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 homebuyers 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
May 23, 2023 - What kind of FHA home loan do you need to buy a home? Do you want to build a home on your own lot from the ground up? That’s the job of an FHA One-Time Close construction loan, which differs from the type of FHA mortgage you need to buy an existing property.
May 22, 2023 - Your income matters if you want to buy or build a home with an FHA mortgage. But there are some misconceptions about home loan approval regarding income. Do you know the difference between the facts and the fiction about home loan income requirements?
May 17, 2023 - New house hunters have to learn plenty of numbers associated with FHA home loans. The amount of your down payment is one of those; the amount of time your FHA mortgage insurance will last is another.
May 6, 2023 - Rates go high, and rates fall. There is a cycle at work that is driven by a range of influences, including Fed actions to shore up the U.S. economy, investor reaction to those efforts, buyer enthusiasm, plus local housing inventory and competition for it.
May 3, 2023 - What is the difference between a home loan modification and recasting a home loan? These two practices have very specific applications; they are not different names for the same thing. Your specific needs for one of these will determine how you apply for one option or the other.
