Is your credit score a big deal? If you want to buy a home, it’s a huge deal!
Your credit score will determine if you can get a loan. It will also determine how much you can borrow 
and what your interest rate will be! To buy a home with a mortgage loan you must have a strong credit score.
There are three primary sources for credit scores in the US: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. They all use the FICO system. These are the most used sources by creditors.
FICO developed the computer software the major credit scoring companies use. FICO scores range from 300 to 850. However, many creditors consider 500 to be the bottom of the acceptable range.
Your score is a measure of your credit-worthiness and determines the interest rate that you will pay for a loan. It’s not unusual for a creditor to obtain all three of the major scores and average them. A very good score is 700, and an excellent score in 750.
The primary factors that determine your score are:
- payment history (35%)
- debt/amounts owed (30%)
- age of credit history (15%)
- new credit/inquiries (10%)
- mix of accounts/types of credit (10%)
65% of the total score is determined by only two factors: payment history and amount of debt owed. You must have a good history of paying your bills on time. And you must be very careful about how much debt you have relative to your income!
That last point is extremely important when borrowing for a home mortgage. As of 2014 the federal regulations governing mortgage lending have changed. Borrowers can no longer carry total debt of more than 43% of gross annual income, including the mortgage debt! Lenders are going to be very strict about adhering to that ratio. There are serious consequences for the lender not doing so.
Many actions you take affect your score. Most people don’t think about:
- unpaid medical bills and parking tickets can lower your credit score
- heavy credit use can lower your score, even if you pay large balances off in full in a short time
- credit scores drop if you sign up and use store cards for initial discounts
For more advice about managing your credit, click here.
Looking forward to buying a home? Educate yourself, manage your credit score, and know your credit score before your lender does.
Information provided by Teri Isner Orlando Avenue Top Team.
Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.
Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.
You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently. You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.
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