Credit: Who Needs It? Why is it Important? How do you Establish it?

Credit:  Who Needs It?  
Why is it Important?  

How do you Establish it?

     I've been receiving lots of inquiries from young potential Home Buyers as of late.  Continued low mortgage interest rates provide a good window of opportunity to buy for many home buyers.

     But with the growing number of young Buyers, I'm also seeing a larger number of hopeful clients with what is deemed as "insufficient credit histories".  

     That can mean several things.  But typically the fallout is lower credit scores or no credit scores for these hopeful clients.  

     I also see this issue arise when individuals are coming out of Bankruptcy, or for those that always pay cash for their purchases.

     The bottom line is though if there are no open accounts of any kind for credit cards, installment loans, personal loans, or student loans, the Credit Scoring System has no way to judge their credit "worthiness".  They simply have no spending or payment history on which to base a credit score.

    So how do we proceed with a potential Home Buyer, should this be the case?

     In this day and age, credit is vitally important, as credit runs our lives ... or at minimum, affects it greatly.  Establishing credit is not a difficult process.  

     

Below are a few tips and clues I supply my hopeful home buyers  when they wish to establish credit and credit history:

     *  Open up a credit card (known as revolving debt) with a modest borrowing limit.  Major retailers and gasoline companies are two good examples of this type of debt.

     *  Use the newly-established credit card by charging purchases within your budget constraints.  Pay the balance on time and in full each month.

       Note:  I recommend that first-time credit users open only one or two credit lines to begin with.  Take small steps.  Learn to handle your credit wisely.  Crawl before you walk.

     *  If you do not pay off the balance in full each month, keep your credit card balance(s) below 50% of the credit limit.  (This is better for your credit.  Likewise, balances kept below 30% and 10% of the limit, raise the scores even more.)

     *  Never close out old accounts, should you have them.  Keep them open, even if you do not plan on using them.  Remember, the longer you have had a credit profile or the longer the credit history, the better the scoring impact will be. 

     *  Consider using a co-signer to establish a credit account.  Lenders consider the co-signer's credit as existing credit.  (Note:  Co-signing is not without risk, so consider this action carefully.)  

     *  Always make sure prior to taking out new credit or initiating a new credit card, that the company utilized reports to the Credit Bureaus.

     Should you be someone that suffered through a Bankruptcy or Foreclosure ... or had other credit issues, you might have been turned down for credit or credit cards.  In those cases, try opening a "secured" account with a credit union or credit card company.  A  "secured" account"  is one where you deposit cash ($250, $500, $1,000) with the credit company, as collateral for a credit card.  

     Use the card as you would any other ... paying it off in its entirety each month.  This creates a "timely payment history" and lays the groundwork to build credit scores.    

    

If in doubt as to how to proceed in establishing or restoring your credit,  contact me prior to taking action. 

     As always, whether just beginning your pursuit of good credit and credit scores or as part of your ongoing efforts, monitor your credit and credit scores, either by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com to receive your one FREE credit report per year (they report credit, but not credit scores) ... 

     Or again, contact me.  We'll work together to establish ... repair and improve ... and monitor your credit safely and wisely.

     *  Need to establish good credit?  Dreaming of Buying or refinancing a Home or investment property in New Lenox, Will County or elsewhere in Chicagoland - IL/WI?  

Contact me today!  I'll put my 40 years of mortgage experience and expertise to work on your behalf.

     I'm easily found at: 

Gene Mundt

Mortgage Originator  -  NMLS #216987  -  IL Lic. 031.0006220  -  WI License #216987

American Portfolio Mortgage Corp.

NMLS #175656

Direct:  815.524.2280

Cell:  708.921.6331
eFax:  815.524.2281

gmundt@goapmc.com

www.genemundt.com

 

          

      

Gene Mundt, Mortgage Originator, an Originator with 40 years of mortgage experience, will offer you exemplary mortgage service and advice when seeking:  Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo, USDA, and Portfolio Loans in 
Chicago and the greater Chicagoland region, including:  
The Lincoln-Way Area, Will County, (New Lenox, Frankfort, Mokena, Manhattan, Joliet, Channahon, Shorewood, Crest Hill, Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Naperville, etc.), DuPage County, the City of Chicago, Cook County, and elsewhere within IL & WI.  

Your Referrals are Greatly Appreciated!