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.
Helpful Advice - Credit Scores and Loans
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FHA Loan Articles and Mortgage News
March 5, 2020 - If you are hoping to buy a home but do not have a long credit history, it’s easy to understand why you might be concerned about your ability to get a loan approved. Fortunately there are some things you can do to build your credit ahead of a home loan that will help.
March 4, 2020 - There are some misconceptions about down payment grants in general, but one of the biggest is that the FHA itself or the lender is somehow responsible for managing or offering these grants. You, the borrower, are responsible for locating the programs in your area.
March 1, 2020 - Are you on the fence about buying a home? There are many reasons why it’s a great idea to search for a home in 2020, such as owning instead of renting, the ability to freely customize your living space, or using a cash-out refinance to convert part of your home’s value into cash.
February 22, 2020 - There are agencies across the country operating on a local level to offer down payment help to qualified borrowers, many of whom are first-time home buyers. And many of these grant programs have no repayment requirements when terms and conditions are met.
February 18, 2020 - Some new to the real estate market might assume they are not qualified to be approved for a construction loan, but these loans have the same kinds of terms and conditions that other mortgages do and you don’t need to have special credit scores to qualify.
