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
January 22, 2023 - Did you know that the VA offers a One-Time Close construction loan similar to the FHA One-Time Close loan? The VA version of the One-Time Close loan allows qualified borrowers to finance both the construction and the permanent mortgage at the same time.
January 19, 2023 - If you want to buy a fixer-upper, there are some issues to pay attention to before and after you apply for your loan you should be aware of. This is in addition to mortgage loan interest rate trends and changing prices in the housing market.
December 20, 2022 - FHA loan limits increase for the third year in a row in 2023. More borrowing power means the ability to buy a bigger home for some, for others it may mean the ability to add improvements or upgrades rather than a larger property.
December 18, 2022 - There are many mortgage industry trends to pay attention to when you are in the planning stages of buying a home with an FHA mortgage. Interest rates, house prices, the cost of third-party services like appraisals and home inspections. There is a lot to keep track of.
December 15, 2022 - The Fed’s actions to raise interest rates have had an indirect effect on the housing market (the Fed sets the rates on federal loan funds, not mortgage loans directly) and conditions have started to cool to the point where mortgage rates have actually dropped in December with demand also slowing.
