5 Things About Credit Scores That Home Buyers Need To Know

5 Things About Credit Scores That Home Buyers Need To Know

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The phrase "Your credit score." With good reason, this term frequently causes confusion and fear in your clients.

Their capacity to apply for mortgages and find jobs are both impacted by this three-digit number, which is important to their financial situation. A poor grade not only hurts your clients'

Over the course of their working careers, people with low credit ratings will accrue almost $250,000 more in interest than those with high scores. Given the significance of this number, it is crucial that your homebuyers understand all aspects of their credit score in order to build successful financial futures. Discussing the ideas below with your client could help them feel more at ease if you discover that they are worried about their credit score.

 

1. Your Credit Score Serves As A Barometer For Your Capacity To Pay Your Mortgage

Your credit score, also known as your credit rating, is a three-digit figure that evaluates your level of responsibility in terms of managing your credit and making timely payments. In general, the phrase "credit score" refers to your FICO score, which is a figure computed by the Fair Isaac Corporation. FICO scores range from 300 to 850; optimum scores are above 700, problematic scores are below 600, and average scores are between 680 and 720. Depending on these figures, you are either a high or low risk. A person who has a credit score of 700 or more is thought to be low risk and is more likely to be approved for loans and mortgages, whereas a person who has a score of 600 or lower is thought to be high risk and is not likely to be given any kind of credit.

As a result of credit ratings' ongoing revision and updating, you have the chance to strengthen your credit history and, consequently, your credit score, every month. However, it's crucial to keep in mind that major credit damage can take years to repair, therefore it's crucial to acquire and maintain an ordinary to above-average credit score in order to stop a buildup of negative credit.

 

2. To Achieve Low-Interest Rates On Your Mortgage, You Don't Need A Flawless Credit Score

It is not required to have an 850 FICO score in order to get the best interest rates, even while having perfect credit is attainable and is undoubtedly something you should aim towards. The credit terms and interest rates provided to persons with an 800 score and those with a flawless 850 score are practically the same.

Another thing to keep in mind is that even if you manage to obtain a perfect credit score of 850, there is no assurance that it will stay at that level or that, if it does fall, you will be able to raise it again. Your credit score is an ever-changing statistic, so obsessing over a perfect 850 is not something you should do. Your major priority should be to build and maintain a strong credit score in order to get the greatest rates as a consumer.

 

3. While Low Credit Scores Cannot Be Improved Overnight, They Are Not Always Irreparable

There are numerous techniques to raise your credit score, but none of them are quick and simple. In actuality, trying a "quick fix" is likely to cause more harm than good. Remember that while having damaged credit can be intimidating, it is not permanent. Therefore, maintaining composure while creating a plan for carefully and responsibly rebuilding your credit is the greatest method to enhance or repair damaged credit.

 

4. Credit Advice Can Be Beneficial

Since they think it may hurt their credit score, many consumers are leery of credit counseling. This is the furthest thing from the truth. The Fair Isaac Coordination, which is the organization in charge of the bulk of credit ratings, summarizes credit counseling as follows:

"Because counseling is not reported to credit bureaus, simply attending counseling has no impact on your credit score. Therefore, people shouldn't hesitate to get the assistance they need to deal with their debt, housing problems, or other financial challenges. However, sometimes your score might be impacted by the decisions you make based on advice from a credit counselor.

Your credit score and financial freedom can only be rebuilt and reestablished via credit counseling. Whether or not you choose to heed their advice is entirely up to you. In conclusion? The only one accountable for your credit score is you.

 

5. Free Credit Report Monitoring Is Available

One of the greatest ways to monitor your credit score is probably through credit monitoring. The best way to perform a credit "checkup" is to at least once a year, request a free credit report from a company like Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. Your credit score won't be negatively impacted by checking your report; you'll learn about any substantial changes and be informed of any questionable activity on your accounts.