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
April 9, 2021 - The debt-to-income ratio is an important calculation for all borrowers--the more income you have compared to outgoing payments every month the better. So how do borrowers with a lot of debt deal with this problem? Learn about what the FHA considers to be a debt.
April 8, 2021 - There are some general FHA loan rules you should know in the planning stages of your new loan--rules that can help you decide what to do about saving up for a down payment or how to deal with closing costs. Knowing these rules can help you get much closer to home loan approval.
April 7, 2021 - The FHA Cash-Out refinance loan is a way home owners can tap into the equity built up in their homes and take it out in cash once the original loan and the closing costs of the new loan have been dealt with. There are many uses for the money you get in a cash-out refinance transaction.
April 6, 2021 - When you examine your FHA construction loan options, choosing between a One-Time Close construction loan and other construction loan options with two loans and two closing dates are only part of your decision-making process.
April 4, 2021 - VA loans are for veterans and currently serving military members with qualifying minimum time on duty. Certain surviving spouses of military members who have died as a result of military service may also qualify. VA construction loans have no minimum FICO score requirements listed in the VA guidelines.
