of the first steps for consumers considering a home purchase is to learn more about their credit score and the impact it can have on their loan eligibility. To improve one’s credit score and qualify for better mortgage programs at better interest rates, Weichert Financial Services offers these tips:
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Check and review your credit report. Since a credit score, which is determined by a borrower’s bill-paying history and debt profile, is the biggest factor a lender uses when considering a borrower, buyers should start by looking for problem areas and any errors on their report.
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Keep your credit card balances low. Thirty percent of a borrower’s score is determined based on a ratio of the amount that is owed in relation to their available credit. Buyers should keep credit card balances as close to zero as possible by making a payment right after any big purchases.
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Keep your cards active. No activity on credit cards can lead to cards being closed, so it is important that a borrower utilize their credit cards on a regular basis to show usage. A good way to do this without incurring high balances is to make small purchases a few times a year.
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Pay your bills on time. Payment history counts for 35 percent of a borrower’s credit score. If you anticipate having a problem paying on time, contact your credit card company immediately. To avoid late payments, consider setting up a monthly e-mail reminder or an automatic payment system.
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Avoid opening new credit cards. Having too many active cards can have a negative effect on your credit score in the short term, and keeping track of purchases and bill due dates of several credit cards can be difficult.
To learn more about your credit rating and ways to improve your credit score, ask me to set up a meeting with the local office’s Gold Services Manager, who will personally review your credit file and put you in the best possible position to become a homeowner.
To find out more information feel free to contact me any time.
Jason@JMartocci.com
The $8,000 tax credit for first-time buyers makes all the headlines, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good time for all homebuyers to get into the market. Consider, for instance, the move-up buyer who can now purchase a new home that is bigger and better than what they could have afforded just a few short years ago.
The National Association of Home Builders recently suggested the following reasons why current homeowners should consider upgrading to their dream home:
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Interest rates are at historical lows – Buyers can get more house for the same amount of money.
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Homes are more affordable – Even though they might receive less when they sell their home, move-up buyers will also pay less for their new home.
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There are many homes to choose from – With more homes on the market than in the past, buyers have more options and greater negotiating power.
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Starter homes are selling – A move-up buyer’s current home may no longer fit their needs, but it could be the ideal starter home for another family. The incentive of the $8,000 tax credit, which can be used for transactions closing before Dec. 1, 2009, makes these types of homes even more desirable for first-time buyers.
To find out more information feel free to contact me any time.
Jason@JMartocci.com
Shaun Donovan, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, on Tuesday said that the Federal Housing Administration is going to permit its lenders to allow home buyers to use the $8,000 tax credit as a down payment.
Previously, most buyers wouldn’t receive the funds until after they filed their tax return, and that deterred some people from using the credit. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® has been calling for the change.
“We all want to enable FHA consumers to access the home buyer tax credit funds when they close on their home loans so that the cash can be used as a down payment,” Donovan says. His remarks came in an address to several thousand REALTORS® gathered Tuesday morning at “The Real Estate Summit: Advancing the U.S. Economy,” at the 2009 REALTORS® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in Washington, D.C..
He says FHA’s approved lenders will be permitted to “monetize” the tax credit through short-term bridge loans. This will allow eligible home buyers to access the funds immediately at the closing table.
New $8,000* Tax Credit
For 2009, Congress has enacted an $8000 credit specifically to help first-time homebuyers. To qualify, you can earn no more than $75,000 as an individual or $150,000 as a married couple that files a joint tax return. If you do qualify, you will be able to deduct the full $8,000 from your federal tax liability. Or, if you owe less than $8,000, the government will subtract the amount you owe from $8,000 and send you a check for the difference.
Only first-time homebuyers who purchase their principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009 are eligible. You will also be considered a first-time buyer if you have not had any ownership interest in such a home in the three years previous to the day of your 2009 purchase.
For detailed information about the tax credit, you can ask questions here or contact me direct at Jason@JMartocci.com
