your FICO score. Preparation is vital.

4 – Don’t open line after line of credit. When you’re getting close to buying a home and you’re ready to get your mortgage pre-approval, it’s not a good idea to go buy a new car, motorcycle or a bunch of furniture on credit. Remember: your mortgage pre-approval is based on your current financial situation. If you change that drastically, your pre-approval could turn into a denial.

5 – Avoid major purchases. Even if it’s not on credit, a major purchase during your mortgage pre-approval time frame can sap your cash reserves. A vacation or new appliances might have to wait until after you close and move into the new house.

6 – Finally, try to avoid job changes. Whether it’s leaving your job, or a big change to your hours worked, changes in employment can sometimes have adverse effects on your home buying journey. If you worked a ton of overtime in the months leading up to your mortgage pre-approval, cutting way back on your hours before you close on the mortgage could affect your full, official approval. Keep things as even-keeled as you can.

One of the best things you can do as you consider launching your ship on a home-buying journey, is to talk to your local lender about mortgage pre-approval. Make sure you’re on the right track with your finances before you go house hunting. Tweet This…

Wells Fargo, then and now is a leader in the mortgage lending world, and is again leading the way, testing the waters of subprime mortgages, except this time with caution and armed with lessons learned from the past. Below is an excerpt from an article going into more depth.

Excerpt from an article at Credit.com

“Wells Fargo is once again setting sail on subprime mortgage waters, despite how choppy they were several years ago. The bank will consider mortgage applicants with credit scores as low as 600, announced Franklin Codel, a Wells Fargo mortgage executive. Previously, the minimum was 640, and this change applies to purchase mortgages to be guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration.”

Read full article here…

This could be a good thing for the lagging real estate industry which has been trying to “recover” from the fall out of the mortgage and credit crisis of 2006 -2008. What do you think, is it a good move to lower credit score requirements for buying a home? Is it too soon? Will it stimulate home buying, or is the economy still too fragile?

If you currently have low credit scores, you may be wondering if you should pay money to improve your credit score. Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret: if you ever get any kind of loan, you will make your money back many times over!

The reason is simple. Creditors of all kinds will charge you more – sometimes much more – to borrow money if you have a low or even a fair credit score.

Having a 720 credit score instead of a 640 score could save you thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. Yes, it may seem unfair, but that’s the reality of the lending world.

As someone who has 12 years of experience in the lending world as a loan officer and manager, and now the editor of MyMortgageInsider.com, I could tell you countless stories of how people have saved tons of money by having great credit.

Let’s look at an example, taken straight from today’s rate sheets: Someone with a 720 score could get a $200,000 loan with a principal and interest payment of $1013 per month and a rate of 4.5% (4.652% APR)*.

The same person with a 640 score would pay $1073 per month and have a 5.0% interest rate (5.155% APR)*. The borrower with a 640 score would pay an extra $60 per month and an additional $21,700 in interest over the life of the loan!

How does that fee for credit repair services look now? Pretty low?

The bottom line is this: lenders want to see that you are a low-risk borrower. And it all comes down to the three little numbers on your credit report. The higher those numbers, the less you will pay for credit.

And a home mortgage is just scratching the surface when it comes to the money you’ll save by having a good credit score. Some other things you’ll save money on are:

Car insurance
Homeowner’s insurance
Renter’s insurance
Auto loans
Credit cards

Heck, many employers look at your credit reports when you’re applying for a job these days, and some may even look at your credit scores! What if your bad credit cost you a great job? Reference NYTimes article on this subject.

When you add up all the money you could save and make over your lifetime by having a great credit score, the dollar amount could easily be six figures or more. This is no exaggeration.

Yes, it may seem like a lot of work to build, improve, and maintain your credit score. It takes a lot of discipline. But it’s that discipline that lenders are looking for. It proves you are a worthy candidate and will pay back the loan according to the terms you agreed to.

So if you can get help from an expert to improve your credit score, take that opportunity despite the time, cost and effort. You will get huge returns on your investment – more than you probably ever expected.

*Payment does not include taxes, insurance, or HOA dues. Rates are as of 9/10/13. Purchase price $250,000, loan amount $200,000, property in WA. Scenarios are 30 year fixed conventional loans.

• Having a 720 credit score instead of a 640 score could save you thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. (Click to tweet)
• Lenders want to see that you are a low-risk borrower. And it all comes down to the three little numbers on your credit report. (Click to tweet)
• Most employers look at your credit reports when you’re applying for a job these days! (Click to tweet)

We like to offer you the best information and resources for your home-buying plans. Here is a good article on mortgage rate forecasts for next year from a mortgage partner Total Mortgage Services.

Click here for the article Mortgage Rates: Naughty or Nice?

If you are looking to buy a house in 2013, make sure your credit and debt house is in shape. If you need credit repair help, don’t hesitate to contact us.