How credit scores can affect the purchase of a new home


I have heard that a large number of inquiries on my credit report can affect my credit score. Is that true?

The majority of soft inquiries are ignored by the FICO scoring models. The majority of these inquiries are not initiated by you, but rather by those rabid credit card companies that bombard your mailbox with unsolicited, preapproved credit cards. Prior to credit card companies being allowed this type of advertising, soft inquiries would count, but now they are not considered as legitimate marks against your credit.

The hard inquiries are looked at in more detail. Most experts say that in order to keep the number of hard inquiries down, once you apply for a mortgage do not apply for any other loans or credit cards until after you take possession of the house.

My partner and I want to purchase a home together, but we have dramatically different credit scores. Will this cause a problem?

This will only cause a problem if you are not prepared for it. It is not unusual for partners and spouses to have different credit scores, especially in the early years of being together. Buying a home together means that both of you will need to be open with each other about how each of you handle credit. You do not want to wait until you are about to close on a home to find out that the other person has such a poor credit score that there will be a delay in obtaining financing. So, both of you should get your credit reports now and share the information with each other.

When two people want to purchase a home together, married or as partners, the lenders will look at both credit reports. They are not only looking at the credit score, but also how much debt both parties have, how much income each person is making, how much is held in savings, and the size of the down payment. A large down payment can make lenders much more amenable to loaning money. Also, if the person who is making the largest portion of the family income has the best credit score, it is a positive.

The problem comes with a small down payment, high debts for both parties, and the person who makes the most income having the worst credit score. Lenders may suggest that only the person with the high credit score take out the loan, but that can cause problems with what name goes on the title.

Most lenders only want to have the names of those who are taking out the loan on the title. Spouses or partners whose names are not on the title may have problems asserting their right to the property in certain circumstances. While the law has some protections for those legally married, this is not the best solution. A better solution is to continue to shop for a lender that will provide a mortgage. Expect that it will take more time than anticipated to find a lender who will work with you, and you probably will be paying a higher interest rate on the loan. It may be more financially feasible for you and your partner to put off buying a home right away and take the time to clear up debts, work on building up your credit score, and save for a larger downpayment.

Are your credit score and credit report the only things that determine if you can get a mortgage and at what rate?

No. Your credit score is a large part of the overall package of your credit report. While mortgage lenders place the majority of emphasis on this report when determining if you qualify for a mortgage loan, other items such as your employment, your income, employment history, your profession, the amount of your down payment, the appraised value of the home you want to buy, and the terms of the mortgage loan you want all play a part in the lender’s decision to offer you a mortgage and the interest rate of that loan.

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This article was sent to us by: Nigel Benson at 05272010

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