Ways to Improve Your FICO Score for Home Buying

Choosing a lender isn't the first step in becoming a homeowner. In reality, the home buying process starts and ends with your finances. Without an acceptable credit score, buying a house is harder and, you could end up renting for another couple of years in Cary, North Carolina until you improve your score.

The Fair Isaac Company calculates your FICO score on the summary of your complete credit history. Most people usually have a score of 600, but scores range from 300 to 850. Even though more people these days are experiencing job loss and delinquent credit cards, FICO scores aren't necessarily adjusted "on a curve." A low score is just that and often means you can't get a loan. Some of the pieces in reviewing your FICO score include:

• Payment History — How many months do you make late payments?
• Credit to Debt Ratio — How much do you owe versus your available credit?
• Credit Inquiries — How many times has your credit history been accessed by someone other than you?
• Types of Credit — Do you have a healthy mix of loans and credit cards?

Lenders want to ensure that giving you a loan isn't a risk for them. Your credit score gives lenders an insight into what type of borrower you are based solely on your credit history. You'll need a score of at least 700 to get a acceptable interest rate. You can qualify for a mortgage loan with a lower score, but the interest accrued in the long run could be more than double that of someone having a superior FICO score.

We're used to working with all levels of FICO scores. Call us at (919) 924-4991 and we can help you get on the right track to the home of your dreams.

There are ways to raise your score. Improving your FICO score takes time. It can be hard to make a significant stride change in your number with small changes, but your score can improve in a year or two by keeping tabs your credit report and by wisely using credit. The most important thing is to know your FICO score. Here are some methods to improve your credit score:

• Stay on top of payments. Payment history is a huge factor in your FICO score. It's one of the reasons people who have recently been unemployed see the biggest hit in their credit score. Yes, it takes longer to rebuild your credit with payment history, but it's the most reliable way to prove that you're able to make payments to a bank.
• Ensure that your credit history is correct. If you find mistakes on your credit report, write to the bureau asking that the item be removed. If you have a common name or the same name as a family member, you'll want to give extra care to make sure the activity reported is correct.
• Spread your debt around. At first, this doesn't seem like a good idea. But, you want to avoid of having one card that is at the limit and have your remaining cards at a zero balance. It's better to have each of your cards at a lower balance than to have the bulk of your debt sitting on a single card.
• Apply for service station cards or store credit. For those who have non-existent credit or less-than-stellar credit, retail credit cards and gas credit cards are ways to start your credit history, increase your credit limits and stay on top of your payments, which will raise your FICO score. You must always beware of carrying a high balance for too long because these types of cards traditionally have a surprising interest rate.
• Keep your cards active. Whether you're just getting started with credit, or if you've got older cards, use your cards to make sure your accounts maintain an active status. But, pay them off in one or two payments.

Now that you're better informed about credit reporting, you'll be able to successfully take the first step in owning a home, and that is improving your FICO score. Keep in mind that when you're ready to apply for a loan to purchase a house, you'll want to keep your credit inquiries within a two-week window to avoid damaging your credit score. With the help of RE/MAX Performance, the loan application process can be a stress-free experience so you, too, can achieve home ownership.

Get more information by visiting myFICO.com, Fair Isaac's informational site and you can review all of your credit reports for free each year at annualcreditreport.com. And, for a small payment, you can get your FICO score from each bureau on their websites: equifax.com, experian.com and transunion.com.