Search results for: “credit score”
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What Credit Score is Needed to Buy a House?
Read more: What Credit Score is Needed to Buy a House?Wondering what credit score is needed to buy a house? Your score is one of the most important elements of qualifying for a home loan. While there isn’t a strict credit score standard that applies to all lenders and loan types, there are baseline scores recommended or required for different kinds of mortgages. In this…
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Why Did My Credit Score Drop: Possible Reasons & Solutions
Read more: Why Did My Credit Score Drop: Possible Reasons & SolutionsPicture this: you’re looking to purchase a house in the near future, so you’ve been checking your credit score regularly to make sure you’re on track. One day, you go to check it when suddenly…your credit score has dropped, maybe by 10, 20, 50 points, or even more. When a new home is on your…
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How to Manage Your Credit Score During the Holiday Season
Read more: How to Manage Your Credit Score During the Holiday SeasonThe holidays are a tempting time to splurge, but if you’re planning on purchasing a home in the near future, keep a close eye on your bills. ‘Tis the season for holiday spending, but the five tips below will help keep your credit score in great shape.
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5 Ways to Help Maintain (or Improve) Your Credit Score
Read more: 5 Ways to Help Maintain (or Improve) Your Credit ScoreKeeping a spotless credit history can be tough, but if you’re hoping to buy a home, maintaining or improving your credit score is well worth the effort. Factors like your FICO® score help lenders determine your creditworthiness, which in turn affects what mortgage rates, loan amounts and terms they can offer you. Luckily, there are some…
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Credit-smart Shopping Tips for Black Friday
Read more: Credit-smart Shopping Tips for Black FridayAre you a savvy shopper who looks forward to snagging deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday? If so, you might be surprised to learn that these shopping days can also provide valuable lessons in managing your finances—especially if you’re considering buying a new home. In fact, adopting a credit-smart approach during this bustling shopping…
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How to Shop for a Mortgage Without Hurting Your Credit (Much)
Read more: How to Shop for a Mortgage Without Hurting Your Credit (Much)Wondering how to shop for a mortgage without hurting your credit? It’s a valid concern, but don’t worry. From narrowing down your lending options to paying down your credit cards, we’ve rounded up some tips to help you protect your credit score while scoring the home of your dreams! Read more.
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Understanding HERS® Scores
Read more: Understanding HERS® ScoresAre you looking for new home that’s comfortable, safe and energy efficient? The Home Energy Rating System (HERS®) Index, created by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET®), is a great way to find a home that checks each of those boxes. The HERS® Index is the industry standard for rating home energy efficiency and provides…
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Mortgage Infographic: Get Your Credit Ready Before You Apply
Read more: Mortgage Infographic: Get Your Credit Ready Before You ApplyLooking to buy a new home soon? We’ve created a handy mortgage infographic to help you understand some of the factors that affect your credit score and the ways you can improve your score—an important consideration for any lender reviewing your mortgage application. Your credit score may influence what types of loans you can qualify…
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Online Tools to Improve Credit
Read more: Online Tools to Improve CreditAn acceptable credit score is one of the keys to getting your home loan application approved. Mortgage lenders have historically used FICO® scores—derived from data collected by one or more of the three major credit bureaus—as a major factor in determining whether you qualify for a mortgage. Different mortgage lenders can approve or deny loans based…
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4 Real Estate Podcasts for New & Aspiring Homebuyers
Read more: 4 Real Estate Podcasts for New & Aspiring HomebuyersBuying your first home is an exciting milestone, and it’s one that takes careful planning and dedication to achieve. From keeping your credit score on track to saving up for a down payment, there are a lot of factors to consider, so it’s a good idea to learn more about the buying and financing processes.…
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Mortgages 101: Financing Basics for First-time Buyers
Read more: Mortgages 101: Financing Basics for First-time BuyersLet’s be honest. Buying your first home can feel like stepping into a world where everyone else knows the rules, and you’re just trying to figure out what “escrow” means. If that’s you, take a breath. This article isn’t about pressure. It’s about clarity. It’s about helping you feel confident, informed, and actually excited about…
