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 1, 2021 - Some home loan applicants apply for an FHA mortgage thinking that their credit scores are the main factor in home loan approval. Others might know that both FICO scores and your record of on-time payments are crucial for loan approval.
March 31, 2021 - But the FHA mortgage loan program offers new purchase home loans for owner/occupiers with down payments as low as 3.5%. FHA loan applicants who don’t meet FHA and lender credit score minimum requirements may need to consider a 10% down payment.
March 30, 2021 - FHA home loans are for any financially qualified borrower. They are not limited to those in financial need and they are not restricted to first-time home buyers. However, there are some things you should DEFINITELY do ahead of your home loan and things you should NOT do.
March 28, 2021 - There are several things you should know that will help you understand the home loan process better. For some house hunters, getting approved for a home loan seems like a mystery but you can take some of the guesswork out of the home loan process by learning a few basic concepts.
March 27, 2021 - FHA mortgage rules require the lender to verify the borrower’s income and employment, and some borrowers come to the loan process with unique circumstances such as commission income.
