FHA Loan Tips for Improving Credit
Track Your Credit Score and Stay on Top of Problems
While FHA loans are known as a great service for people looking for help buying a house, applicants can make the process even easier if they take steps toward ensuring their credit history is in tip-top shape. The agency advises prospective home buyers to approach FHA loans with their best possible credit history to eliminate any potential risk of not qualifying.
Whether you're looking for a loan to mortgage a new house or to refinance a house you already own, it makes the most sense open up all your options with an optimal credit rating. The FHA recommends having a satisfactory payment history of at least one year before applying for a loan.
Credit Tips for Your FHA Loan
Here are some tips to help you on your way:
- Take a Close Look at Your Credit Reports
You don't know what could be hurting your credit score unless you actually check. Get your credit reports from the three national credit bureaus--Experian, Equifax and TransUnion--at no cost and comb them over for anything suspicious or questionable. - Dispute Inaccuracies
If you find errors on your credit report, notify the reporting bureau in writing so you have a record. Provide any additional records or evidence you have to support your dispute. - Find Professional Help
The FHA recommends applicants with credit problems get help from a Consumer Credit Counseling program. A credit counselor can help you get back on track. - Bankruptcy / Foreclosure
If you've suffered from a bankruptcy or foreclosure in the past few years, you might still be able to qualify for an FHA loan. Develop a satisfactory payment history, re-establish good credit and meet the other FHA requirements.
While your credit history is just one of the many factors that make up your eligibility for an FHA loan, it is no doubt one of the most important. Having a higher score not only helps you qualify, you can also benefit from the low 3.5 percent down payment on mortgage loans available to applicants with a FICO score over 580. FHA approved lenders don't take your credit history lightly, and neither should you.
Credit Scores for FHA Loans
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FHA Loan Articles and Mortgage News
June 22, 2021 - If you don’t know the contents of your credit report, you aren’t ready to apply for a mortgage loan, an auto loan, or even a personal line of credit. Your lender will review not only your FICO score, but your credit activity for at least the last 12 months leading up to your loan application.
June 19, 2021 - If you are considering an FHA mortgage but need down payment help, there are programs offered by state and local agencies that may be able to help. Not all of them meet FHA loan guidelines--you’ll need to make sure that the program you choose meets the sourcing requirements for the money.
June 18, 2021 - When exploring home loan options, some borrowers want a loan that has the lowest upfront costs possible. This makes sense if money is tight, or when a borrower has goals for their money and a down payment would hurt those plans.
June 9, 2021 - What do you need to know about home loans and FICO scores? To get started, it’s important to know what FICO score ranges are considered good, and how these ranges are viewed by lenders. Your credit scores matter, but how should they be interpreted?
June 2, 2021 - Many first-time home buyers feel at a loss when it comes to working on their credit. Don’t apply for your first credit card and your first home loan in the same year. A lender will be looking at your credit habits for at least the 12 months leading up to your credit application.
