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Home & Money News
 Mortgage News A credit score is an extremely important financial tool. It provides access to the financing you need in order to buy a car, a home, or pay for college tui- tion, among other things. Since high scores equate to lower costs and vice- versa, it's vital to understand the factors involved in calculating your score. Here are the five elements that make up a credit score, in order of importan- ce: 1. Payment History-35% impact Paying debt on time and in full has a positive impact. Late payments, judgments, and charge-offs have a negative impact. Missing a high payment has a more serious impact than missing a low payment. Delinquencies that have occured in the last two years carry more weight than older items. When applying for a mortgage, every point in your credit score can make a big difference. So don't make any major financial or credit decisions, even paying off an old debt, without first discussing it with your mortgage pro- fessional. 2. Outstanding Credit Balances-30% impact This factor markes the ratio between the outstanding balance and avail- able credit. Ideally, consumers should make an effort to keep balances as close to zero as possible, and definitely below 30% of the available credit limit when trying to purchase a home. 3. Credit History-15% impact This marks the length of time since a particular credit line was establi- shed. A seasoned borrower is strong in this area. 4. Type of Credit-10% impact A mix of auto loans, credit cards, and mortgages is more positive than a concentration of debt from credit cards alone. 5. Inquiries-10% impact This represents the number of requests for credit that have been made on a consumer's credit history within a six month period. Each individual inquiry can cost from 2 to 50 points on a credit score, but the maximum number of inquiries that will reduce the score to 10. In other words, don't start the loan process until you're ready to act. Otherwise each individual credit inquiry could cost you. However, scoring models have now been adjusted to count multiple "hard" inquiries within a 14-day period as a single request. So, when you're ready, your credit will be too. Rebuilding Credit It's true, negative credit itens can remain on your credit report for up to 7 years, and up to 10 years for a bankruptcy. But this doesn't mean that you have to wait 7 to 10 years to begin reestablishing a good credit rating. Because credit scoring models typically lend more weight to your recent activity than to the mistakes you might have made in the past, you can change your habits right now and begin reestablishing yourself as a good credit risk for a home loan or mortgage refinance in just 6 to 12 months. Mortgage Do's and Don'ts The following are a few Do's and Don'ts when it comes to rebuilding your credit: 1. Three months prior to securing your mortgage, DON"T apply for, close, or pay off any credit cards, loans, or other kinds of credit without speaking to your mortgage professional first. Any one of these actions, as innocent as they may seem, could seriously affect your credit score, adding significant costs to your mortgage should your score suddenly drop. 2. If you have a credit card acount with an excellent credit history, DO use it, but use it strategically. In other words, use it only for small purchases that you could easily pay off completely at the end of the month. Remember, creditors like to see evidence of stability, so the goal here is to keep the good reports coming month to month without falling into the same financial traps that led to credit challenges in the past. 3. If you don't have a credit card, DO get a secured credit card. This is a great way to rebuild or establish credit quickly. Because this account is secured by funds that you deposit (typically between $100 and $400) you're not seen as a great risk to the card issuer because of your initial investment. Again, use this card strategically to build a strong credit history. Pay your bill on time every month, and it won't be long before you qualify for an unsecured credit account. 4. Finally, DO monitor your credit. Ask your mortgage professional to refer you to a professional credit repair company you can trust. Having an experi- enced professional on your side will allow you to focus on your long-term credit goals without having to make reestablishing your credit a second career. Street Smarts On December 20th, 2007, the President signed the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 into law, creating headaches for the IRS but some great last-minute tax breaks for any homeowners in 2007. One major provision spares homeowners the tax burden associated with canceled mortgage debt. Prior to this law, forgiven or unpaid mortgage debt due to foreclosure, short sale, or deed in lieu of foreclosure, was considered taxable income. The new law, however, waives these taxes from the beginning of 2007 to the end of 2009. This action could encourage some struggling homeowners to sell their upside down prop- erties and avoid foreclosure. The new law also extends until 2010 the mortgage insurance deductions created by the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006. Designed to protect lenders from defaults and foreclosures, mortgage insurance (PMI) is required for loans exceeding 80% of the property's value or sales price. PMI, an alternative to piggyback financing, makes it easier for certain borrowers to qualify for a home loan. Uner the new law, Qualifying taxpayers can treat PMI payments as home mortgage interest, which is tax deductable in most instances.
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